Debbie Macomber

Macomber is dyslexic and has only a high school education. Determined to be a writer,[4] she sat in her kitchen in front of a rented typewriter to develop her first few manuscripts, while raising four children.[5] After five years and many rejections from publishers, she turned to freelance magazine work.[4]

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.[4]

Starlight was the first of her novels to be published, as part of the Silhouette Special Edition romance line, now owned by Harlequin.[6] 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.[6]

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.[4]

In most years since 1986, Macomber has released a Christmas-themed book or novella.[7]

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 novels take place in small, rural towns, with her Cedar Cove series loosely based on her own hometown, Port Orchard, Washington.[8] Because of her Christian beliefs, Macomber does not include explicit sexual details in her books, although they do contain sensuality.[9]

Over 170 million copies of her books are in print throughout the world.[10] This Matter of Marriage became a made-for-TV-movie in 1998.[1] Five of Macomber's novels have been made into Hallmark television movies: Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Trading Christmas (based on Macomber's novel When Christmas Comes), 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.[11]

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.[12] 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 (2014), and 1 nomination for a Prism award, Drama Episode - Mental Health (2015).[13]

Macomber is a three-time winner of the B. Dalton Award,[3] and the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance (2005, for 44 Cranberry Point).[2] 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.

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,[6] and was appointed an ambassador for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America national office in 1997.[3]

Macomber and her husband, Wayne, raised four children and have grandchildren. They live in Port Orchard, Washington.

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)

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)

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

1. Denim and Diamonds, (1989)
2. The Wyoming Kid, (2006)

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
4. Same Time, Next Year, (1995)
5. Silver Bells, (2009)

1. Valerie, Harlequin 1992
2. Stephanie, Harlequin 1992
3. Norah, Harlequin 1993
4. Lone Star Lovin', Harlequin 1993

• Orchard Valley, MIRA Books 1999 (Reissue of Valerie, Stephanie, & Norah)

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

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
7. Angels at the Table, Ballantine, 2012

• 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)
• Angels At Christmas, MIRA Books 2009 (Reissue of Those Christmas Angels & Where Angels Go)

• Mrs. Miracle (2009)
• Call Me Mrs. Miracle (2010)
• Mr. Miracle (2014)
• A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (2019)

• Hasty Wedding (1993)
• Baby Blessed (1994)
• Same Time, Next Year (1995)

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

• 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)

1. Someday Soon, Harper/Avon 1995
2. Sooner or Later, Harper/Avon 1996
3. The Sooner The Better, (1998)
4. Moon Over Water / The Sooner the Better, MIRA Books 1999/2003

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

• Heart of Texas Vol. 1: Lonesome Cowboy/Texas Two-Step (2007)
• Heart of Texas Vol. 2: Caroline's Child / Dr. Texas (2007)
• Heart of Texas Vol. 3: Nell's Cowboy/ Lone Star Baby (2008)

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

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

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 (MIRA Books, September 2009)
10. 1022 Evergreen Place Fall 2010
11. 1105 Yakima Street MIRA Books 2011
12. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane MIRA Books 2011

• A Cedar Cove Christmas MIRA Books October 2008
• Christmas in Cedar Cove" MIRA Books 2010 (Omnibus: 5-B Poppy Lane, 2006 and A Cedar Cove Christmas, 2008)
• A Merry Little Christmas MIRA Books (2012)

• This series takes place in Cedar Cove with a new cast of characters but with returning favorites from the original series.

1. When First They Met, 2012 (e-book and included in the mass-market paperback version of The Inn At Rose Harbor)
2. The Inn At Rose Harbor, 2012 (em Português: A Pousada Rose Harbor)
3. Lost and Found in Cedar Cove, 2013 (e-book)
4. Rose Harbor in Bloom, 2013
5. Love Letters, 2014
6. Falling for Her, 2015 (e-book)
7. Silver Linings, 2015
8. Sweet Tomorrows, August 2, 2016

1. The Shop on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2004/2005
2. A Good Yarn, MIRA Books 2005/2006
3. Susannah's Garden, MIRA Books May 2006
4. Christmas Letters, Mira Books October 2006
5. Back on Blossom Street, MIRA Books 2007
6. Twenty Wishes, MIRA Books 2008
7. Summer on Blossom Street, May 2009
8. Hannah's List, April 2010
9. A Turn in the Road, April 2011
10. Starting Now, April 2013
11. Blossom Street Brides, March 2014

1. Last One Home, Ballantine Books (March 2015)
2. A Girl's Guide to Moving On, Ballantine Books (February 2016)
3. If Not For You, Ballantine Books (February 2017)

• 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)
• Sugar and Spice (1987)
• Mail-Order Bride (1987)
• No Competition (1987)
• Love 'N' Marriage (1987)
• Husband Required (1987)
• Any Sunday (1988)
• The Playboy and the Widow (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)
• My Funny Valentine (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)
• Lone Star Lovin' (1993)
• Ready for Romance (1993)
• Morning Comes Softly, Harper (1993/2006)
• One Night, Harper (1994)
• Family Affair (1994)
• This Matter of Marriage, MIRA Books (1997/2003)
• Three Brides, No Groom ,Silhouette Books (1997)
• Montana MIRA Books, (1998)
• Can This Be Christmas?, MIRA Books (1998)
• 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)
• When Christmas Comes, (Christmas gift edition hardcover) MIRA Books November (2004)
• There's Something About Christmas, MIRA Books November (2005)
• The Perfect Christmas, MIRA Books October (2009)
• Starry Night, Ballantine Books (2013)
• Mr. Miracle, Ballantine Books (2014)
• Twelve Days of Christmas, Ballantine Books (2016)
• Merry and Bright, Ballantine Books (2017)
• Cottage By the Sea, Ballantine Books (July 17, 2018)
• Alaskan Holiday, Ballantine Books (October 2, 2018)

• 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 Night, "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
• Small Town Christmas, "Return to Promise" & "Mail-Order Bride" MIRA Books 2008

• 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)

• Knit Along with Debbie Macomber (2005)
• Knit Together (2007)
• Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook (2009)
• One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity (2009)
• God's Guest List: Welcoming Those Who Influence our Lives (2010)
• Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook (2011)
• One Perfect Word (2012)
• Patterns of Grace: Devotions from the Heart (2012)
• Once Upon a Time: Discovering Our Forever After Story (2013)
• Debbie Macomber's Table: Sharing the Joy of Cooking with Family and Friends (April 3, 2018)