To know Jan Miller is to know a woman who, when she walks into a room, has a positive presence the size of her home state.

The Texan and part-time New Yorker and Aspenite is a high-powered literary agent with a client roster that reads like an NBA dream team (only much longer). She’s the owner of Dupree-Miller & Associates, headquartered in Dallas, with a satellite in New York, and has been in the business of shepherding talent for 25 years.

One of her passions in life is entertaining and bringing people together with the help of her husband Jeff Rich, managing director of Plumtree Partners, a private equity investment firm.

Together, they form a dynamic duo. When it comes to preparing for lively dinner parties in their Dallas and Aspen homes, Jan’s in charge of the details and Jeff helps create a diverse and exciting guest list. “The two of them play off of each other,” says Amen who has known them for a dozen years. “It makes for fascinating conversation and a fabulous evening.”

We caught up with Jan in Aspen over the holidays to talk about her entertaining tips, her distinctive style, and her love of Amen Wardy – the man and the store.

AWH How often do you entertain?
JM We have dinner parties in Dallas two or three times a month. Because of my business as a literary agent, I also host several book parties. Those aren’t necessarily dinner parties, however I like them to always have flair and be memorable.

AWM Walk us through a perfect evening.
JM Oh, to me it’s all about the table and guests. Our homes are so different, each creates a unique entertaining opportunity. I believe the ideal size for a dinner party is 14-20 guests. During cocktails, I always keep the door to the dining room closed so that when you open the door for dinner the table is a huge surprise.

AWM Why is the table so important?
JM There’s nothing in the world I’m more passionate about than setting a table. Sadly, I don’t focus a lot on the food. Luckily, someone else can work that out for me. I love to create the experience. A beautiful table with great guests and wonderful food make an extraordinary evening. I’ve learned so much from Amen. I like it overdone like Amen does.

We’ve found when you create a unique dining experience, you energize people, you engage people, you laugh with them and people enjoy coming to your home. It’s the enthusiasm. Jeff is a great host and he enjoys it as much as I do.

AWM Tell us some ways you keep the dinner conversation going?
JM We often go around the table and ask questions which is fascinating because you learn so much about your guests. My husband is very good at asking provocative and insightful questions.

Another way to keep the conversation going is with interesting table gifts. On Christmas Eve, we put little notepads with big, feathered pens from Amen Wardy at each placesetting. We then sent notes to each other all evening. It was hilarious. Some messages were funny, some unprintable. We had people in their sixties, twenties and young teens. Everyone got involved.

AWM Where does your style confidence come from?
JM I love color, so that’s number one. If you saw our home in Dallas, you would understand that. Originally built in 1938, the Georgian-style home took three and half years to renovate. We hired a team of fine artists to add bold colors and intricate trompe-l’oeil. The results are very European with bold colors.

I am not afraid of color. You start with colors you like and experiment a little bit and a little bit more and a little bit more and then you go, You know what, I’m really comfortable this and I love it. I don’t like matchy-match. Amen has had a tremendous influence on me the way he so brilliantly does a table. You can start with a napkin and go out of your mind trying different combinations and table settings.

AWM What draws you to Aspen?
JM We love Aspen so much because we’re outdoor people. We enjoy skiing, downhill and cross-country, and hiking. Jeff is an intense cyclist. We both love golf. We feel so blessed to be able to come up here and really enjoy our friends and family. Entertaining is part of that. What’s more relaxing than to have a big athletic day, a nice massage, a long nap, and then a wonderful evening with people you love?

AWM Tell us why you are so enthusiastic about Amen Wardy Home.
JM I think it is the most extraordinary store in America. There’s nothing that makes me happier than to walk into Amen’s in Aspen. You walk in and he’s so energetic and he’s so excited about all of his merchandise and he has every price range. You can pick up something for $10. Or you can really go crazy and do table settings for 24 and spend a significant amount of money. And then you do have it forever.

I have a theory: When you’re shopping it should be a fun experience! Why spend money if it’s not fun? Why even bother? Amen understands that. He and his people make shopping a joy and a highlight of being in Aspen.

Photo: Jan Miller pictured with the men in her life, Amen Wardy and Jeff Rich.