Debbie Macomber


Debbie Macomber is an American author of romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Six of her novels have become made-for-TV movies and her Cedar Cove series of novel was adapted into the television series of the same name. Macomber was the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005 and has been awarded both a RITA Award and a lifetime achievement award by the Romance Writers of America.

Career

Early career

Macomber is dyslexic and has only a high school education. Determined to be a writer, she sat in her kitchen in front of a rented typewriter to develop her first few manuscripts, while raising four children. After five years and many rejections from publishers, she turned to freelance magazine work.
Macomber attended a romance writer's conference, where one of her manuscripts was selected to be publicly critiqued by an editor from Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. The editor tore apart her novel and recommended that she throw it away. Undaunted, Macomber spent $10 to mail the same novel, Heartsong, to Harlequin's rival, Silhouette Books. Silhouette bought the book, which became the first romance novel to be reviewed by Publishers Weekly.

Career

Starlight was the first of her novels to be published, as part of the Silhouette Special Edition romance line, now owned by Harlequin. Macomber continued to write romances for Silhouette, and later Harlequin. In 1988, Harlequin asked Macomber to write a series of interconnected stories, which became known as the Navy series. Before long, she was releasing two or three titles per year. By 1994, Macomber began releasing single-title novels. Her first hardcover was released in 2001.
In 2002, Macomber realized that she wanted to write books focusing more on women and their friendships. Thursdays at Eight was her first departure from the traditional romance novel into contemporary women's fiction.
In most years since 1986, Macomber has released a Christmas-themed book or novella.
Macomber's novels focus on delivering the message of the story and do not include detailed descriptive passages. Her heroines tend to be optimists, and the "stories are resolved in a manner that leaves the reader with a feeling of hope and happy expectation." Many novels take place in small, rural towns, with her Cedar Cove series loosely based on her own hometown, Port Orchard, Washington. Because of her Christian beliefs, Macomber does not include explicit sexual details in her books, although they do contain sensuality.
Over 170 million copies of her books are in print throughout the world. This Matter of Marriage became a made-for-TV-movie in 1998. Five of Macomber's novels have been made into Hallmark television movies: Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Trading Christmas, Mr. Miracle and Dashing Through the Snow.
Macomber also now writes inspirational nonfiction, including cookbooks and children's books. Macomber owns a yarn store in Port Orchard, Washington, and there is a Debbie Macomber line of knitting pattern books. The yarn store, A Good Yarn Shop, closed its doors on November 4, 2016. The shop had been open for 8 years prior to Macomber deciding to focus on other business ventures.
In July 2013, the Hallmark Channel began airing its first-ever original, scripted series based on her Cedar Cove book series. Macomber is the series developer and executive producer. The Cedar Cove television series ran for 3 seasons and ended in 2015. The show received 2 nominations for LEO awards, Best Costume Design in a Dramatic Series and Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series, and 1 nomination for a Prism award, Drama Episode - Mental Health.

Recognition

Macomber is a three-time winner of the B. Dalton Award, and the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance. She has been awarded the Romantic Times Magazine Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and has won a Romance Writers of America RITA Award, for The Christmas Basket.
She threw out the first pitch in a Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field in 2007.

Personal

Macomber is a volunteer mentor for young people, and is active in fundraising for battered women's shelters and for literacy and medical research. She is a national board member for Warm-Up America, and was appointed an ambassador for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America national office in 1997.
Macomber and her husband, Wayne, raised four children and have grandchildren. They live in Port Orchard, Washington.

Legendary Lovers Series

  1. Cindy and the Prince, Silhouette Books 1988
  2. Some Kind of Wonderful, Silhouette Books 1988
  3. Almost Paradise, Silhouette Books 1988
  1. Navy Wife, Silhouette Books 1988/2003
  2. Navy Blues, Silhouette Books 1989/2003
  3. Navy Brat, Silhouette Books 1991/2004
  4. Navy Woman, Silhouette Books 1991/2004
  5. Navy Baby, HQN Books 1991/2005
  6. Navy Husband, Silhouette Special Edition 2005
  1. The Cowboy’s Lady, Silhouette Special Edition 1990
  2. The Sheriff Takes A Wife, Silhouette Special Edition 1990

    The Wyoming Series

  3. Denim and Diamonds,
  4. The Wyoming Kid,

    Those Manning Men Series

  5. Marriage of Inconvenience, Silhouette Special Edition 1992
  6. Stand-In Wife, Silhouette Special Edition 1992
  7. Bride on the Loose, Silhouette Special Edition 1992
  8. Same Time, Next Year,
  9. Silver Bells,

    Orchard Valley Trilogy

  10. Valerie, Harlequin 1992
  11. Stephanie, Harlequin 1992
  12. Norah, Harlequin 1993
  13. Lone Star Lovin', Harlequin 1993
  1. Groom Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993
  2. Bride Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993
  3. Marriage Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993

    Angel Series

  4. A Season of Angels , Harper/Avon 1993
  5. The Trouble With Angels, Harper/Avon 1994
  6. Touched By Angels, Harper/Avon 1995
  7. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, MIRA Books 1999
  8. Those Christmas Angels, Harlequin SuperRomance 2003
  9. Where Angels Go, Mira Books, 2007
  10. Angels at the Table, Ballantine, 2012
  1. Brides For Brothers, Harlequin Romance 1995
  2. The Marriage Risk, Harlequin Romance 1995
  3. Daddy's Little Helper, Harlequin Romance 1995
  4. Because of the Baby, Harlequin Romance 1996
  5. Falling For Him, Harlequin Romance 1996
  6. Ending In Marriage, Harlequin Romance 1996
  7. Mail Order Marriages, Harlequin Romance 2000
  8. Family Men, Harlequin Romance 2000
  9. The Last Two Bachelors, Harlequin Romance 2000
  10. Born In A Small Town, Harlequin SuperRomance 2000
  1. Someday Soon, Harper/Avon 1995
  2. Sooner or Later, Harper/Avon 1996
  3. The Sooner The Better,
  4. Moon Over Water / The Sooner the Better, MIRA Books 1999/2003

    Heart of Texas Series

  5. Lonesome Cowboy, Harlequin Romance 1998
  6. Texas Two-Step, Harlequin Romance 1998
  7. Caroline's Child, Harlequin Romance 1998
  8. Dr. Texas, Harlequin Romance 1998
  9. Nell's Cowboy, Harlequin Romance 1998
  10. Lone Star Baby, Harlequin Romance 1998
  11. Promise, Texas, MIRA Books 1999
  12. Return to Promise, MIRA Books 2000
  1. Dakota Born, MIRA Books 2000
  2. Dakota Home, MIRA Books 2000
  3. Always Dakota, MIRA Books 2001
  4. Buffalo Valley, MIRA Books 2001
  5. Dakota Farm, MIRA Books 2013

    Cedar Cove

These series take place in the fictional community of Cedar Cove.

Cedar Cove Series

  1. 16 Lighthouse Road, MIRA Books 2001
  2. 204 Rosewood Lane, MIRA Books 2002
  3. 311 Pelican Court, MIRA Books 2003
  4. 44 Cranberry Point, MIRA Books 2004
  5. 50 Harbor Street, MIRA Books 2005
  6. 6 Rainier Drive, MIRA Books 2006
  7. 74 Seaside Avenue, MIRA Books 2007
  8. 8 Sandpiper Way, MIRA Books 2008
  9. 92 Pacific Boulevard
  10. 1022 Evergreen Place Fall 2010
  11. 1105 Yakima Street MIRA Books 2011
  12. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane MIRA Books 2011
  1. When First They Met, 2012
  2. The Inn At Rose Harbor, 2012
  3. Lost and Found in Cedar Cove, 2013
  4. Rose Harbor in Bloom, 2013
  5. Love Letters, 2014
  6. Falling for Her, 2015
  7. Silver Linings, 2015
  8. Sweet Tomorrows'', August 2, 2016

    The Blossom Street Series

  9. The Shop on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2004/2005
  10. A Good Yarn, MIRA Books 2005/2006
  11. Susannah's Garden, MIRA Books May 2006
  12. Christmas Letters, Mira Books October 2006
  13. Back on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2007
  14. Twenty Wishes, MIRA Books 2008
  15. Summer on Blossom Street, May 2009
  16. Hannah's List, April 2010
  17. A Turn in the Road, April 2011
  18. Starting Now, April 2013
  19. Blossom Street Brides'', March 2014

    New Beginnings

  20. Last One Home, Ballantine Books
  21. A Girl's Guide to Moving On, Ballantine Books
  22. If Not For You, Ballantine Books

    Stand-alone novels