Comedy & Memoir
Featured writers: Annabelle Gurwitch and Chelsea Hood
The legimitately funny cancer memoir we’ve needed. Actress and writer Annabelle Gurwitch’s new book The End of My Life Is Killing Me has been touted by The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and more! Gurwitch discusses the memoir-writing process and finding humor in hard times with comedian Chelsea Hood.
Book signing times (all signings take place in the First Floor Lobby of the library)
🖊️Annabelle Gurwitch: 12:00 – 12:20
About the writers:
ANNABELLE GURWITCH is an actress, activist, and New York Times bestselling author of six books and two-time finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor writing. Her writing appears in the New York Times, WaPo, New Yorker, WSJ amongst other publications. She co-hosted Dinner & a Movie on TBS, appeared in too many shows and movies including Seinfeld, Dexter, Better Things, Daddy Day Care and was a regular commentator on NPR. Her most recent book You’re Leaving When? was a NY Times Favorite Book for Healthy Living. The End of My Life is Killing Me came out on March 17th, 2026.
CHELSEA HOOD is a stand up comedian living in Chicago, IL by way of the comedy scenes in both Dallas, TX and Brooklyn, NY. You may have seen her on WGN, The CW Network’s Eye Opener, or CW33’s Nightcap. She was also featured on Stand Up Records’ “Texas Mess” album recorded at SXSW. She was most frequently featured performer at Limestone Comedy Festival, one of eight chose as the Best of the Midwest at Gilda’s LaughFest and a Comic to Watch at RIOT LA.
The End of My Life Is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker
by Annabelle Gurwitch
In this hilariously and deeply affecting meditation on mortality, the actress and activist illuminates life with chronic disease, inequities in care, and celebrates tiny victories, the crusty ends of baguettes, the discreet pleasure of sucking at a hobby, and the unshakable bond of female friendship. She upends the notion of living each day as if it were your last, as she discovers you can carpe too much diem, embracing, instead, the extraordinariness of the ordinary.