She told me so herself and was very specific on this one point.  “I am a story teller” she says and yesterday’s interview with her was a total honor and a privilege and she did indeed tell me some great stories.  She also shared her secret ingredient for macaroni and cheese, told me the significance of the 1022 in the title of 1022 Evergreen Place which is her 10^th Cedar Cove book (and her birth date!) and all about her third annual ‘Grandma Camp’ where she spends time cooking, shopping, knitting, practicing gratitude and swimming every day with her granddaughters.  She also shared some inside info on her upcoming Call Me Mrs. Miracle movie for HBO.   She was fresh off the set and shared a picture of herself and Doris Roberts who plays the wonderful Mrs. Miracle.  Oh, and about that secret ingredient?  Comment on the blog below and I just might share!

Debbie Macomber with Doris Roberts, who plays Mrs. Miracle in the upcoming HBO film Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Then Deanna Raybourn stopped by to update us on the latest adventures of Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane.  We most recently followed them to the exotic Himalayas in Dark Road to Darjeeling (most gorgeous book cover EVER), where Deanna introduces a dasterdly archvillain, reveals some terrifyingly delicious family secrets and then breaks our hearts with an important plot turn.  She also shared fascinating insights into life beyond the drawing rooms of the aristocracy and particularly how Nicholas defies all stereotypes of the Victorian Male.  She looked as wonderful as ever, told us her new favorite fragrance (Gypsy Water) how she really felt about the Titanic exhibit and how she manages to pack everything she needs for RWA in a 9×20x14 1/2 inch carryon and one oversize slouchy purse.  Here’s the breakdown!

The purse contains: iphone, wallet, sunglasses, folder of travel documents, chargers, netbook, two paperback books, snack, cosmetic bag, pens, TSA-approved bag o’liquids, and blank notebook.

The carry-on holds:

1 curling iron

1 toiletry bag

1 stack promotional postcards for Dark Road to Darjeeling

1 stack bookmarks for The Dead Travel Fast

1 stack business cards

1 paperback book

4 pairs of shoes: leopard stilettos, multi-color floral peep-toe heels, black faille wedges, white Jack Rogers sandals

1 thin woven wrap in leopard print

1 white bikini

1 green silk caftan for wearing in my room

1 nightgown

underwear

1 patterned mini-caftan for a bathing suit cover-up

5 clutch purses: gold leather, silver leather, black sequin, multi-color floral wristlet, raffia with white trim

6 dresses: brown linen, black lace cocktail, peacock taffeta cocktail, yellow sheath, apple green linen sheath, flame orange silk

1 black taffeta evening gown

UM, did you notice her SHOES????

Ok, now that I’ve blogged your ears off, I have to leave you with a tease, since  I have run out to the business center and pick up the entry forms for this afternoon’s draw to win a Sony Reader at the Carina Press Cocktail event that Angela James and Malle Vallik are hosting here in the Disney Dolphin.

You’ll just have to come back later on today to get the inside scoop on Brenda Jackson’s exciting new project, how Maria V. Snyder made me cry and all about Brenda Novak’s Department 6!

Jayne

by Paula Eykelhof, longtime editor for Debbie Macomber.

Hannah’s List is both a “breakout” book for Debbie and one that highlights what I’ve called her trademark strengths—a feeling of community, credible characters whose situations and emotions readers relate to, and a warm-hearted humor.

Michael Everett is the central protagonist and his story is told in first person point of view. That’s something Debbie has done before (in the Lydia chapters of the Blossom Street books, for instance), but this is the first time she’s done it with a male character—and Michael’s voice is completely believable. His grief, and his gradual recovery from that grief, are such recognizable emotions, and Debbie’s portrayal of this process is handled with realism and integrity.

Each of the people in this book will stay with the reader. The other point of view characters have their own chapters, which are in third person; switching between first and third is a technique that works well here. Winter, who’ll be familiar from the Blossom Street stories, is developed with new depth. Leanne elicits your compassion and your admiration. And Macy… Well, who wouldn’t love her? She’ll make you laugh, she’ll charm you, make you root for her—maybe even make you cry.

I want to comment on Hannah herself, too. She died a year before the story begins but she’s so present throughout. You never actually meet her—no flashbacks or anything—but you have a very clear picture of the kind of person she was. Debbie does this in a variety of ways, including Hannah’s letter, of course, and also through Michael’s memories of Hannah, his “conversations” with her and through the other characters’ memories. Hannah influenced each of them, changed or affected their lives. We—Debbie’s readers—have all sustained our own losses of people we love, and Hannah’s List reminds us that they never truly leave us. Our memories of them bring consolation and, eventually, healing.

What Hannah does for Michael is give him a second chance to love again and fully live again.  Writing that letter, with her list of women she wants Michael to meet, is an intensely generous act. Interestingly, Debbie based this on a real situation, which was shared with her by a friend. In Hannah’s case, her list leads (somewhat indirectly!) to renewal for each of the three women she named—Winter, Leanne and Macy.

The secondary characters surrounding the principal characters are all well-defined and each plays a significant part. There’s Ritchie, Michael’s brother-in-law and best friend. Linda, his office nurse. Harvey, who’s Macy’s neighbor. Her cats and the dog Macy rescues—even they have distinct personalities. Leanne’s ex-husband, Mark. Alix Jordan, who works for Winter and whom readers will also recognize from Blossom Street stories. And more…

I gave my neighbor a galley of Hannah’s List and she stayed up all night reading it. Granted, she’s a huge fan of the Cedar Cove books, but I believe this book will not only thrill and satisfy Debbie’s many readers, it’ll win her new ones!

Editor’s Note: Hannah’s List is onsale everywhere May 2010!

by Olga Kwak, blogger, sister, daughter.

What are you doing right now?  Do you have the television on?  Go turn it on!  Debbie Macomber is appearing live on DAYTIME, a nationally syndicated morning talk show.  Check your local listings, as they say!

Debbie will be talking about her new book, THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS, and showing Lindsay, Dave and Cyndi how to make some cookies from her CEDAR COVE COOKBOOK.   I hope she plans on making those Christmas cookies I mentioned on National Cookie Day.

And, in case it’s slipped your mind, THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS and THE CEDAR COVE COOKBOOK are available for sale in our bookstore.

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by Don Lucey, Senior Writer, PR Communications

Debbie enjoying tea with her many fans

Cedar Cove is Debbie Macomber’s fictional community that she has featured in books like 92 Pacific Boulevard, A Cedar Cove Christmas and her Cedar Cove Cookbook. Not only have fans of these books made them a #1 New York Times bestselling series, but in the last week of August some 10,000-12,000 fans from 42 states and six foreign countries (Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, South Africa, Germany and Japan) descended upon the little town of Port Orchard, WA to celebrate as it transformed itself into the fictional community of Cedar Cove. As part of Harlequin’s public relations team I had the honor of attending the festivities.

Cedar Cove Days banner hangs across main street

As a thank you for all the work organizers had put in bringing Cedar Cove Days from the germination of an idea to reality, Debbie held a pre-event barbecue for the volunteers at her beautiful home overlooking Sinclair Inlet on Puget Sound. Her son Ted tended the grill & I can personally attest to his skills.

Celebrations officially kicked off at a grandstand on the waterfront where the state senator, congresswoman and town mayor spoke and presented Debbie with the key to the city—the first such award in the history of Port Orchard. But what very few people know is that Debbie had already been busy shooting live television interviews from 4:00 am to 10:00 am. I have no idea how she managed to be so lively and charming over the rest of the day.

Over the next four days we were privy to behind-the-scenes peeks at the real-life inspirations for Debbie’s Cedar Cove novels. Tours were led by Debbie’s four grown children who provided us with insights that only a family member could know. Teas at the Victorian Rose Tea Room and knitting at Debbie’s Yarn Shop also gave fans an opportunity to spend quality time with their favorite author. And a great Q&A session with Debbie and her editor, Paula, had everyone in tears at one point when Debbie described the premise of her next Blossom Street book, Hannah’s Choice—trust me, you’re going to be moved!

We all got dressed up for a brilliant cruise on Puget Sound that included a dinner at Kiana Lodge on Agate Passage, just across from Bainbridge Island. Each member of the Macomber family shared memories of life with Debbie, and Ted had the entire assemblage singing his fresh Cedar Cove Rap—“Cedar Cove, y’all/ Cedar Cove, y’all…”

The highlight of the entire celebration for most people, however, was the Character Parade. Thousands of fans and residents lined the route as marching bands interspersed vintage cars carrying local townspeople portraying characters from the novels. The parade was followed by a sock hop at the grandstand and drinks at a beer garden hosted by Debbie’s husband, Wayne.

Debbie riding high through the Character Parade at Cedar Cove Days

City council declared Cedar Cove Days a resounding success which was rewarding news as all of the proceeds from the events are earmarked for various community projects. As Cedar Cove Days drew to a close and everyone got ready to return to their homes, we all remarked on how beautiful the weather had been—sunny and high 70s. It certainly didn’t seem to be the typical Pacific Northwest climate. Mother Nature must be a Debbie Macomber fan, too.

Click here for more pictures of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Days!

Finally, here are the names of the winners in our Susan Wiggs Lakeshore Christmas contest! Congratulations Melissa, Rissa, Sherry James, Lisa Boggs and Barb Ledbetter!