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 3, 2013

Report from the Book signing at Fountain Bookstore

Today was Local Author and Small Press Day at Fountain Bookstore in Richmond. We had snow last night, but it was disappearing by the…
February 2, 2013

Tips for Writers: Blond vs. Blonde

I’ve been having a rather unpleasant argument on my Facebook page today. Here’s how it began. While editing a story for Prime Number Magazine…
January 30, 2013

Events, Events, Events

I’ve got lots of events coming up over the next few months. I’m grateful for the Events Tracker on this blog — it’s a…
January 29, 2013

2013 Reading: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut is something I know I should have read a long time ago. I read some Vonnegut when I was…
January 28, 2013

The New Yorker: “Zusya on the Roof” by Nicole Krauss

February 4, 2013: “Zusya on the Roof” by Nicole Krauss I don’t think there’s any need to wrestle with the meaning of this story—the…
January 27, 2013

Work in Progress: a new novel

As I continue the process of searching for an agent/publisher for my completed novel (a few agents are looking at it currently), I am…
January 23, 2013

2013 Reading: Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt achieves what it sets out to do, and that’s really all you can ask of a book. It doesn’t…
January 23, 2013

2013 Reading: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Third Edition by Robert Sapolsky. This might seem like an odd choice for me, but it was book club’s selection…
January 23, 2013

Guest Post: Midge Raymond

5 Ways to Write When You’re Not Really Writing By Midge Raymond We are often told that, as writers, we are supposed to sit…
January 22, 2013

Prime Number Magazine Issue 31

The latest issue of Prime Number Magazine just went live! I hope you’ll check out our Issue 31, which features all kinds of good…