Acclaimed Nonfiction Author & Memoirist; Professor at University of Iowa; Lambda Literary Award Winner

Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Melissa Febos Biography

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.

BOOK Melissa Febos

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 02/05/2026.

Melissa Febos Videos

Podcast on Upgrading Inner Narrative | Melissa Febos

Podcast on Upgrading Inner Narrative | Melissa Febos

Ready to deepen your meditation practice? Join Dan Harris and world-class meditation teachers on the 10% with Dan Harris app here. How to upgrade...

Podcast on Year of Celibacy | Melissa Febos

Podcast on Year of Celibacy | Melissa Febos

What happens when you stop chasing romantic love entirely? After ending a catastrophic relationship, acclaimed author Melissa Febos took an...

Interview on Solitude and Creativity | Melissa Febos

Interview on Solitude and Creativity | Melissa Febos

This week we welcome Melissa Febos back to Memoir Nation to discuss her latest book, The Dry Season. Melissa is a fountain of inspiration and...

  • How do I book Melissa Febos to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Melissa Febos for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Melissa Febos, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Melissa Febos or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Melissa Febos

    Speaking fees for Melissa Febos, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Melissa Febos are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Melissa Febos, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Melissa Febos speak about?

    Melissa Febos is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Empowerment, Feminism, Non-Fiction Authors, Personal Growth, Professors, Storytelling, Women's Empowerment
  • Where does Melissa Febos travel from?

    Melissa Febos generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Melissa Febos’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Melissa Febos for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Melissa Febos for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Melissa Febos or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Melissa Febos is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Melissa Febos for your event is available upon request. Melissa Febos generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tobias Wolff, Bess Kalb, Deirdre McCloskey, Stephen Dunn and Fran Tarkenton. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Melissa Febos for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP