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.
June 8, 2013

The New Yorker Summer Fiction Issue: “An Inch and a Half of Glory” by Dashiell Hammett

June 10 & 17, 2013, Summer Fiction Issue: “An Inch and a Half of Glory” by Dashiell Hammett The theme of the Summer Fiction…
June 5, 2013

2013 Reading: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Shafak I read this for one of the book clubs I participate in, and…
June 3, 2013

Audio of a Live Interview with Me

One of the oddest things about publishing and promoting a book is giving interviews. I’ve given several over the course of the last four…
May 29, 2013

2013 Reading: Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke

Cimarron Rose (Billy Bob Holland) by James Lee Burke isn’t a book you should read for the writing. The story is compelling, if only because…
May 28, 2013

Tips for Writers: Talk to People

This isn’t a writing tip, exactly. It’s more of a marketing tip, and one that I expect many writers will find hard to follow….
May 27, 2013

The New Yorker: “We Didn’t Like Him” by Akhil Sharma

June 3, 2013: “We Didn’t Like Him” by  Akhil Sharma In the Q&A with Akhil Sharma we learn that this story was meant to…
May 21, 2013

Tips for Writers: Use Sentence Fragments Sparingly

I had been reading a draft story by a young writer who had fallen into a pattern of using sentence fragments. It was a…
May 21, 2013

Book Giveaway: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

I confess that I haven’t yet read this book, but I read Shafak’s previous book, The Bastard of Istanbul, which was excellent. Here’s the description…
May 20, 2013

The New Yorker: “Thirteen Wives” by Steven Millhauser

May 27, 2013: “Thirteen Wives” by Steven Millhauser I’m not sure I get this story, which you can read in its entirety for free….
May 18, 2013

2013 Reading: Damascus Gate by Robert Stone

DAMASCUS GATE.by Robert Stone I confess that I’ve only read one other novel by Robert Stone, and I have to say I didn’t care…