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.
March 19, 2013

The New Yorker: “The Judge’s Will” by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

March 25, 2013: “The Judge’s Will” by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala As of today, March 18, no Q&A is posted, so there’s no help there….
March 18, 2013

I’m Interviewed by Katrina Denza

My friend Katrina Denza has just read my book, What the Zhang Boys Know, and asked to interview me on her blog. Here is the…
March 18, 2013

2013 Reading: Life Among Giants by Bill Roorbach

Life Among Giants: A Novel by Bill Roorbach is a terrific read. Very entertaining. This is the first of Roorbach’s books I’ve read and I…
March 15, 2013

2013 Reading: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is Charlottesville’s choice for The Big Read this year, and I was invited to participate in a panel…
March 12, 2013

2013 Reading: Wash by Margaret Wrinkle

Wash by Margaret Wrinkle is a terrific book. First, some disclaimers. I was in a workshop at the Tinker Mountain Writers Workshop with Margaret several…
March 11, 2013

The New Yorker: “Checking Out” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi

March 18, 2013: “Checking Out” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie In the Q&A with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie we learn that this week’s “story” is an…
March 4, 2013

The New Yorker: “Kattekoppen” by Will Mackin

March 11, 2013: “Kattekoppen” by Will Mackin Stories about war are very hard to pull off, I think. This one’s not bad, although I…
March 4, 2013

AWP Week is Here — a day early

Just got home from a weekend trip to Chicago last night, only to discover that a snowstorm was threatening to disrupt my planned trip…
February 27, 2013

2013 Reading: The Jury by Steve Martini

The Jury (A Paul Madriani Novel) isn’t going to persuade me to read any more Steve Martini books. I only read this one because I…
February 25, 2013

The New Yorker: “Summer of ’38” by Colm Tóibin

March 4, 2013: “Summer of ’38” by Colm Tóibin I found this story by Colm Tóibin pretty ordinary, although beautifully told in an unusual…