Bestselling women’s fiction writer Debbie Macomber, who has been with Harlequin for most of her career, is moving to the Random House Publishing Group in 2012. The house’s Ballantine imprint has acquired world rights to publish six Macomber novels in hardcover, paperback, audio, and e-book, from Macomber's agent, Theresa Park of the Park Literary Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Macomber has written more than 100 novels, including her popular Cedar Cove and Blossom Street series. World publication rights for the forthcoming Macomber novels were acquired by Libby McGuire, publisher, and Jennifer Hershey, editor-in-chief, of Ballantine Bantam Dell. Ballantine will publish three books a year beginning in 2012, including a new series set in the author's hometown of Port Orchard, Wash. Hershey will co-edit the Macomber novels with Ballantine Bantam Dell senior editor Shauna Summers.
Macomber said she is “looking forward to a new stage in my 28-year publishing career, full of fresh ideas and exciting opportunities to bring my stories to the widest possible audience, and to deepen my long-term relationships with my loyal readers." McGuire said, "This will be a long, fulfilling partnership among Debbie, Ballantine Bantam Dell, our booksellers, and her readers." Harlequin has four Macomber titles set for release in 2011 plus two original trade paperbacks for 2012 and will continue to publish her backlist.
Last year, Macomber's novel Mrs. Miracle was adapted as a Hallmark Channel television movie starring Doris Roberts, and a second one, currently in production, is scheduled to air on Hallmark this Thanksgiving weekend.
