No More Drama with Mama | Author Talk with Gayle Kirschenbaum

Emmy-winning filmmaker, writer, and coach Gayle Kirschenbaum reads from her new memoir, BULLIED TO BESTIES: A DAUGHTER’S JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS, then shares how the book grew out of her documentary LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER! and her TED talk, "No More Drama with Mama." Gayle traces the path from a childhood marked by conflict to a hard-won reconciliation, offering real-world tools for anyone seeking healing. Joining her on stage is her 102-year-old mother, Mildred Kirschenbaum—co-author of Mildred's Mindset and a beloved "granfluencer"—who adds her perspective on change, accountability, and joy at any age. The evening includes a reading, candid conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing.

Book synopsis:

Gayle Kirschenbaum grew up the target of her mother's relentless cruelty. Bruised by criticism and shaped by silence, she left home at sixteen—but the emotional assault continued for years, leaving wounds that would take decades to heal. In this candid memoir, the Emmy-winning filmmaker excavates family history—buried secrets, inherited trauma, and cultural expectations—to understand her mother Mildred's behavior. Seeing the wounded child beneath the harsh exterior, Gayle shifts from defensiveness to empathy and, step by step, from pain to peace. Their bond deepens into a surprisingly tender friendship. Bullied to Besties is both a page-turning story and a compassionate roadmap for anyone seeking healing and real-world forgiveness.

Author's Bio:

Gayle Kirschenbaum's film LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER! premiered on Netflix and has been credited with transforming lives. Her TED talk is "No More Drama with Mama." She co-authored MILDRED'S MINDSET: WISDOM FROM A WOMAN CENTENARIAN with her mother, centenarian influencer Mildred Kirschenbaum. Her film A DOG'S LIFE: A DOGAMENTARY premiered on HBO. Gayle and her work have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Shondaland, The Ethel (AARP), and on national television. BULLIED TO BESTIES: A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS is her debut memoir. Publishers Weekly calls it "a mesmeric memoir... more than a story of trauma–riveting and beautifully wrought."

This program is made possible by Friends of the Fort Lauderdale Libraries.

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