Debbie, let me welcome you to A Romance Review. I am so glad you could find the time to chat with me about your long writing career and the recent and upcoming projects you have planned for 2005 and beyond. So let's get started.

First off, why don't you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Hi Barb,

It's a pleasure to chat with you today. Wow, where to start? I'm a wife, mother of four grown children, and a grandmother to seven grandchildren-the cutest grandkids in the universe. I love being a grandmother. It seemed like it was taking way too long for the grandkids to arrive, so I actually tried to bribe my kids to get the process going! I remember one instance where Jenny and her husband wanted a fence around their home. As incentive, Wayne and I had lumber delivered to their house. She rewarded us by giving birth to her daughter on my birthday-Maddy is the best birthday gift of my entire life.

Each one of the grandkids holds a special place in my heart. If I'm gone for more than a couple of weeks at a time, I'm in desperate need of a grandkid fix. We make excuses for get-togethers and plan fun events around each gathering. This last summer, the entire family went on a cruise to Alaska. We had such a grand time that we plan to do it again. Sorry-don't get me started on this subject of my grandbabies, or the entire interview will be full of stories about them.

My husband, Wayne, and I live in a Tudor-style home, and I have an entire room set aside to hold yarn. I'm a member of SABLE, which stands for Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy. Every year I knit something for each one of the grandkids. Currently, I'm working on a worsted weight sweater in seven different colors, for Maddy's first day of school. This project is definitely a challenge.

It says on your web site you love to tell the story of how you got your start in the writing business, but I couldn't find the story anywhere so would you mind briefly telling us the story?

I started out with a rented typewriter on the kitchen table. We moved it at meal times. I was a stay-at-home mom with four young children, and I was determined to be a writer. I'd been writing two-and-a-half years, and finished two books. However, my writing was taking a hundred dollars a month out of our family budget.

During that time Wayne came to me one Sunday afternoon and told me we just weren't making it financially. He said the only way we could dig ourselves out of this hole was for me to get a job-one that actually paid money. I couldn't sleep that night. I knew this was the end of my dream. There weren't enough hours in the day for me to work a 40-hour week, keep up with each of the children's schedules, maintain the house and write, too. About two or three in the morning, Wayne woke up and saw that I was still awake. He asked what was wrong. I told him I really thought I could have made it as a writer. Wayne didn't say anything for a long moment, and then he sighed and said, "All right, Honey, go for it. We'll find a way."

We did, but it wasn't easy. I wish I could tell you that I was so incredibly talented that I sold almost right after that, but it was another two-and-a-half years before that call came telling me I'd sold my first novel.

I also learned from your website that you are dyslexic. This came as a huge surprise to me because of the volume of books you have written and the love of reading you have. How did you overcome this condition when so many people with it choose to give up on reading and would never think of having a career as a writer?

I didn't know I was dyslexic until my own two sons were diagnosed with the learning disorder. Learning to read was a struggle, and to this day I'm a creative speller. My love for a story and the written word was the driving force behind my desire to read, and then later to write. I basically caught up with everyone else reading-wise in about the fifth grade, but I never excelled in school.

I started reading your books with the Navy series that has become so popular with readers. In July, Silhouette published Navy Husband, the latest in this ongoing series. Would you tell our readers about this latest installment of this beloved series, and will this book be the last one featuring a Navy hero?

I was delighted when my publisher decided to reissue these books. I wrote the first book, Navy Wife, after I witnessed the Nimitz sailing into Sinclair Inlet toward the Bremerton shipyard. Wives, sweethearts, mothers and sisters enthusiastically cheered their men. Their joy and excitement was contagious. I was overwhelmed with emotion and patriotism, placed my hand over my heart and started to sing "God Bless America." My friend asked what was with me. I didn't know it at the time, but it was six books about the Navy and Navy life. Written more than ten years after the first five books, Navy Husband is the last of this series.

I,myself,label you as a writer. I have two labels or titles for you when I think of your work. The first is "the series lady," because you have written so many fabulous and heartwarming series in your career. You have two on-going series at present. The first is "the yarn stories" consisting of The Shop On Blossom Street, published in hardcover in 2004 and in paperback in May 2005; and A Good Yarn, also published in hardcover this May. I know your love for knitting brought about these stories. Can you share with our readers a little about these books? Was it difficult to convince your publisher that this type of story would sell? Do you have more stories planned for this series?

It's strange how stories and books can sometimes take on a life of their own. When I wrote The Shop on Blossom Street, I intended for it to be a stand-alone book. I wrote it because I love to knit, and I've always fantasized about owning my own shop. (You should see my yarn stash-as I mentioned earlier, I have an entire room dedicated to my yarn.) The book resonated with readers, and it also found a home with knitters, who rarely have the luxury of reading a novel that includes their favorite craft. I was soon receiving countless e-mails and letters asking for more. Now my readers want to return to Blossom Street for more and more - and so we shall, with a few interesting turns of events along the way.

September will see the release of 50 Harbor Street, the 5th in your popular Cedar Cove series. Can you tell us a little about the latest installment in this on going series?

I am so enjoying writing the Cedar Cove books. Again, my readers are the ones who led me to write an ongoing series. To this day I get mail asking about the characters from past series: The Hard Luck, Alaska books; Promise, Texas and the Buffalo Valley stories, too. I decided to get smart and listen to what my readers were telling me. They didn't want the series to end. That was when I came up with the idea for Cedar Cove (which is actually my hometown of Port Orchard, Washington). This fifth installment answers the question of who is sending Roy, the PI, those disturbing postcards. You'll meet a couple of new characters in 50 Harbor Street as well. I promise you an entertaining read along with a new mystery. One solved, and one started, plus a little laughter and a whole lot of romance, too.

These books feature large ensemble casts, and you tell several stories as opposed to just one romance in them. Many people consider them woman's fiction rather that romance for this reason. Can you explain why your writing of late features this type of community setting rather than focusing on just one couple?

This is an interesting and intriguing question. It all started when Wayne and I were big fans of the television series "The Practice." With the show's large ensemble cast, I noticed that there were a number of plotlines with every show, and I didn't have a problem following them. I didn't know that anyone was successfully doing that in books, and decided to give it a whirl. Because I'm a natural born storyteller, creating a number of plots isn't that difficult for me. However, for variety's sake, next year's hardcover, Susannah's Garden, will be one plot, one story.

How many books do you have planned for the Cedar Cove series?

There is no pre-determined number planned for this series. Currently, I'm under contract through book nine. However, I plan to keep writing so long as the stories keep percolating. I casually mentioned in one of my reader letters that I might write up to sixteen books in the series, and people took me seriously! I can't say how long it will last - perhaps sixteen, perhaps more.

A few minutes ago I told you that I have two titles for you when I think of your writing. The second way I think of you is "the Christmas story lady." You have so many wonderful stories set around this magical time of year; and 2005 is no exception, as you will have a new Christmas story coming out in November called, There's Something About Christmas. Can you share with us a little about this story?

As you might have already guessed, I'm a real Christmas person. It seems that so many people get stressed out around this time of year. My contribution to the season is to give my readers a reason to relax and to laugh, which is why I started writing romantic comedies with a holiday theme. This year's story revolves around fruitcake - three wise women who are fruitcake recipe finalists for a national magazine contest and the reporter assigned to interview them. Emma is our heroine; and the pilot, Oliver, is the hero, whose job it is to fly her around the state of Washington for these interviews. I do promise you will laugh.

Obviously you must write the Christmas books months in advance of the Christmas season. How do you get in the holiday mood when working on these books?

I love Christmas. Just ask my family or my office staff. Everyone will tell you that I'm happiest when it's Christmas. So it isn't hard for me to get in the Christmas mood. Ideally, I usually write my Christmas story just before or just after the holidays, so that also makes it easy to get in the mood. I enjoy Christmas music and play it often during the season. I don't play music while I write but always have a selection of holiday music in my car and at home.

I know you hate this question, but those ornery angels Shirley Goodness and Mercy are some of my favorite characters, and I read those stories every Christmas when I want a good laugh and a nice escape from the holiday rush. Any chance you might write about them in some future books?

Well, first off, I don't hate questions about Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. I love those ditzy angels just as much as anyone! I have a collection of angels, too, many of which were given to me by my readers. Just like you, for many of my readers these three angels have become a traditional read during the holidays.

The first three books were written for Harper (now Avon). When my current publisher posed the possibility of writing another story, I readily agreed. SHIRLEY, GOODNESS & MERCY was published by MIRA Books in 1999, and then THOSE CHRISTMAS ANGELS was published by Harlequin Superromance in 2003. Again, I have no current plans to write more about SG&M, but one just never knows!

I see that December will bring a reprinting of another of my favorite stories, Mrs. Miracle, featuring the loveable, magical, matchmaking nanny/housekeeper. Do you have any plans to write future stories featuring her?

Not currently, but as I said, one never knows.

Debbie, can you share with our readers what a typical day for you is like when you are working on a book?

I'm an early riser, so I'm usually up by 4 a.m. (That, my friends, isn't a misprint!) I spend the first hour and a half of my day reading my Bible and devotionals and then writing in my journal. After that I'm off to the local high school pool to swim a half mile, and then home to shower and get ready for work. I'm usually at my office before 8 a.m. My office is in a lovely Victorian-style building in Port Orchard, about five miles from my home. My suite of offices includes three desks and a small kitchen/conference room downstairs and a turret upstairs. It is in the turret that I have my working desk. I employ two full-time and one part-time staff members, in addition to a personal publicist. By 9 or 10 I'm usually at my computer, working on my current novel.

What does your family think of your writing? Who has been your biggest cheerleader as far as your writing career goes?

My husband has always been a strong supporter of me and my desire to write. I don't think either of us envisioned when we first rented that typewriter that it would lead to this. My children grew up with me plucking away at a keyboard. It was just what their mother did.

My biggest cheerleaders would have to be my parents. My dad's mission in life was to make sure everyone knew I was his daughter. My mom was like that, too. They were better than any ad agency I could have employed. They're both gone now. and I miss them dreadfully, but I know there're in heaven encouraging everyone there to read my books.

Your writing career is huge. Did you ever dream when you were writing your first books that you would reach this level of success?

I dreamed of success, but at the time I was just starting to write, I dreamed of becoming published. When I did publish, I dreamed of being able to continue to sell, and to see my books on bestseller lists. With each successive phase of my career, I dreamed of different goals and aspirations. I became aware that writing the best book possible is only part of the process-that you also need to be a good business manager along with everything else. I looked into ways of learning more and listened to countless self-improvement tapes. I attended a seminar conducted by Zig Ziglar and others in order to learn about goal setting, organizational skills and time management.

I've learned there's a lot of power in simply writing down your goals, no matter how out of reach they may seem at the time. When we write down our goals, I believe that we involve the subconscious, which helps us find ways to achieve what we're seeking. Our enthusiasm and desire will constantly influence our conscious actions.

Is there any one thing you have done in your career you are most proud of?

There are a number of career highs I could mention here. I don't think any author will ever forget the first time she received "the call" from an editor to buy her book, or the first placement on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list, or the call that a book has been optioned for a movie. Still, what I'm most proud of is that, in pursuing my dream of writing, I gave my children permission to seek their own dreams.

Not long ago, I came across some files I'd kept for each of the kids through their school years. Inside was a story my daughter, Jenny, had written when she was eight years old. "I know a lady who writes stories. She wrote a story about a blind man. Some day this lady is going to sell a book. That lady is my mommy." My daughter believed in me because I believed in myself, and I refused to allow that confidence to waiver.

In the process of pursuing my dreams, I taught my children to dream, too. I've helped prepare them for their own journeys toward their own goals. I wasn't taking anything away from my family with my writing. I was teaching them some of the most valuable lessons of their lives. I was giving them an example. It didn't matter to them if I didn't succeed; what mattered is that I set the example.

Is there anything writing-wise that you haven't tried yet that you would like to try in the future?

I'm always open to try new ideas. I'd love to write another book in the same vein as Between Friends, but the story hasn't come to me yet.

What is the best way for your readers to get in touch with you?

My website, www.DebbieMacomber.com, is chock-full of information about my books, my activities, and me. To leave me a personal message, readers can type in the comments section on my guestbook. For a daily dose of me, check out my blog!

Can you share with us any projects you are working on for the coming year?

My book schedule for 2006 is well in the works now. Susannah's Garden is sure to tweak a few hearts for those who still remember the love they had for their high school sweetheart. 6 Rainier Drive, the next Cedar Cove installment, is well underway, and the storyline for Christmas Letters, about a gal who writes people's Christmas letters for them, is going to be a hoot.

Debbie, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me about your work. Also thank you for providing so many hours of entertainment with your heartwarming stories. I look forward to many more in the future.

Thanks for the opportunity, Barb. I've enjoyed chatting with you!