Stutterer Interrupted - by Nina G (Paperback)

About the Book

The author, a stand-up comedian whose comedy is funny, revealing, unapologetic, and always a window to her experience as a person who stutters, tells the story of how she became America's first female stuttering stand-up comedian.

Book Synopsis

Nina G bills herself as "The San Francisco Bay Area's Only Female Stuttering Comedian." On stage, she encounters the occasional heckler, but off stage she is often confronted with people's comments toward her stuttering; listeners completing her sentences, inquiring, "Did you forget your name?" and giving unwanted advice like "slow down and breathe" are common. (As if she never thought about slowing down and breathing in her over thirty years of stuttering!)

When Nina started comedy nearly ten years ago, she was the only woman in the world of stand-up who stuttered--not a surprise, since men outnumber women four to one amongst those who stutter and comedy is a male-dominated profession. Nina's brand of comedy reflects the experience of many people with disabilities in that the problem with disability isn't in the person with it but in a society that isn't always accessible or inclusive.

Review Quotes

"An edgy, thought-provoking, and informative insider's view of a frequently misunderstood disability."

--Kirkus Reviews

"Deftly written, Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn't Happen is a very special kind of memoir that blends humor with candor. The result is an inherently fascinating read from beginning to end."

--Midwest Book Review

"'How can some pauses and a few extra syllables take control of a person's life?' Nina G tackles this question with a style that is both deliciously profane and skin-wide-open self-revealing. Stutterer Interrupted speaks to the successful lives we can build if we embrace our idiosyncrasies and help others do the same, rather than seeing ourselves as broken and needing repair."

--Barry Yeoman, freelance magazine and radio journalist

"Stutterer Interrupted made me guffaw, snort with laughter, and very verklempt. Nina G keeps it real and f*cking funny as she describes how she found and valued her voice and the people who helped along the way. For anyone who hungers for self-acceptance, community, and a sense of pride, this is the book for you."

--Alice Wong, Founder and Director, Disability Visibility Project

"We live in a society that constantly tells us to fix our imperfections. Why, then, would someone who stutters choose to put their imperfection out on display rather than get it fixed? Nina G provides us with the answer to this question in her delightful book, which offers candid insight into her journey of struggle and self-acceptance. Her book is a refreshingly honest look at how a person with a stutter can choose to become comfortable with herself, reject society's notions of what is acceptable of people with disabilities, and forge a successful path for herself. It is an inspirational, heartwarming tale."

--Pooja Vijay, stand-up comedian and PhD candidate

"Vivid, frolicking stories that tumble over each other as we see the career of a stuttering comedian being built before our very eyes. Starting off much like a comedian would, at a fast-paced, punchy clip, the writing flows easily from anecdotal to introspective."

--Holly Shaw, author of The Creative Formula and host of the podcast Performers & Creators Lab

"Nina G uses humor and rich storytelling to describe the moment when she wanted her space back. The shame and stigma of stuttering can lead to a belief that we deserve to be silent. Stutterer Interrupted busts that stigma wide open and tells us that it's sometimes okay to be loud and proud."

--Pamela Mertz, host of Women Who Stutter: Our Stories

"I know firsthand what it's like--and what it takes--to become a professional (you know, the kind that gets paid) stand-up comedian. In Stutterer Interrupted, Nina G., not so delicately and very personally, walks us through her own struggles and immense triumphs. This is truly a story of someone repeatedly being told, 'You can't do this, ' and then responding, 'Oh yeah? Listen to this!' Mic drop."

--Mike Guido, comedian, stage performer, and speaker

"Whip-smart, bighearted, and laugh-out-loud funny. Stutterer Interrupted is a must-read for anyone who cares about building a more equitable and inclusive world."

--Jonathan Mooney, author of Normal Sucks and Learning Outside the Lines

"Nina G. offers a rich account of the experiences of stuttering in an authentic voice--part teacher, part advocate, part emotionally raw and profane. Although it may not be for everyone, those who read Stutterer Interrupted will come away with a better understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and joys that can accompany living with stuttering."

--Hope Gerlach, Journal of Fluency Disorders, September 2019

"This book speaks very intuitively to the adolescent or adult who stutters, discovering their sense of self and their own voice. Not only does it contain sage and practical advice for finding a supportive and empowering community, it also embraces self-forgiveness for mistakes made along the way. Risk is a huge theme in this book--evident each time the author embarks on stage, a new professional or educational challenge, or a new relationship."

--Selena Donaldson, Journal of Fluency Disorders, September 2019

About the Author

Nina G is a comedian, professional speaker and Disability advocate. She travels the country performing at comedy clubs and colleges and keynoting at conferences. She is part of the comedy troupe The Comedians with Disabilities Act, which brings laughter and awareness to audiences of all ages across the country. Nina lives in Oakland with her husband, Ethan who is a comedian and educator. Since comedians should never quit their day job, she also works as a counselor for students with disabilities at a California Community College, which she loves almost as much as stand-up comedy. She has contributed to numerous books on stuttering and disability studies, including her own children's book, Once Upon an Accommodation: A Book About Learning Disabilities. Websites: www.NinaGcomedian.com and www.StuttererInterrupted.com Twitter: @NinaGcomedian Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Ninagcomedian and www.Facebook.com/StuttererInterrupted