Debbie Macomber

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Debbie Macomber

Born October 22, 1948 (1948-10-22) (age 59)
Yakima, Washington, U.S. Flag of the United States
Occupation Novelist
Nationality U.S.American Flag of the United States
Writing period 1983 - Present
Genres romance, women's fiction
Official website

Debbie Macomber (born October 22, 1948 in Yakima, Washington) is a best-selling American author of over 150 romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Over sixty million copies of her books are in print throughout the world,[1] and one, This Matter of Marriage, became a made-for-tv-movie in 1998.[2] Macomber was the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005[3] and has been awarded a Romance Writers of America RITA Award.[4]

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Breaking into Publishing

Although Debbie Macomber is dyslexic and has only a high school education, she was determined to be a writer.[5] A stay-at-home mother raising four small children, Macomber nonetheless found the time to sit in her kitchen in front of a rented typewriter and work on developing her first few manuscripts.[6] For five years she continued to write despite many rejections from publishers, finally turning to freelance magazine work to help her family make ends meet.[5]

With money that she saved from her freelance articles, 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 scraped together $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.[5]

[edit] Career

Although Heartsong was the first of her manuscripts to sell, Starlight was the first of her novels to be published. It became #128 of the Silhouette Special Edition category romance line (which is now owned by Harlequin).[1] Macomber continued to write category 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 selling "huge" numbers of books, usually 150,000 copies of each of her novels, and she was releasing two or three titles per year. By 1994, Harlequin launched the Mira Books imprint to help their category romance authors transition to the single title market, and Macomber began releasing single-title novels. Her first hardcover was released in 2001.[1]

In 2002, Macomber realized that she was having more difficulty identifying with a twenty-five year old heroine, and 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 and into contemporary women's fiction.[5]

Since 1986, in most years Macomber has released a Christmas-themed book or novella. For several years, these novels were part of the Angel series, following the antics of angels Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy. Macomber, who loves Christmas, says that she writes Christmas books as well because "Every woman I know has a picture of the perfect Christmas in her mind, the same way we do romance. Reality rarely lives up to our expectations, so the best we can do is delve into a fantasy."[7]

In general, 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."[7] Many of the novels take place in small, rural town, with her Cedar Cove series loosely based on her own hometown.[8] Because of her Christian beliefs, Macomber does not include overly explicit sexual details in her books, although they do contain some sensuality.[9]

Macomber's popularity has soared over the years, and even in 2006, after publishing 150 novels, her sales are growing by an average of 25% per year. Over sixty million copies of her books are in print throughout the world,[1] and one, This Matter of Marriage, became a made-for-tv-movie in 1998.[2]

In another twist to her career, Macomber has signed a contract to publish an inspirational non-fiction book. Based on her inspirational lectures, Knit Together: Discovering God's Potential For Your Life is due to be released in late 2007.[10]

[edit] Recognition

Macomber is a three-time winner of the B. Dalton Award,[4] and the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance (2005, for The Cranberry Point).[3] She has been awarded the Romantic Times Magazine Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and has won a Romance Writers of America RITA Award, the romance novelist's equivalent of an Academy Award, for The Christmas Basket. Her novels have regularly appeared on the Waldenbooks and USAToday bestseller lists and have also earned spots on the New York Times Bestseller List. On September 6, 2007 she made Harlequin Enterprises history, by pulling off the rarest of triple plays—having her new novel, 74 Seaside Avenue, appear at the #1 position for paperback fiction on the New York Times, USAToday and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. These three highly respected bestseller lists are considered the bellwethers for a book's performance in the United States.[4]

[edit] Personal

In her office, located directly above a bookstore and an ice cream parlor, Macomber is currently committed to writing two single-title books (one hardcover, one paperback) and one shorter book each year. She has two full-time and two part-time assistants who help her with research, bookkeeping, sorting reader mail, and keeping up with her website.[2] Macomber receives approximately 3000 letters from fans every month and responds personally to each one.[4]

Macomber is a volunteer mentor for young people and prisoners, and is active in fundraising for battered women's shelters and for literacy and medical research.[citation needed] She is also a national board member for Warm-Up America,[1] and was appointed an ambassador for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America national office in 1997.[4] For her good works, she was given the 1996-1997 Woman of Distinction Award by Soroptimist International of Port Orchard, Washington.

Macomber and her husband, Wayne, have four children and numerous grandchildren. They live in Port Orchard, Washington,[5] where her husband is building his own airplane, and Macomber enjoys knitting and cooking.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Single Novels

  • Starlight (1983)
  • Girl Like Janet (1984)
  • Undercover Dreamer (1984)
  • Heartsong (1984)
  • That Wintry Feeling (1984)
  • Thanksgiving Prayer (1984)
  • Gift of Christmas (1984)
  • Borrowed Dreams: Alaska (1985)
  • Love Thy Neighbor (1985)
  • Adam's Image (1985)
  • Promise Me Forever (1985)
  • Laughter in the Rain (1985)
  • The Trouble with Caasi (1985)
  • A Friend or Two (1985)
  • Christmas Masquerade (1985)
  • Let It Snow (1986)
  • The Matchmakers (1986)
  • Reflections of Yesterday (1986)
  • Shadow Chasing (1986)
  • Yesterday's Hero (1986)
  • White Lace and Promises (1986)
  • Jury of His Peers (1986)
  • Yesterday Once More (1986)
  • Friends and Then Some (1986)
  • All Things Considered (1987)
  • Love by Degree (1987)
  • Cindy and the Prince (1987)
  • Sugar and Spice (1987)
  • Mail-Order Bride (1987)
  • No Competition (1987)
  • Love 'N' Marriage (1987)
  • Husband Required (1987)
  • Almost Paradise (1988)
  • Any Sunday (1988)
  • The Playboy and the Widow (1988)
  • Some Kind of Wonderful (1988)
  • Denim and Diamonds (1989)
  • Yours and Mine (1989)
  • Almost an Angel (1989)
  • For All My Tomorrows (1989)
  • The Way to a Man's Heart (1989)
  • Country Bride (1990)
  • Fallen Angel (1990)
  • A Little Bit Country (1990)
  • Rainy Day Kisses (1990)
  • The Courtship of Carol Sommars (1990)
  • First Comes Marriage (1991)
  • Here Comes Trouble (1991)
  • Stolen Kisses (1991)
  • Father's Day (1991)
  • The Forgetful Bride (1991)
  • The Man You'll Marry (1992)
  • My Hero (1992)
  • Groom Wanted (1993)
  • Lone Star Lovin' (1993)
  • Ready for Romance (1993)
  • Bride Wanted (1993)
  • Marriage Wanted (1993)
  • Morning Comes Softly, Harper 1993/2006
  • One Night, Harper 1994
  • Someday Soon, Harper 1995
  • Sooner or Later, Harper 1996
  • Mrs. Miracle, Harper 1996/2005
  • This Matter of Marriage, MIRA Books 1997/2003
  • Three Brides, No Groom ,Silhouette Books 1997
  • Lonesome Cowboy, Harlequin Books February 1998
  • Montana MIRA Books, 1998
  • Can This Be Christmas?, MIRA Books 1998
  • Moon Over Water, MIRA Books 1999
  • Thursdays at Eight, MIRA Books 2001
  • Between Friends, MIRA Books 2002
  • The Christmas Basket, MIRA Books 2002
  • Changing Habits, MIRA Books 2003
  • The Snow Bride , MIRA Books 2003
  • The Shop on Blossom Street, MIRA Books May 2004
  • When Christmas Comes, (Christmas gift edition hardcover) MIRA Books November 2004
  • A Good Yarn, MIRA Books May 2005
  • There's Something About Christmas, MIRA Books November 2005
  • Susannah's Garden, MIRA Books May 2006
  • Christmas Letters, MIRA Books October 2006

[edit] 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
  • Legendary Lovers, Silhouette Books 1995 (Reissue of Cindy and the Prince, Some Kind of Wonderful & Almost Paradise)

[edit] Navy Series

  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
  • Navy Brides (2005) (Omnibus: Navy Wife / Navy Blues / Navy Brat)
  • Navy Grooms (2005) (Omnibus: Navy Woman / Navy Baby / Navy Husband)
  • Navy Wife / Navy Blues (omnibus) (2006)

[edit] The Manning Sisters Series

  1. The Cowboy’s Lady, Silhouette Special Edition 1990
  2. The Sheriff Takes A Wife, Silhouette Special Edition 1990

[edit] Those Manning Men Series

  1. Marriage of Inconvenience, Silhouette Special Edition 1992
  2. Stand-In Wife, Silhouette Special Edition 1992
  3. Bride on the Loose, Silhouette Special Edition 1992

[edit] Orchard Valley Trilogy

  1. Valerie, Harlequin 1992
  2. Stephanie, Harlequin 1992
  3. Norah, Harlequin 1993
  • Orchard Valley, MIRA Books 1999 (Reissue of Valerie, Stephanie, & Norah)

[edit] From This Day Forward

  1. Groom Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993
  2. Bride Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993
  3. Marriage Wanted, Silhouette Special Edition 1993

[edit] Angel Series

  1. A Season of Angels , Harper/Avon 1993
  2. The Trouble With Angels, Harper/Avon 1994
  3. Touched By Angels, Harper/Avon 1995
  4. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, MIRA Books 1999
  5. Those Christmas Angels, Harlequin SuperRomance 2003
  6. Where Angels Go, Mira Books, 2007
  • Christmas Angels, Harper/Avon 1996/1998 (Reissue of Touched by Angels, The Trouble With Angels, & A Season of Angels)
  • A Gift to Last, MIRA Books 2002 (Reissue of Can This Be Christmas?, & Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy)
  • Angels Everywhere, Harper/Avon 2002 (Reissue of A Season of Angels & Touched By Angels)

[edit] That Special Woman Series Multi-Author

  • Hasty Wedding (1993)
  • Same Time, Next Year (1995)

[edit] Midnight Sons Series

  1. Brides For Brothers, Harlequin Romance 1995
  2. 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
  • Family Men (2000) (Omnibus: Daddy's Little Helper / Because of the Baby)
  • The Last Two Bachelors (2000) (Omnibus: Falling for Him / Ending in Marriage)
  • Mail-Order Marriages (2000) (Omnibus: Brides for Brothers / Marriage Risk)

[edit] Deliverance Company Series

  1. Someday Soon, Harper/Avon 1995
  2. Sooner or Later, Harper/Avon 1996
  3. Moon Over Water, MIRA Books 1999/2003

[edit] Heart of Texas Series

  1. Lonesome Cowboy, Harlequin Romance 1998
  2. Texas Two-Step, Harlequin Romance 1998
  3. Caroline's Child, Harlequin Romance 1998
  4. Dr. Texas, Harlequin Romance 1998
  5. Nell's Cowboy, Harlequin Romance 1998
  6. Lone Star Baby, Harlequin Romance 1998
  7. Promise, Texas, MIRA Books 1999
  8. Return to Promise, MIRA Books 2000
  • Caroline's Child / Dr. Texas (2007)

[edit] Dakota Series

  1. Dakota Born, MIRA Books 2000
  2. Dakota Home, MIRA Books 2000
  3. Always Dakota, MIRA Books 2001
  4. Buffalo Valley, MIRA Books 2001

[edit] 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 (2007)

[edit] The Blossom Street Series

  1. The Shop on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2004/2005
  2. A Good Yarn, MIRA Books 2005/2006
  3. Back on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2007
  4. Susannah's Garden, MIRA Books 2007
  5. Twenty Wishes, MIRA Books 2008

[edit] Anthologies

  • Christmas Treasures '86, Silhouette 1986
  • Christmas Treasures '91 Silhouette 1991
  • To Mother With Love, Silhouette 1993
  • Men in Uniform By Request, 1994
  • Three Mothers and a Cradle, Silhouette 1995
  • Christmas Angels: 3 Heavenly Romances 1996
  • Mothers & Daughters, Signet 1998
  • ’Tis the Season, “Christmas Masquerade” @ Silhouette 1999
  • Ready for Love, “Ready for Marriage,”, “Ready for Romance”♦ MIRA Books 2001
  • Take 5, “Yesterday Once More,” “Adam's Image” ♦ Harlequin 2001
  • An Ideal Marriage?, “Father’s Day,”, “First Comes Marriage,” “Here Comes Trouble” ♦ Harlequin 2001
  • Silhouette Christmas Collection, Midnight Clear, “Let It Snow” Silhouette 2001
  • Darling Daughters, "Yours and Mine," "Lone Star Lovin'" Harlequin Books 2002
  • Christmas Anthology, “A Gift To Last,” "Can This Be Christmas?," “Shirley, Goodness & Mercy” ♦ MIRA Books 2002
  • On A Snowy Day, "The Snow Bride" & "The Christmas Basket" MIRA Books November 2004
  • Home for the Holidays–More Than Words–Volume 2, “What Amanda Wants” Harlequin Books October 2005
  • Home for the Holidays, “When Christmas Comes” & “The Forgetful Bride” MIRA Books November 2005
  • Someday Soon & Sooner or Later, Avon Books June 2006
  • Glad Tidings, “There’s Something About Christmas" & “Here Comes Trouble” MIRA Books November 2006
  • Ready for Love, “Ready for Romance” & “Ready for Marriage” MIRA Books December 2006
  • Be My Valentine, “My Funny Valentine," “My Hero” MIRA Books January 2007

[edit] Anthologies In Collaboration

  • My Valentine Harlequin, 1992 (with Katherine Arthur, Leigh Michaels and Peggy Nicholson)
  • To Have and To Hold, Harlequin 1992 (with Barbara Bretton, Rita Clay Estrada, Sandra James)
  • Christmas Treasures '92, Silhouette 1992 (with Maura Seger)
  • Purrfect Love, Harper 1994 (with Linda Lael Miller and Patricia Simpson)
  • Little Matchmakers, “The Matchmakers” Harlequin 1994/1996 (with Barbara Bretton, Muriel Jensen)
  • Always and Forever (1995) (with Bethany Campbell, Jasmine Cresswell)
  • Three Mothers and a Cradle: Rock-a-bye Baby, Cradle Song, Beginnings (1996) (with Jill Marie Landis and Gina Wilkins)
  • Runaway Brides, “Yesterday Once More” Silhouette 1996 (with Annette Broadrick and Paula Detmer Riggs)
  • Home for Christmas, “The Forgetful Bride” Harlequin 1996 (with Anne McAllister and Shannon Waverly)
  • Christmas Kisses, Silhouette 1996 (with Linda Howard and Linda Turner)
  • The Father Factor (1998) (with Ann Major and Diana Palmer)
  • That Summer Place, MIRA Books 1998 (with Jill Barnett and Susan Wiggs)
  • Through the Years, “Baby Blessed” ♦ Silhouette 1999 (with Linda Howard and Fern Michaels)
  • Power of Love (1999) (with Jayne Ann Krentz and Diana Palmer)
  • A Spring Bouquet, “The Marrying Kind” ♦ Zebra 1996/2000 (with Jo Beverley, Rebecca Brandewyne, Janet Dailey)
  • Born in a Small Town, “Midnight Sons & Daughters” Harlequin 2000 (with Judith Bowen, Janice Kay Johnson)
  • Holiday Blessings, “Thanksgiving Prayer” ♦ Steeple Hill 2000 Harlequin 2000 (with Irene Hannon and Jane Peart)
  • Sealed With a Kiss, “My Funny Valentine” ♦ Harlequin 2002 (with Judith Bowen, Helen Brooks)
  • Their New Year Babies (2004) (with Marie Ferrarella)
  • Kiss Me Again (2005) (with Suzanne Forster, Lori Foster, Lisa Jackson)
  • Hearts Divided, “5-B Poppy Place" MIRA Books February 2006 (with Lois Faye Dyer and Katherine Stone)
  • Soldiers Brides (2007) (with Lois Faye Dyer and Lyn Stone)

[edit] Non fiction

  • Knit Along with Debbie Macomber (2005)
  • Knit Together (2007)

[edit] Graphic Novels

  • No Competition (2006) art by Yukino Hara
  • The Bachelor Prince (2006) art by Misao Hoshiai

[edit] Awards

  • The Christmas Basket: 2003 Rita Awards Best Novel winner

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Donahue, Dick & Coffey, Michael (June 19, 2006), “How They Do Debbie”, Publishers Weekly, <http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6344654.html>. Retrieved on 16 April 2007 
  2. ^ a b c Cockburn, Catherine (2006). Debbie Macomber: the interview. The Romance Writers of Australia. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  3. ^ a b Munro, Aria C. (October 13, 2005). Debbie Macomber Wins First Annual Quill Award for Romance Category. Publishers Newswire. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e Debbie Macomber. eHarlequin.Com. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  5. ^ a b c d e Dinsmore, Jeffrey (Spring 2005). Meet the Writers: Debbie Macomber. Barnes and Noble. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  6. ^ ARR Interview with Debbie Macomber publisher = A Romance Review (2005). Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  7. ^ a b Huseby, Sandy (2005). Q&A: Macomber's high-flying romance. BookPage. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  8. ^ Green, Tara (October 22, 2003). Interview with Debbie Macomber. Contemporary Romance Writers. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  9. ^ Neal, Jeri (December 2004). Author of the Month: Debbie Macomber. The Romance Reader's Connection. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  10. ^ Maryles, Daisy (August 2, 2006), “Romance Superstart Macomber to Pen FaithWords Inspirational”, Publishers weekly, <http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6358596.html?q=debbie+macomber>. Retrieved on 16 April 2007 

[edit] See also

List of romantic novelists

[edit] External links