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.
May 18, 2013

2013 Reading: River of Dust by Virginia Pye

River of Dust: A Novel by Virginia Pye I’d really been looking forward to reading this novel because the author is a friend of mine….
May 16, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Dark Arts” by Ben Marcus

May 20, 2013: “The Dark Arts” by Ben Marcus Q&A with Ben Marcus This story (available for free, so read it quick before they…
May 15, 2013

Guest Blog: “We Don’t Get a Do-over (Except When We Do)” by Valerie Nieman

We Don’t Get a Do-over (Except When We Do) by Valerie Nieman Time is an arrow, right? Fired into the future, never to return….
May 13, 2013

Tips for Writers: Like vs. As if

I’ve been seeing a lot confusion over the difference between like and as if lately. I used to see it all the time when…
May 6, 2013

The New Yorker: “Art Appreciation” by Fiona McFarlane

May 13, 2013: “Art Appreciation” by Fiona McFarlane Henry, the main character of this story, is described in the Q&A with Fiona McFarlane as…
May 5, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Gray Goose” by Jonathan Lethem

May 6, 2013: “The Gray Goose” by Jonathan Lethem I started reading this days ago but it didn’t grab my attention at the time,…
May 2, 2013

Short Story Month: In an Uncharted Country by Clifford Garstang

In honor of Short Story Month 2013, Press 53 has lowered the Kindle price of my first book to just $0.99. In an Uncharted…
May 1, 2013

Short Story Month 2013

I didn’t do such a great job with National Poetry Month. I started out strong, highlighting several poetry collections I had on the shelf…
April 28, 2013

Bookfair Reflections

Yesterday (Saturday, April 27, 2013) was the inaugural SWAG Writers Bookfair (Downtown is for Book Lovers Day). To me, it seemed like a success….
April 24, 2013

Downtown [Staunton] is for Book Lovers! — Saturday, April 27

Our local writers’ organization, SWAG Writers, is holding a Bookfair this Saturday, April 27, from 10am to 5pm, at 16 W. Beverley St., right…