Overview
One year after the loss of her husband, Annie Obless is struggling to deal with her own grief while raising her two young children. Her therapist insists that her healing is being halted by her inability to open up and share details of Jason's death. Although Annie refuses to follow his advice to attend a support group, she does long to move forward and start building an identity beyond her current bland existence. Therefore, she agrees to enroll in a ballroom dance class, trying her best to escape the constant flashbacks of her life with Jason and the still-present flood of guilt and grief.
At the first night of Ballroom Basics, Annie meets Milo Warner, the handsome, enigmatic instructor who is eager to have a dance partner to help lead the class. Annie eventually begins to explore friendship and flirtation with Milo as he reveals his own past experiences with love and loss.
Annie attempts to master a variety of dance steps all while navigating parenting challenges, a potential romance, and the possibility of moving on. Choosing not to heed her therapist's warnings about a new relationship, Annie and Milo seek solace and new life in one another as their connection deepens and intensifies. Eventually, Annie finds herself opening up to more than she planned, making her come to terms with who she is and who she needs to be for her children and herself.
Author Bio
Angela Youngers has enjoyed having an audience, whether willing or captive, since singing in her father’s band at the age of five, performing in her first theatrical play as a freshman in high school, and teaching in the public school system since 2008. Angela has directed numerous plays; coached several events for IHSSA speech teams; written original ensembles and adapted several theatrical works for performance; encouraged and mentored students’ original writings; and worked to constantly foster a love of reading, writing, speaking, and performing in her students. She values communication, empathy, and creativity, and she believes the sharing of stories to be one of the most important human experiences.
Angela is a high school English and speech teacher in the Des Moines metro where she lives with her husband Jeremy and her two children, Tobias and Aubriana. She has her Bachelors of Education degree in Theatre and Communication Education from the University of Northern Iowa, an English endorsement, and her Masters in Education from Viterbo University.
