Chimney or Not, Here I Come!

In the pile of Santa’s Christmas letters are hundreds of notes from anxious children whose homes or apartments have no chimneys. Will Santa still come? Can he still get inside? Determined not to disappoint the kids, Santa’s clever Elves come up with a wondrous book full of super-fun magic to help Santa deliver his toys!

A companion piece to Clement C. Moore’s enduring poem, ＂A Visit from St. Nicholas＂, this delightful, hand-painted picture book is written in lilting rhyme so that parents and grandparents can assure their children and grandchildren that Santa is on his way -- ＂Chimney or Not!＂

Marilyn Magness has spent her life writing, producing and directing family entertainment. As a show director for the Walt Disney Company and the subsequent Executive Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, Marilyn oversaw the development of live entertainment for Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris. Over her thirty-year Disney career, she created a vast number of musical shows, celebratory events, parades, holiday festivals, and production spectaculars for Disney theme parks around the world. Her Disney achievements include Emmy-winning television shows, live special events, musical revues, film premieres, cruise line entertainment, international resort grand openings, and national tours. Beyond Disney, Marilyn has conceived and directed some of the largest musical extravaganzas on earth. Her choreographic and directorial credits include Broadway’s Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Macy’s and The Tournament of Roses Parade Spectaculars, three Presidential Inaugural Celebrations, multiple Super Bowl Halftime Shows, the World Cup Opening Ceremonies, Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular, and numerous theatrical tours for Sesame Street, Clear Channel Entertainment, Universal Studios and the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.

Throughout it all, Marilyn’s greatest joy has been realized in the writing for and teaching of theater to children. As a teacher and director of her own children’s theater company That’s Entertainment, Marilyn authored dozens of original educational musicals for elementary and middle school students. Now retired from her full time Disney career, Marilyn looks forward to creating books and live entertainment experiences that will continue to delight, uplift and inspire young children and their parents.

Chimney or Not, Here I Come! Is a story that answers the age-old question from kids, If I don’t have a chimney, how will Santa get in? This is Marilyn’s first self-published holiday book for children. Her next book, Angels in Tennis Shoes, the heartfelt story of some elementary school kids who attempt to put on their own Christmas pageant -- will follow soon. A live, interactive children’s musical based on entertaining stories by Dr. Seuss is also in the works...

On a personal note, Marilyn holds degrees in English and Theater, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Redlands. She lives in Bend Oregon with husband Steve Carroll, a show producer. She enjoys skiing, mountain biking, playing honky-tonk piano, and isthe world’s worst cook. Contact her at marilyn@creativedevelopmentinternational.com

Be well. Be happy. Keep reading! Clint is an accomplished illustrator and master storyteller. He lives in Bend, Oregon. Clint’s extraordinary sense of humor, combined with his ability to understand and collaborate with an author is unmatched. He has captured the essence of this book perfectly. Molly is Marilyn’s daughter. Molly possesses a Masters Degree in English from Birkbeck College in London. She is married and the mother of two children, and is the favorite teacher of her middle school students in Bend Oregon. Molly came up with the idea for Chimney or Not, Here I Come based on her own empathy for young children, and encouraged her mother, Marilyn, to write it down. Throughout the writing process, she has remained a wise and thoughtful creative partner. Molly joins Marilyn in hoping that this story will be enjoyed by children of every socio and economic strata who still innocently yearn - and so sweetly deserve - to believe in the magic of Christmas.