12 Short Stories and Their Making (Persea Books), edited with an introduction by Paul Mandelbaum, is an englightening resource for writers and readers alike. These twelve stories by major contemporary authors were selected as distinct examples of one of the six elements of the craft: character, plot, theme, structure, point of view/voice, and setting. Each story is followed by an author interview, focusing on the element for which the story was chosen. Through these interviews, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the stories represented, the authors who wrote them, and the methods available to the art and craft of fiction. Some stories included, are those by Ursula K. Le Guin, Walter Kim, Tobias Wolff, Sandra Cisneros, George Garret, and others.