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 14, 2013

2013 Reading: Windows 8 for Dummies by Andy Rathbone

I feel a little silly including this book in a blog of my reading for the year, but, hey, it’s a book, I read…
February 13, 2013

2013 Reading: The Ones We Have by Leah Naomi Green

I had the great pleasure on Sunday night to be part of a reading in the city of Roanoke called the One Night Standing…
February 12, 2013

2013 Reading: Scrapped by Mollie Cox Bryan

I’m not a reader of mysteries, honestly. I’ve been reading some now and then to see what I can learn from them about plot,…
February 11, 2013

Meet Seth Michelson . . . and learn how to get his book for free

I’m happy today to present a conversation with Seth Michelson, author of poetry collection Eyes Like Broken Windows. And if you read to the…
February 10, 2013

AWP HEAT Flash Contest — Free to Enter!

 Guidelines The AWP HEAT Flash Contest is run in conjunction with AWP HEAT, a reading on Friday, March 8, at Dillon’s Restaurant & Bar,…
February 9, 2013

Happy Year of the Snake! 新年快乐！

The Lunar New Year begins Sunday, February 13, and this year will be a Year of the Snake. (Click on that link for all…
February 9, 2013

One Night Standing — Sunday, February 10

I am really looking forward to heading down to Roanoke on Sunday evening for One Night Standing, a great new reading series at the…
February 6, 2013

2013 Reading: The Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Round House by Louise Erdrich won the National Book Award in 2012. I haven’t read the other finalists, so I can say whether I…
February 5, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Embassy of Cambodia” by Zadie Smith

February  11 & 18, 2013: “The Embassy of Cambodia” by Zadie Smith I have mixed feelings about this story. On the one hand, I…
February 4, 2013

2013 Reading: Red Gold by Alan Furst

Red Gold by Alan Furst was a surprise to me because I’ve never read Furst before, although I’ve heard of him. This novel tells the story…