Gays Reading V.E. Schwab (Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil) feat. Melissa Febos, Guest Gay Reader
Jun 10, 2025
Join bestselling author V.E. Schwab as she celebrates her 25th book, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, discussing themes of identity and the transformative power of names in LGBTQIA+ narratives. She also shares her personal coming-out story and the healing effect of writing. Joining her is Melissa Febos, a nationally bestselling author, who talks about her new memoir, The Dry Season, and her journey through a year of celibacy. Both shed light on the importance of queer representation and the emotional depth in their writing.
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Creative Risk After Breakout Success
- V.E. Schwab describes Bury Our Bones as her 25th book and her first explicitly lesbian novel.
- She framed it as a deliberate creative risk after Addie LaRue expanded her audience and she sought permission to be more honest.
Publishing Shaped Queer Presentation
- Schwab traces her evolving relationship to gender and sexuality across her books and publishing choices.
- She notes early pressure to assimilate (initials, subtext) shaped how she presented queer content commercially.
Let Readers Discover, Spoil Less
- Schwab intentionally obscures back-cover copy so readers experience the book with fewer expectations.
- She advises readers to know less going in to preserve the novel's impact.
