1. Debbie, you got the initial idea for Twenty Wishes from a reader. What influence have readers had on your books and your career?
I always listen to my readers and I take to heart what they say. When they have requests or suggestions, I consider them seriously. In fact, reader requests have changed the course of my career three times. After The Shop on Blossom Street, my publisher and I had planned on a completely unrelated book for the following year. But reader reaction to Shop and the frequent appeals for more knitting books led directly to A Good Yarn and later, to Back on Blossom Street—although, of course, the Blossom Street books weren't originally intended as a series. And the book A Good Yarn replaced? That turned out to be Susannah's Garden, which did end up having a connection to Blossom Street, after all!
Here's another instance of reader influence on my career. I received so many requests for more series, and longer series, after "Heart of Texas" and the Dakota stories that I created Cedar Cove. I'm currently in the last production stages of the eighth book and about to start writing the ninth.
And reader comment affected the Christmas stories I publish every year, too. The first few were short, novella-length, and my readers said they wanted more. So…I obliged. These Christmas-themed gift hardcovers are now novels of at least 50,000 words.
Finally, whenever possible, I take readers' suggestions about characters they want to see again and occasionally even about plot developments. Or a reader's comment, like that of Arliene who described her own wish list to me, might trigger a story idea.
2. Speaking of wish lists, do you have one yourself? And are you finding that your readers are making wish lists, too?
Yes to both. I do have a wish list of my own, or at least I'm working on one. I'm doing it in my journal, and I'm up to Wish # 13. Among my recent wishes are to take a cake decorating course (I like the decorating and the eating part) and I'd love to do it with my granddaughters. Another is to learn to speak French. I've always been interested but a trip to Paris a month ago really reinforced that desire.
And my readers have been telling me that they love the idea of a wish list—as opposed to a to-do list or a set of goals. Wishes are all about what you want. But if in the process of wishing and then bringing your wishes to life, you also bring happiness to others, so much the better!
This is a good time to mention www.setyourwishfree.com. Go on the site, make a wish and release it into the universe. You can also enter my contest, in which I'll help make one reader's wish come true.
3. How's the tour going so far? Not all authors enjoy touring, but you obviously do. Why?
The tour's going great! I'm loving every minute (except maybe for some of the time I'm spending in airports).
Why do I enjoy book tours? Well, to put it simply, I like meeting readers and connecting with them. I'm definitely what you'd describe as a people person. I like getting a sense of who my readers are and what it is they respond to in my books.
I particularly enjoy seeing the age range of the readers who come to my signings—from teens to women in their 80s. I like the fact that I often meet mothers accompanied by daughters, as well as groups of friends. And I've spoken to several new readers who were introduced to me and my titles simply because they saw a line at the bookstore and joined it out of curiosity!
4. Why did you set this story in the Blossom Street community?
I wanted to write a story that was different from either Cedar Cove or the knitting series (although, not surprisingly, knitting does play a role in Twenty Wishes) and yet I love Blossom Street. My readers tell me they do, too. This little neighborhood is truly a community to them, as it is to me—a place of friends. I thought the familiarity would be appealing and although the focus in this book is primarily on Anne Marie, I saw roles for some of my Blossom Street regulars, especially Lydia and Elise.
Yes, definitely. I believe everyone needs community. Everyone needs a feeling of belonging, of being part of something beyond yourself and even beyond family. In fact, most of us are members of more than one community. Town, neighborhood, workplace, church, special interest groups—there are all kinds of communities. And these days, of course, it's possible to belong to virtual communities, as well.
My own communities include my hometown of Port Orchard, Washington, our condo building in Florida (not to mention the friends we've made nearby), the members of my church, my writing groups, knitting groups… And let's not forget the characters in my books! I feel as if I'm part of their communities, too—both on Blossom Street and in Cedar Cove.
6. It's clear that you have great affection for all the characters in Twenty Wishes. Do you have a favorite?
You're right—I do care about all of them. But if I have a favorite, I'd have to say it's Ellen. For one thing, I've got two granddaughters of that age, and 8-year-old girls are so delightful. They haven't acquired the self-consciousness of young teens and yet they're really developing their own distinct personalities. Ellen's vulnerability really spoke to me, and so did her courage and dignity.
7. Why did you make Anne Marie a bookstore owner?
I love books! I love everything about them. Anne Marie, who now owns Blossom Street Books, was briefly introduced in Back on Blossom Street and she seemed a natural for this story.
I've met many, many bookstore owners, managers and staff over the years, and I count a number of them among my good friends. I think they provide such an essential service.
You've probably noticed that reading is important to many of my characters—not only Anne Marie and the members of her book groups, but Grace in Cedar Cove, who's a librarian, and Elise who was a librarian before she retired. Ellen, too, loves to read, which is something Anne Marie strongly encourages. Isn't that a wonderful gift—to instill a love of reading in our kids?
8. Tell us about your upcoming books.
I'll have some reissues coming out, including more of the Manning stories and another "Heart of Texas" book. Besides Twenty Wishes, my other original titles this year are 8 Sandpiper Way, the next Cedar Cove book, which is out in September, and A Cedar Cove Christmas, a gift hardcover being published in October. I have an original Christmas title every year, but this one is also a return visit to Cedar Cove. One of the most frequent requests I get from readers is for more than one Cedar Cove title a year—and this year it's a request I can grant!
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Debbie Macomber is the currently featured author in The Book Review Group and recently wrote Twenty Wishes, a story about a woman in her late thirties trying to find happiness again. To read more from Debbie, join the group now. Add her as a friend today!Click here to buy the book!
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Comments: 16
Cheers,
Douglas Quinn
www.douglasquinn.com
Looking forward to seeing more of your posts on Gather.
I hold FREE book drawings on my site and Debbie's book, Twenty Wishes, is one of the books up for grabs. I'll be pulling names very soon, so if you're interested go check out our podcast interview and enter your name. If you haven't already, check out Debbie's Twenty Wishes site--it's wonderful, too.