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 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…
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…