JOHANNA STEIN

Johanna Stein

Johanna Stein was born in Winnipeg, Canada and attended school at the University of Winnipeg. Johanna moved to Los Angeles where she attended the American Film Institute’s M.F.A. program, then began working days at DreamWorks Entertainment as a Story Analyst, while performing nights at such comedy venues as The Comedy Store, The Improv, and Largo. Her work as writer, producer, director and actor has been seen in such places as Comedy Central, The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, The New York Times, Parents Magazine, The Huffington Post, PBS, The Oxygen Network, Showcase, The Movie Network, UPN, VH-1, Noggin, CTV, The Family Channel and The Canadian Broadcasting Company.

 

BOOK TITLES IN COLLABORATION WITH IDEA ARCHITECTS

  • How Not to Calm a Child on a Plane: And Other Lessons in Parenting from a Highly Questionable Source

HOW NOT TO CALM A CHILD ON A PLANE: AND OTHER LESSONS IN PARENTING FROM A HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

 

For Johanna Stein (writer/comedian/forward/slash/abuser and occasionally neurotic/immature/way-too-candid mom), parenting is an extreme sport. Her stories from the trenches may not always be shared experiences—Have you ever wondered if your baby’s “soft spot” is like a delete key? Trained your preschooler for a zombie invasion? Accused a nearly nude stranger of being pregnant? Made sweet, bimonthly love to your spouse while your toddler serenaded you through the adjoining wall? Attempted to calm your screaming baby on an airplane with a hand puppet, only to have it lead to one of the most disgusting experiences of your life?—but they will always make you laugh.

So, no, this book won’t teach you how to deal with nipple blisters or Oedipal complexes. But if you want to learn why you should never attempt to play a practical joke in the hospital delivery room, then you’re in the right place.

How Not to Calm a Child book cover

PRESS FEATURES & REVIEWS

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Los Angeles Magazine link

“You will not find a better agent than Doug Abrams. Feel free to try — but you will be wasting precious time, time that could be better spent writing (or, if you’re like me, procrastinating).

Doug Abrams is a rare breed. He is intelligent, experienced and incredibly well-read – not just about the world of publishing but about the world at large, so much so that after your conversations you will feel several IQ points smarter than you really are.

He is quick-witted and has a fantastic sense of humor, which, as a comedy writer, I admire and appreciate (and am more than a little in awe of).

And he is kind, patient, and integrity-led – qualities that, as a first-time author coming from the world of Hollywood, I never dreamed could exist in a professional colleague.

The truth is, I don’t know that I can adequately express my feelings of respect and gratitude for Doug Abrams. My book would not exist without him. He lit the fire under my inertia-bound rear-end, and his enthusiasm, encouragement and optimism kept me (and my rear-end) focused and calm throughout the process, all the way from proposal through publication. Doug is the original “true joy” to work with. In fact, I’ve been wracking my brain to offset this glowing review with a flaw. The only one I can think of is that Doug is quite tall, which means that you may strain your neck when you meet him for lunch.”

“You will not find a better agent than Doug Abrams. Feel free to try — but you will be wasting precious time”