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.
December 1, 2013

Philosophy Project

College was a long time ago, but I was a philosophy major. I chose philosophy because I was intrigued, nothing else particular grabbed me,…
November 29, 2013

On the Air

I just did my first radio interview. I’ve done podcasts and blog-talk internet “radio” before, but this was the first time in a radio…
November 25, 2013

The New Yorker: “Kilfi Creek” by Lionel Shriver

November 25, 2013: “Kilfi Creek” by Lionel Shriver This is a readable story, if only because one wants to know if the protagonist, Liana,…
November 24, 2013

The New Yorker: “Find the Bad Guy” by Jeffrey Eugenides

November 18, 2013: “Find the Bad Guy” by Jeffrey Eugenides There’s not a lot to learn from the Q&A with Jeffrey Eugenides, but there…
November 6, 2013

Visiting Writer at Randolph College

I am in the middle of a four-week stay as the Visiting Writer at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. It’s been a blast so…
November 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “Benji” by Chinelo Okparanta

November 11, 2013: “Benji” by Chinelo Okparanta I guess unlikable characters are a thing now, because it’s hard to like any of these people….
November 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “Weight Watchers” by Thomas McGuane

November 4, 2013: “Weight Watchers” by Thomas McGuane Q&A with Thomas McGuane I’m not sure I like this story much, but I really like…
November 5, 2013

The New Yorker: “Samsa in Love” by Haruki Murakami

October 28, 2013: “Samsa in Love” by Haruki Murakami Okay. I guess. Here we have The Metamorphosis turned on its head. Instead of Gregor…
November 4, 2013

New approach for me: The Three Act Structure

I’m not suggesting that the Three Act Structure is new to story writing–it’s been around a long time. It’s just new that I’m thinking…
November 4, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Alice Munro

October 21, 2013: “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Alice Munro Alice Munro, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, was awarded the…