>In the catbird seat

>What a strange expression. It means being in a position of power or prominence. Or, more literally, it means sitting at my desk in the loft, with the window open. There’s been a very noisy bird parked in the sycamore tree just outside the window. It won’t shut up; it’s been nonstop. I couldn’t tell from its call what it was so I got up (any excuse will do) to look. The gray bird with the black cap eyed me–and meowed. Meow? Must be a catbird, I mused, joking to myself at first and then realizing that’s exactly what it had to be. I looked it up and sure enough, catbird. Okay, back to work now.

About the author

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.

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