Melissa Febos

Melissa Febos is an author and associate professor known for essays on consent, desire, and power in contemporary nonfiction. Her books, including "Whip Smart," "Abandon Me," "Girl Sleuth," and "Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative," examine the intersections of sexuality, addiction, and storytelling. These works draw on personal experiences and address cultural taboos, emphasizing the use of personal narrative as a tool for social change. Febos is recognized for her contributions to discussions on the ethics and impact of confessional writing.

As a professor at the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program, Febos mentors writers and contributes essays to The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Paris Review. Her expertise in memoir and essay writing informs her teaching and public speaking, where she addresses the craft of writing, the writing process, and the role of vulnerability in literature. Febos engages audiences in conversations about literature's influence on personal and collective healing.

Febos has received the Lambda Literary Award, the Caketrain Fiction Chapbook Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other honors in narrative nonfiction. She appears at literary festivals, universities, and conferences, sharing insights on creative blocks, women's bodies, and autonomy. Febos advocates for direct, truth-telling prose and encourages audiences to engage with challenging topics in writing and public discourse.