Queer poet and writer Cass Donish is the author of three books including The Year of the Femme, Beautyberry, and the new poetry collection Your Dazzling Death. Today on the show, Cass and Annmarie talk about grief, queer love, and how to heal in the face of suicide loss.

Episode Sponsors:

Prairie Lights Books – Iowa City’s premier indie bookstore since 1978. Perhaps the strength of our reputation lies in the reading series of local, national and international writers who have read their works which were broadcast live on stations WSUI and WOI 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.

Skylark Bookshop – A fiercely independent bookstore where we strive to find new ways to celebrate literature and our community. Some books give us knowledge and perspective; others simply give necessary space to breathe. Putting the right book into the right hands is a deeply meaningful act. We believe that we can find that book for everyone who walks through our doors. We embrace enjoyment, entertainment, and the beauty of Skylark Bookshop. Stop by or shop online at skylarkbookshop.com.

Left Bank Books – The oldest and largest independently-owned bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri, where we offer a full-line of new and used books, gifts, cards, toys and services. We see ourselves as a cultural institution as well as a retail business. In that spirit, we produce over 300 events per year, most of which are free and open to the public. We've grown and changed throughout our 50 years, but our mission still remains the same – to spark public conversation by curating an intelligent, relevant, culturally diverse selection of books. Stop by or shop online at left-bank.com.

Books by Cass Donish

Your Dazzling Death

The Year of the Femme

Beautyberry

On the Mezzanine

Other Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode:

Letters to Forget, by Kelly Caldwell

Here’s a link to the Hot Widows Club podcast.

Here is the trailer for Emily in Paris.

And here’s another for Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Follow Cass Donish:

Instagram: @cassdonish

Twitter: @CassDonish

cassdonish.com

**Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment:

If you know you’ve been looking for the kind of female friendship we’ve spoken about on this show OR if you’re just desperate to get out of America right now, consider joining Annmarie and her co-leader, Phyllis Biffle Elmore, for a writing retreat in France! Learn more here.

You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We’d love to help you make that wish come true.

As of this moment, we only have 3 spots left, but you can click this link for $900 off.

The password is RetreatWriteRepeat

and the coupon code is 25AK

In 2025, Annmarie is teaching online Tuesday nights for Writing Workshops. Learn more and register HERE.

For her folks interested in an online Saturday morning writing class, message Annmarie to learn more.

Photo credit: Josh Theus

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