Anita Felicelli, an acclaimed author, has recently released her short story collection, How We Know Our Time Travelers, which explores various points of view in storytelling. Felicelli emphasized that the choice of perspective was a primary focus during the writing process, impacting the emotional resonance of the stories throughout the drafting and revision stages.
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In her story "Steam Tunnels," Felicelli opted for a collective first-person point of view, as no single character stood out as the most changed. This choice reflected the dynamic of the group of street kids featured in the narrative. Conversely, "The Glitch," a story about a coder who creates holograms of her deceased children, was written in second person. This perspective emerged through a collaboration with artist Jody Zellen for 7x7 LA, shaping the story around the unique style of narration.
Felicelli maintained a consistent point of view for each story, believing that the voice fundamentally drives the narrative. She worked closely with WTAW editor Peg Alford Pursell to arrange the collection, creating a varied reading experience by juxtaposing different perspectives. The first story, "Until the Seas Rise," serves as an accessible entry point due to its first-person narration, while "Steam Tunnels" shifts to a collective view, offering a different intimacy.
The author noted that experimenting with POV allowed for an expansive emotional range within the collection. For instance, the alternating perspectives in "Amrita" create a sense of intimacy and eavesdropping through letters, contrasting with the more distanced approach seen in other narratives.
Felicelli expressed a desire to explore a roving point of view, similar to styles found in 18th and 19th-century British novels, which would allow for a godlike narrator who directly addresses readers.
Among contemporary works that intrigue her, Felicelli highlighted Robert Coover’s "The Babysitter" for its fragmented narrative and shifting perspectives, as well as Sarah Shun-lien Bynum's "The Burglar," which similarly employs a third-person viewpoint that shifts between multiple characters.
Anita Felicelli's How We Know Our Time Travelers has gained recognition, having been shortlisted for the 2025 Northern California Book Awards and the 2024 Foreword Indies Award. In addition to this collection, she is the author of Chimerica: A Novel and Love Songs for a Lost Continent, with her writings appearing in numerous reputable publications. Felicelli also serves as the books editor at Alta Journal and has held various positions within literary organizations.