Author: Cliff

I am the author of three novels--THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE, OLIVER'S TRAVELS, and THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY--and three story collections--IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY, HOUSE OF THE ANCIENTS AND OTHER STORIES, and WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW, winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction. I am also the co-founder and former editor of Prime Number Magazine and the editor of the award-winning anthology series EVERYWHERE STORIES: SHORT FICTION FROM A SMALL PLANET.
February 9, 2015

WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW reviewed at Peace Corps Writers

Despite the best efforts of my publisher, Press 53, and my own due diligence, my book WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW received few serious…
February 8, 2015

New Magazine: Sixpenny

Just heard about Sixpenny, a new magazine of six-minute illustrated fictions. Set to launch next week. Check it out!
February 7, 2015

The New Yorker: “The Naturals” by Sam Lipsyte

May 5, 2014: “The Naturals” by Sam Lipsyte Caperton is a consultant (in what area isn’t exactly clear—landscaping?) but is on his way from…
February 4, 2015

2015 Reading: The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

The Orchardist: A Novel by Amanda Coplin I first became aware of this novel when we ran an interview with the author in Prime Number…
February 3, 2015

The New Yorker: “The Man in the Woods” by Shirley Jackson

April 28, 2014: “The Man in the Woods” by Shirley Jackson It’s a pleasure to read a previously unknown Shirley Jackson story. Here, a…
February 2, 2015

The New Yorker: “Sweetness” by Toni Morrison

February 9, 2015: “Sweetness” by Toni Morrison This is an excerpt from Morrison’s new novel, God Help the Child, due out in April this…
February 2, 2015

“More Than Mere Setting” — my guest blog post at Late Last Night Books

I was recently invited to do a guest blog post for Late Last Night Books, which you can read here: More than Mere Setting….
February 1, 2015

2015 Reading: War Reporter by Dan O’Brien

War Reporter by Dan O’Brien This is a collection of poetry unlike anything I’ve read before although the work that comes closest is O’Brien’s own…
February 1, 2015

2015 Reading: Red Scare by T.R. Pearson

Red Scare by T.R. Pearson I hadn’t heard of of Pearson until his name appeared on a list of “literary mystery” writers in a graduate…
January 31, 2015

2015 Reading: The Poison that Purifies You by Elizabeth Kadetsky

The Poison That Purifies You by Elizabeth Kadetsky This report won’t go into too much detail because I’m writing a full review of the book…