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.
October 14, 2014

Library of Virginia Awards 2014 — this weekend

Last year at this time, just a few days before the annual Library of Virginia Awards Dinner, I was nervous. Really I had nothing…
October 4, 2014

Book Launch Party at Black Swan

Last night at Black Swan Books & Music in Staunton we launched Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet, my new anthology from…
October 2, 2014

Everyone Pay Attention to Me!

Wednesday was a busy day. I got no writing done, but it still felt productive, mostly because I spent the day as if I was…
October 1, 2014

It’s Publication Day for Everywhere Stories!

Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet Today, October 1, is Publication Day for the new anthology. Click on the link above NOW…
September 30, 2014

My Indiana Influences

The folks at the Indianapolis Library Foundation asked each of the finalists for the Emerging Author Award to write a blog post about how…
September 29, 2014

Thoughts on Book Promotion: Everywhere Stories

Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet Thoughts on Book Promotion My new book, Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet, is…
September 27, 2014

2014 Reading: The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert This book was the September selection for my book club, the local chapter of Reading Liberally….
September 27, 2014

2014 Reading: Special Like the People on TV by Tommy Dean

Special Like the People on TV by Tommy Dean This is a fiction chapbook by a friend who graduated from my MFA program after…
September 26, 2014

2014 Reading: Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele

Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (Issues of Our Time) by Claude M. Steele I read this book because Northwestern…
September 25, 2014

Guest Post on Madam Mayo: It’s a Dangerous World

Today I guest blog on Madam Mayo, the wonderful blog of C.M. Mayo, novelist and traveler. Her guidance for visitors is to provide five…