Guest Amie Denman

How theater brings people together, at Christmas and anytime

By Amie Denman
In the spring semester of my senior in college, I had finished all the requirements for my major, so I had the luxury of being able to choose any elective course I wanted. I chose a delightful class from the drama department called “American Musical Theater.” Our assignment every week was to read the libretto and listen to several musicals. If a film version was available, we would gather and watch it so we could analyze structure, theme, set design, staging, and context. Of course, this would be easier now with the internet, but I finished college right before the world wide web was a real thing.
For a serious double major like me (English Literature and Political Science), analyzing musical theater was like having ice cream instead of green beans for dinner. I’ve always been in love with musicals. The eight-track player in my parents’ car played The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, The King and I, and The Music Man over and over. I still know every single word of those songs. And so do a whole lot of other people. (Admit it, you know where the wind comes sweeping down the plain and how many trombones led the big parade). It’s part of our cultural lexicon.
Theater has the power to examine the human experience and bring us together. In our group of stories for A Heartwarming Christmas, a local production of The Nutcracker Ballet brings residents of Christmas Town, Maine, together. Roz Denny Fox, Dana Mentink, and I have each taken an aspect of theater—music and dance in their novellas, and costume and set design in mine—and shown how people come together and even fall in love.
Perhaps the holidays and theater are alike. In both cases, we suspend our disbelief for a while, put on our finery, and engage in the magic that is life.
Amie’s links:
Website: www.amiedenman.com
Email: author@amiedenman.com
Twitter: @amiedenman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amie-Denman-893221967452334/

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This holiday season, warm your heart with 15 connected sweet, clean & wholesome holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 15 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

There are five connected books in A Heartwarming Holiday. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually.

 A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters.

Book 1: Once Upon a Holiday by Anna Adams, Anna J Stewart & Melinda Curtis: Three former college roommates start a business to bring the magic of the holidays to everyone in Christmas Town.  

Once Upon a Thanksgiving by Anna Adams, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Once Upon a Christmas by Anna J Stewart, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Melinda Curtis, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 2: Holiday Heroes by Leigh Riker, Tara Randel & Cari Lynn Webb: Three former Navy SEALs come together to restore an outdated resort.

Thankfully Yours by Leigh Riker, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Cooking Up Christmas by Tara Randel, Barnes and Noble bestselling, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 3: 24 North Pole Lane by Carol Ross, Amy Vastine & Cheryl Harper: Romance is being delivered to 24 North Pole Lane this holiday season.

Hers by Thanksgiving by Carol Ross, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Peace, Love, and Baby Joy by Amy Vastine, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Never Say Never on New Year’s by Cheryl Harper, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 4: Magic Moments by Tara Taylor Quinn, Shirley Hailstock & Liz Flaherty: Three different times, three different stories. They all bring magic to Christmas Town.

Christmas Past by Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

It Only Happens in Christmas Town by Shirley Hailstock, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

The Magic Stocking by Liz Flaherty, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Book 5: Nutcracker Sweethearts by Dana Mentink, Roz Denny Fox, & Amie Denman: As the stage production of the Nutcracker unfolds in Christmas Town, three couples find love with the help of a little holiday magic!

Thanksgiving Duet by Dana Mentink, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Christmas Curtain Call by Roz Denny Fox, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

Set for New Year’s by Amie Denman, Harlequin Heartwarming author.

If this boxed set appeals to you, look for our previous holiday anthology: A Heartwarming Christmas.

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And don't forget, included in A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY is an exclusive coupon worth $1.00 off any Heartwarming title from Harlequin.com. Who doesn't love heartwarming romances?