Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil BY Ananda Lima

Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil marks Ananda Lima's captivating debut into fiction, described as strange, intimate, haunted, and hungry by critics and fellow authors alike. At the heart of this collection is a writer who, after an encounter with the devil at a Halloween party in 1999, finds herself repeatedly encountering him throughout her life. In response, she crafts stories that blend the impossible with the true, delving into surreal pockets of both the United States and Brazil.

Lima's storytelling prowess draws readers into narratives where they encounter bite-sized Americans in vending machines and the ghosts of the living. These tales not only entertain but also explore themes central to modern Brazilian-American immigrant experiences—ambition, fear, longing, and belonging. Lima's prose is infused with humor, exquisite imagination, and a wisdom that has been lauded as singular and fresh, echoing the influences of literary greats like Bulgakov and Lispector.

The collection includes stories such as "Rapture," "Ghost Story," "Tropiclia," and others, each offering a unique perspective on human existence and the art of storytelling itself. Critics have praised Lima for her ability to blend the uncanny with the profound, creating narratives that are both propulsive and uncanny.

Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil has been recommended by several literary platforms including Chicago Review of Books, Electric Literature, and The Kenyon Review. It is a must-read for fans of Carmen Maria Machado's Her Body and Other Parties and V. E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, offering readers a journey into the surreal and the deeply human aspects of storytelling and identity. Lima's debut promises to leave a lasting impression on those who venture into its pages, offering a fresh and compelling voice in contemporary fiction.