Interview with Debbie Macomber - author of "Window on the Bay"

Where did your inspiration for “Window on the Bay” come from? My oldest daughter, Jody. Her youngest son was going off to a local college on a scholarship and Jody had said to me “Mom, I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. My kids are my whole life.” That sparked the idea.

What was your favorite part of the story to write? Why? I loved the character of Maureen in this story. She reminds me so much of myself, besides the fact I don’t wear pencil skirts. She starts out really uptight, but loosens up a bit as the story progresses.

What did you enjoy most about writing “Window on the Bay”? Simply the whole writing process. I am happiest when I am writing. My husband, Wayne, and I spent all of June traveling and the last few days of the month, all I could think about was getting back home so I could write.

What does this story mean to you? It shows how much life can change and life goes on. Change can sometimes be painful, but sometimes exciting and adventurous. Life is all about how we grab hold of that change.

Do you have a favorite character? Why? In addition to Maureen, I loved the doctor. In 2017, Wayne was deathly ill and we were around a lot of doctors during that time. The surgeon we met was not a people person - he came, did his job and left. I wanted to have a character that displayed what a surgeon should really be like.

Did you know the course of the story before you started writing? Yes. I always plot my books and it is one of my favorite aspects of writing. Of course, there are always little changes along the way though.

When did you decide you wanted to become an author? Did you ever think you would have the success you do? I knew when I was in my early teens, around age 12 or 13. I struggled in school with dyslexia and didn’t learn how to read until I was 10, but being an author was a dream that pulsed in me and I didn’t want anyone to stomp on that. The success I’ve had is far and way above what I could have imagined or dreamed of. That’s God at work and I have Him to thank. He has a hilarious sense of humor with me being dyslexic and becoming an author, but I am blessed.

Where do you typically go to write? Why there? I write in the office Monday through Thursday. Wayne and I have a weekend home that we go to and I write there on Fridays.

Who is your favorite author to read? I have several I read. If any of my friends, like Marie Bostwick, Linda Lael Miller or Sheila Roberts come out with a new book, I always pick up a copy. But I enjoy discovering new authors as well.

What was your favorite book to write thus far? I was in the first stages of my career and had a book that took me three and a half years to get published. It was a different story, but I knew it had to be provocative and realistic. I wanted it to be relevant to people’s lives and be creative too. It took some time to work it through.