Questions for Debbie Macomber! [ Edited ]

[Melanie_Murray]

I am extremely thrilled to be starting this thread!

Debbie Macomber is going to be visiting the board on Wednesday, November 28th. I'm opening the thread a few days in advance so that you can all begin posting your questions for her.

Debbie is one of my favorites. I'm a diehard fan of her Blossom Street books. And for those who have been writing about their favorite Christmas stories in Eloisa's thread, Debbie has more than one that rank among my Christmas treasures.

Also, I had the great good fortune to be sitting at a dinner table with Debbie during a RWA conference in the past year or so, and I can say from firsthand experience that she is gracious and warm and wonderful in person.

So, welcome Debbie!

Message Edited by Melanie_Murray on 11-28-2007 08:47 AM

[EloisaJames]

Let me be the first to jump in with a question! Welcome, Debbie!

Like many of your readers, I love Shirley, Goodness and Mercy... I was so moved to read your note about one of this year's stories being influenced by your father's death. At the same time, I noticed that the angels are less naughty than they used to be. So my question is, are the angels growing up?

I guess what I'm asking is, are they in status (like Janet Evanovich's famous heroine), or are the angels growing and changing?

Thanks so much for visiting the BB!

Eloisa

Message Edited by Melanie_Murray on 11-28-2007 08:47 AM

[Janga]

Hi, Debbie! I think Heartsong was my first Debbie Macomber book, and I am rereading Rainy Day Kisses today, so I have been reading your books a long time. Christmas wouldn't be the same without a DM Christmas story, although the angel stories are always a special treat. Do you ever consider having Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy visit earth on occasions other than Christmas. I think an Easter story would be lovely.

[KimCastillo]

Welcome Debbie!!

I adore Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. They are such fun! Where did the idea for three fun angels come from?

[MCastillo]

Hi Debbie:

This is more of a thank you than a question. Back in 2002 I interviewed you for the Daily Pilot in Costa Mesa, CA. At that time I was getting rejections right and left and even though the question had nothing to do with the booksigning event you were coming to town for, I asked how you keep the faith in terms of your writing. You told me and I'll never forget, "There's never a good time to get published. You build a career book by book, reader by reader."

Your words have kept me going through rejections and later, deciphering my royalty statements! Thanks so much for being so generous with your time and expertise.

I hope you and your family enjoy a blessed holiday.

Best,
Mary C.

[DebbieMacomber]

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EloisaJames wrote:
Let me be the first to jump in with a question! Welcome, Debbie!

Like many of your readers, I love Shirley, Goodness and Mercy... I was so moved to read your note about one of this year's stories being influenced by your father's death. At the same time, I noticed that the angels are less naughty than they used to be. So my question is, are the angels growing up?

I guess what I'm asking is, are they in status (like Janet Evanovich's famous heroine), or are the angels growing and changing?

Thanks so much for visiting the BB!

Eloisa

Message Edited by Melanie_Murray on 11-28-2007 08:47 AM

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Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. I don't know if the angels are growing up so much as I am. I chose a difficult subject in the death of Harry because in the last few years I've lost both my parents, I was with my mother when she passed and while it was extremely painful to let her go at the same time it was a release too. I wanted my reader to know that in some cases death can be beautiful, especially of the one going is ready for this next stage.

My father did see an angel. He described him in great detail and I believe he was real. It seems to me that when death is close that the veil between life and death can be very thin. After he saw the angel my father passed within a short amount of time--a week or less.

Thanks for the good questions.

Debbie

[DebbieMacomber]

Hi Janga,

Actually, there's been a good deal of discussion regarding my angels visiting at other times of the year and the idea has always been rejected. To my editors and me Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are meant for Christmas.

You have been reading me for a long, long time. Heartsong was the first book I ever sold and the second book published. That gets confusing but the second book I sold was the first one published. Thank you for all the years of support. FYI--on September 29th at 4:39 p.m. I celebrated 25 years since that first sale. I feel incredibly blessed to have my career continue all these years.

Merry Christmas and thanks again for all the support.

Debbie

[DebbieMacomber]

Hello Kim,

You asked where the idea for the angels came from. I bet you won't be surprised when I tell you THE BIBLE. No kidding. I was reading the 23rd Psalm one morning and when I got to verse 6 the words: surely,goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. All of a sudden these three angels appeared like Snap, Crackle and Pop. They've been with me ever since too.

Debbie

[DebbieMacomber]

Mary,

Congratulations! I couldn't be more pleased for you. You followed your heart and are living your dreams. That quote about there never being a good time to sell a book came from Phyllis Whitney. I read it 30 years ago when I was getting rejections so fast they hit me in the head on the way home from the post office. It helped me over those hurdles too. The rest of the quote is mine and I believe its true. We do build our careers reader by reader, book by book. Writing isn't the career for everyone. It does make us strong though because eventually, if you stay in this business long enough, everything will happen to you--that quote comes compliments of Lawrence Block.

Debbie

[DebbieMacomber]

Dear Melanie,

Thank you for the warm welcome. It's been fun answering the questions. I just picked up Eloisa's book, which I see is selling exceptionally well. I can wait to dig into it. Merry Christmas to you and everyone at the B&N Bookclub.

Debbie

[Melanie_Murray]

Debbie,
Thank you so much for your time and lovely responses!

[EloisaJames]

Debbie,
Thank you so much for visiting the Board and answering all these questions. And as for buying my book, THANK YOU! for that too. In the editing process, someone questioned whether my characters should read from the Book of Luke -- and I cited your work! So thank you for leading the way in Christmas romances. I do hope you like it.

Eloisa