We’d like to
welcome Debbie Macomber to CK2S Kwips and Kritiques this month! I’m so
thrilled to have the chance to talk about her latest book Twenty
Wishes and her writing career. I personally just “discovered” Debbie
about a year and a half ago when my Mom lent me the book Christmas
Letters to read. I fell in love with Blossom Street and Debbie’s
writing and am now excitedly working my way through her immense back list,
bit by wonderful bit.
1. Your
fans all over the world are very familiar with Debbie the author. Please
tell us a little bit about Debbie the person?
I’m pretty much
a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of person. My life is filled with
passions. God, Family, Writing, Knitting, Friends. I do my best to live
life to the fullest.
2. I don’t
think I’ve ever found an author who gets to the heart of their readers quite
as much as you do. You have such insight into what your readers want to
read. Did you ever expect such a following of your books? How is it that you
put that magic to work in every single book?
You mention my
insight into what readers want to read. Basically, all of my stories come
from a chance meeting or an incident that came out of my own life. For
example, SUSANNAH’S GARDEN was written after putting my own mother in an
assisted living complex. TWENTY WISHES was the result of a chance meeting
at an autographing. I always pray about my plots, too, and ask God to
direct me to subjects that will touch my readers.
As to the
success of my career, it’s far more than I could ever have imagined. I
finally started keeping a list of the wonderful surprises that come my way
every year.
The magic, as
you put it, I believe comes from above and the prayer that goes into each
book. Also there’s a real connection between the author and the reader.
I’m not sure how to explain it, but the reader experiences the same emotions
I do while creating a scene. If I laugh, the reader does, too. If I weep,
so does the reader. If I lay my heart out on there on the written page, it
connects with the reader. I can’t think of any other way to explain it.
3. What
influenced you to get published? How long did it take you to get your first
book published?
The death of a
cousin I’d grown up with led to the decision for me to start writing. It
was the year we both turned 30. I talked a great deal about being a writer
SOME DAY. When David died it was as if God was telling me life held few
guarantees and if I was ever going to make the leap and go after my dream,
then the time was now.
It took me five
years and four completed manuscripts before I sold that first book.
4. In
Twenty Wishes, each of the women in Anne Marie’s circle of
friends makes their own list of wishes and inspires a movement throughout
town to do the same. And your book made me sit and think about what my own
wishes would be. If you had to sit down and write up a list of your own
twenty wishes, what would be at the very top of your list?
This may sound
odd but I had a very hard time making up a list of wishes. I’m such a goal
oriented person that they all started sounding like goals or a “To Do”
list. It was difficult for me to think of fun, whimsical things. On the
very top of my list was a cake decorating class with my oldest
granddaughter, Jazmine. You’ll be happy to know I’ve signed us up for a
four-week session for the month of August. I’m hyped. It’s going to be
such fun and we’re going to be baking up a storm.
5.
Twenty Wishes focuses on four widows of varying ages who have bonded
over the common ground and then make a pact to develop their wish lists. Why
widows? What was it about this community of women that drew you to write a
book about the trials and tribulations they face?
Why widows? I
came up with the idea of wishes first (gleaned from that reader who had her
own list). Once I had the plot premise I mulled over who would need wishes
most and why. It came to me that widows might be bogged down with regrets
and need to grab hold of something that would grant them a renewed
appreciation of life. It sort of just went on from there.
6. How did
it feel to be able to combine two of your greatest loves, knitting and
writing, into a series that has become immensely popular?
Someone pinch
me—I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.
7. You now
even have your own line of knitting accessories and have several pattern
books out inspired by your books. (I have a copy sitting here of the
companion book to Twenty Wishes and love the patterns found
within.) How was it that your own passion for the craft got started? Did you
ever expect that your love for needlework would inspire so many people to
try the craft?
Knitting has
played a key role in my childhood and now in my career. Because I’m
dyslexic and struggled to learn to read as a child—it was 5th
grade before the concept grabbed hold—I was desperately in need of
self-esteem. At age eleven or twelve I had the desire to learn how to knit
and pestered my mother until she gave in and took me to a yarn store, where
the ladies taught me. No one else in my school could knit, so it
immediately gave me a bit of notoriety and prestige. I taught my friends,
which helped with communication skills and math skills, too. So you can see
it played a major role all through my teen years. I was an avid knitter
until my career took over, and then I laid it aside until the grandchildren
started to arrive, and then it returned with a ferocity.
The knitting
accessory line is another example of things happening above and beyond
anything I could imagine. Working with Leisure Arts on the accessory line
and the knitting pattern books, too, has been incredible fun. In fact, I’m
currently knitting one of the sweaters for my granddaughter, Maddie, that is
in the TWENTY WISHES pattern book. My next project, will be from that same
pattern book, too.
I’m honored and
thrilled that so many people have decided to take up knitting after reading
my books.
8. One of
my favorite things about your books is that by the time I turn the final
page, I feel as though the characters have become treasured friends. And I
love to catch up with them in later books. I’d have to say two of my
favorites are Charlotte from the Cedar Cove series and Lydia from the
Knitting Series/Blossom Street books. Are there any particular
characters that have stayed with you long after their book was finished? Who
were they and why do you think they affected you so much?
It would be too
hard for me to choose a favorite character. They are all like family. One
that has stayed in my mind lately, however, is Lydia’s sister. Margaret.
She’s such a complex person and carries a lot of emotional baggage; she
intrigues me.
9. From
inspiration to print, how long does it typically take you to complete a
single book? Do you have any special ways you celebrate finishing a book or
any rituals, per se, you follow upon starting a new book?
When it comes to
the time it takes to write a book--each one takes as long as it takes. So
many factors go into determining time. I need to take into consideration
the amount of research necessary. Also, how much traveling/promoting I’m
doing and other factors play into that as well. Seeing that I pen three
original books a year, it’s safe to say the average book takes around four
months.
I don’t have any
rituals when I finish a book. My husband and I might go out to dinner or
take a weekend away, but that’s it.
10. This is
one of my favorite “signature” questions to ask in an interview. If you had
to convince people, in one short paragraph, to give your books a try, what
would you tell them?
Wow, what a
great question. I suspect I might say something like, “I’m friendly and my
books are, too. They offer a slice of life, characters who will touch your
heart, and storylines that will linger in your mind long after you complete
the book.” If that doesn’t convince them to give the books a try, I’ll give
their name to my Uncle Vido.
11. Your
next book in the Cedar Cove series, 8 Sandpiper Way,
comes out in September 2008 and is followed by A Cedar Cove Christmas
in October. Can you give us any extra scoop on what to expect in these
books?
I won’t tell you
anything about the plot for 8 Sandpiper Way, but I will report that
my editor (and she’s picky!) claims this is her favorite book of the
series. As for A Cedar Cove Christmas—what a fun book to write.
It’s the retelling of the original Christmas story. A young woman named
Mary Jo arrives in town, and there’s no room for her at the Comfort Inn.
You get the idea . . .
12. Not only
are your books a special read, the covers are incredible. How much input do
you get into the cover art? The artist obviously has read your books and
picks up a lot of the characters and imagery you project.
I love the
artist who does my covers. Her name is Deborah C ,and she’s captured the
very heart of my books. I got tears in my eyes the first time I saw the
cover for The Shop on Blossom Street. She does all my covers for my new
books now.
13. Your
Cedar Cove books are so hugely popular that they’ve spawned a whole new
tourist trade for your hometown of Port Orchard from folks wanting to “see”
Cedar Cove. And now the books have even inspired an entire weekend festival
debuting next year. What did it feel like the very first time you realized
what your books have done for the readers and your hometown?
Cedar Cove Days
here in Port Orchard is going to be incredible. The entire community is
gearing up for the festivities. I’m completely overwhelmed, humbled and so
very honored by all the work and effort that’s gone into organizing such a
huge event. It’s another one of those “above and beyond” my wildest
expectations. Be sure to check out the new website, due to launch soon,
with a link on my website, and sign up early for the various events. I’d
hate for anyone who intends to come to be disappointed.
14. Your
life and your talent is such an inspiration to people everywhere and you’ve
even written a couple non-fiction inspirational works. It’s also a well
known fact that you overcame severe dyslexia to find the successful writing
career you now have. What does it feel like to know you have had such an
impact on women everywhere and given them the strength to go after their own
dreams? Did you ever imagine your determination would affect millions of
people?
What God has
done in my life is truly amazing. I feel so very blessed. Who would have
thought when I rented that typewriter and set it on the kitchen table that
the stories rumbling around in my head would ever be read but, more
profoundly (to me), loved. Certainly not me.
15. Do you
have any words of wisdom or inspiration to give to other women who may be
struggling to overcome disabilities of their own to find their particular
dream?
I believe that
God plants dreams in our hearts for a reason, and that’s so we will turn to
Him in order to see them to fruition. Believe in yourself, surround
yourself with positive people and trust in the Lord.
Thank you so
much for taking the time to talk with me today, Debbie! I was so excited to
get this opportunity, especially since I had to miss out on the chance to
meet you in person when you came through Dallas, being as how I had to go
out of town for work at the last minute. While nothing could compare to
getting to meet you in person, I couldn’t be more excited than I was to be
given this chance to get to talk to you. I look forward to many more
beautifully told stories from you in the future (and can’t wait to get to my
advance copy of A Cedar Cove Christmas
J).
Thank you!
These were fun questions to answer. I look forward to meeting you one day.
Read
reviews of Debbie's books:
Cindy's Reviews:
Hearts
Divided
Kelley's Reviews:
Cedar Cove Book 1: 16
Lighthouse Road
Cedar Cove Book 2: 204
Rosewood Lane
Cedar Cove Book 3: 311
Pelican Court
Changing Habits
Christmas Letters
Knitting Series Book
1: The Shop on Blossom Street
Knitting Series Book 2: A Good Yarn
Knitting Series Book 3:
Back on Blossom Street
Knitting Series Book 4: Twenty Wishes
Where Angels Go
Marilyn's Reviews:
Knitting Series Book 4:
Twenty Wishes
Merry's Reviews:
Cedar
Cove Book 1: 16 Lighthouse Road
Interviewed by Kelley
July 2008
