Knitch Magazine

Her own story. An interview with Debbie Macomber

Perhaps no one has sold more books for knitters than Debbie Macomber, New York Times bestselling author, knitter, and part-owner of "A Good Yarn Shop" in Port Orchard, Washington. In between writing and promoting her wonderful stories, she has been working hard to support a variety of worthy charities and, most recently, collaborated with Universal on the development of her own line of yarns. She is donating her proceeds from the yarn sales to charity. We hope you enjoy our recent conversation with one of the knitting community's most beloved story tellers.

Knitch: Debbie, do you actually know how many books you've written and sold?

Debbie: I'm telling you the truth when I say I don't really keep track of the number of books I've written. And the numbers are complicated -- in a good way! -- by the fact that some of my titles have been reissued in other editions and formats. However, my publisher informs me that I have 140 million books in print and that the top languages, other than English, are French and Italian. The number that probably means most to me is that I've been writing for thirty years and love what I do.

Knitch: Your passion is evident in your stories. You're a compelling story teller.

Debbie: My God-given gift is that of a storyteller. I’ve always been fascinated by people, and I think that leads naturally to an interest in story. But I had to learn to be a writer.

Knitch: Most of our readers may know you through The Blossom Street series that started with The Shop on Blossom Street. But you had written over a 100 books before this series was published. Can you tell us about them?

Debbie: I've written a number of series over the years. There were books set in Alaska, Texas, North Dakota, Seattle and Oregon. I also write the ongoing Cedar Cove series, which is set in a fictional place based on my hometown of Port Orchard, Washington. Some time ago, I discovered that readers don't want to let go of the characters, don’t want their stories to end, and that suits me just fine, as I grow fond of them myself. Probably the most endearing of these continuing characters are my angelic trio Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. They often show up around the Christmas holidays, bringing joy as well as mayhem to a variety of people and situations. They’ll be making their next appearance in 2011.

Knitch: Many successful authors had to persevere through a string of rejection letters. Did you suffer the same challenge, or were you one of the lucky ones whose abilities were immediately recognized by publishers?

Debbie: Selling my first book was the most difficult task I've ever taken on. Even now I don't know why I continued writing when all I seemed to get back was rejection after rejection. Passion, love of story, determination and just plain stubbornness − I suppose that combination of traits and feelings is the closest I have to an answer. All I can say is that I'm grateful I stuck with it despite my early setbacks.

Knitch: What first inspired you to write the Blossom Street series?

Debbie: Before I wrote The Shop on Blossom Street, one of my favorite places to visit was the local yarn store, Linda's Knit and Stitch in Silverdale. I enjoyed meeting her customers and seeing what they were knitting; for one thing, other knitters’ projects inspired me to expand my own knitting horizons.

Linda didn't have a group organized at that time, and because of my travel schedule I probably wouldn't have been able to join if she’d had one. I believe the idea for my first knitting novel was born of my desire to be with other knitters, even if they were people I’d imagined.

Since the publication of the Blossom Street series, I've opened a yarn store, with three partners, here in Port Orchard. It’s called "A Good Yarn," named, as you’ve no doubt guessed, after Lydia’s shop in the stories. Our mission statement − and, I would say, our goal− is "Where relationships are formed and traditions are taught." The knitters who frequent the shop are friends and neighbors and I am blessed to know them. Pretty well all the knitters I’ve met over the years tell me they identify with one or more of the characters in my novels. I love hearing that because I want my readers to see themselves in my work.

Knitch: Your books deal with the strong bonds of friendship that occur among women. Is there anything that distinguishes knitting groups from other group relationships that women might form?

Debbie: What a great question. I believe strong bonds of friendship come about when passions are shared, especially passions like knitting or other creative endeavors. Knitting groups often turn into self-help and social groups. We listen to one another’s triumphs and troubles and even offer advice when it’s warranted or desired. We laugh a lot. I believe that the focus on an activity—knitting—that we all love can free us to think about our lives and problems in a different way. Knitting requires and engenders calm, clarity and creativity; those qualities can spill over into our lives and relationships, especially within the comfort of a group of friends.

Knitch: You're right! Knitting groups tend to morph; they become whatever the members need them to be at any particular time. That's an interesting point. Is there a particular message you're trying to convey to your readers?

Debbie: I always have a message for the reader, which changes from book to book, but that message has to be subtle. Certain “messages,” of course, are part of my philosophy of life and appear in all my books in some fashion—the importance of family, friendship and community, for example. To sum up, I want my reader to think, to savor the story and most of all to finish the last page, hungry for more!

Knitch: Do you begin with the message and then write around it?

Debbie: Before I sit down to write a book, I carefully go over the plot premise and the characters it’s based on. If that premise can meet the challenge of certain key words against which I test it, I then develop the story. Those words are RELEVANT, PROVOCATIVE, ENTERTAINING, CREATIVE and HONEST. Each one asks a question about a different aspect of the story.

Knitch: And these stories have a profound impact on your readers. Can you give us an example of how your writing has positively affected someone?

Debbie: The readers who touch my heart the most are the ones who tell me, either at a signing or through a letter or email, that my books have helped them through some life crisis. It could be cancer treatment, the loss of a spouse, dealing with an empty nest, economic hardship—all kinds of things. I am humbled and honored by my readers’ responses to my books.

Knitch: We love the variety of patterns that reflect the different personalities of the characters in your novels. How do you decide what projects the characters in your books will work on?

Debbie: The Shop on Blossom Street was a natural because each character’s story revolved around the need for a baby blanket. When I wrote A Good Yarn I'd just taken a sock-knitting class so that seemed like a good idea. With Back on Blossom Street I knew I wanted to knit a prayer shawl, so I sought out Myrna Stahman for a design. For Summer on Blossom Street I met Bev Galeskas...and I can't remember whether she was the one to suggest the sampler scarf or if I came up with the idea. Either way I am greatly indebted to these talented designers.

Knitch: We're excited about the debut of your yarn with Universal and Hal Ozbelli. Can you tell us about it?

Debbie: Let me start by telling you that having my own yarn collection is above and beyond anything I expected when I wrote the first Blossom Street book. As far as developing the line is concerned, Hal and I discussed the yarns but I left the color choices to him and his wonderful staff, as I loved everything they presented to me. Prepare to be wowed! This is FABULOUS yarn.

Knitch: Will we soon see characters using the new Debbie Macomber yarn?

Debbie: My characters will be knitting for sure, but I have refrained from mentioning any brand in the past and will continue in that vein. I won’t be developing any patterns; although I certainly have a creative streak, I’m not a designer. That said, Universal Yarn has hired some of the top designers in the field to create patterns to correspond with the new line.

Knitch: You've mentioned in the past that you learned to knit as a young girl, and that it helped you overcome your dyslexia. Tell us about that. Do you think it would benefit others who have the same challenge?

Debbie: Yes, knitting saved me as a youngster. Because I struggled so much in school−I didn't learn to read until I was in the 5th grade—my self-esteem badly needed a boost. Knitting gave me that, along with a feeling of accomplishment. It helped me deal with what felt like overwhelming frustration. As a bonus, it helped me learn math concepts as well.

Knitch: Do you also crochet or participate in other fiber arts?

Debbie: While recuperating from knee replacement surgery last autumn, I took crocheting classes and really enjoyed that. However knitting will always remain my first love.

Knitch: Another of your "loves" is your charity work. You are donating the proceeds of your yarn to charity. You actively support programs that help battered women and fund literacy programs, and you serve on the board for Warm-Up America. What motivates you to support so many charitable causes?

Debbie: I have been blessed in so many areas of my life that I looked for ways to give back. Supporting knitting charities, in particular, has given me the opportunity to do that—an opportunity for which I'm very grateful.

Knitch: We're certain many of our readers would be interested in your most recent initiative, KNIT 1, BLESS 2. Can you tell us about it?

Debbie: This was an initiative to help three knitting charities. I swear I have the most generous readers in the universe! Like me, many of them look for a charity outlet for their knitting, a way of giving back. All I did was offer them the chance to share their talents with those less fortunate. I chose three knitting charities that are close to my heart: Project Linus, the Binky Patrol and Newborns in Need. May seemed the perfect month because of Mother's Day. I asked my readers to send in their handcrafted works, and the response was impressive, to say the least. More than 2000 items were donated! I was overwhelmed by the kindness and caring of these readers. I can still hardly believe it.

Knitch: We've posted the Baby Blocks blanket by Ann Norling so KnitchMagazine readers can download it for free. It's one of the patterns from The Shop on Blossom Street and we're sure our readers will want to make it.

Debbie: Although the Knit1, Bless2 program concluded on May 31, 2010, these wonderful charities are always in need! I would encourage anyone interested in contributing to visit their individual sites for additional patterns and information on where to send their handmade pieces.

Knitch: With all the work you do, you must enjoy a lot of traveling. Do you visit knitting shops when you travel?

Debbie: Visit yarn stores on the road? Does a bear...you get the idea. I make every effort to visit local yarn stores. First, I love meeting other knitters, and visiting the shops always feels like coming home. I‘m encouraged and inspired. I buy yarn−I can't help myself. Yes, I'm a partner in a yarn store and yes, I have my own line of yarn, but that doesn't mean I don't buy yarn! I simply love yarn and seeing what others have done with it. I'm frequently recognized when I go into a store, which is definitely gratifying. Also gratifying is seeing my books—the Blossom Street stories or the Leisure Arts pattern books or both—on a store’s shelves.

Knitch: How do you do it? You're a wife, a mother, a grand-mother, a successful author, a dedicated charity worker. Do you ever sleep?

Debbie: Just coming off a 17-city, five-week tour, I’m sleeping a lot right now. Seriously, I believe we all find the time we need for what we consider most important. It's a matter of priorities.

Knitch: Before we let you get back to your work, can you tell us about your new book, Hannah's List.

Debbie: Hannah’s List is peripherally connected to the Blossom Street series. By that I mean it doesn't take place in Lydia's yarn store and there isn't a knitting class involved. It's the story of Dr. Michael Everett who, a year earlier, lost his wife to ovarian cancer. Before she died Hannah wrote him a heartfelt letter, which he receives on the anniversary of her death. In it, she says essentially my life has ended but yours is continuing. I want you to marry and have a family. I want you to feel free to love again. With that, she gives him a list of three women she feels would make him a good wife . . . hence the title, Hannah's List. It’s the story of a truly unselfish love.

Knitch: Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you and your work?

Debbie: I'm friendly! I love meeting people—readers and knitters. And I know that, like me, many of you are both.

Many thanks to Debbie Macomber for giving so much time to us for this interview, and for providing us with the free pattern, Baby Blocks, for our readers to enjoy.