The Dry Season with Melissa Febos

Melissa Febos is the author of five books, including the national bestselling essay collection, GIRLHOOD, which has been translated into eight languages and was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist, and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism. Her craft book, BODY WORK, was also a national bestseller, an LA Times Bestseller, and an Indie Next Pick. Her latest, The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex, is out now. She’s the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the Jeanne Córdova Nonfiction Award from LAMBDA Literary. On today’s show, Melissa and Annmarie discuss celibacy, erasure, and how abstaining from romantic entanglements might allow us to see ourselves in radical new ways. Episode Sponsors: Prairie Lights Books – Iowa City’s premier indie bookstore since 1978.   Perhaps the strength of Prairie Lights reputation lies in the reading series of local, national and international writers who have read their works which were broadcast live on Iowa Public Radio and Television stations and which was the only regular literary series of its kind. All of this could not have been possible without a loyal customer base and a dedicated staff. Learn more or shop online at prairielights.com. Books Are Magic – A family-owned independent bookstore in Brooklyn, NY committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. We believe that books are indeed magic and that literature is one of the best ways to create empathy, transportation, and transformation. Stop by or shop online at booksaremagic.net. Books by Melissa Febos The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex Body Work Abandon Me Whip Smart: The True Story of a Secret Life Girlhood Here’s our favorite Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility. Follow Melissa Febos: Instagram: @melissafebos Facebook: @melissafebos Substack: @melissafebos melissafebos.com Photo Credit: Beowulf Sheehan **Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment:  If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing abroad, consider joining Annmarie and co-leader Athena Dixon for a writing retreat in Italy in September, 2025. You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We’d love to help you make your wishes come true.  This will sell out. Act now and join us! Or for women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here or message Annmarie to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices