Sometimes the most amazing, wonderful experiences come your way when you least expect them.
Back in September, Captain Cavedweller and I were in Pendleton for the Pendleton Round-Up. He decided to make one more pass through the hundreds of vendor booths so I claimed a spot on the bench surrounding the big bronze statue right outside the Round-Up grounds and checked my emails.
One in particular jumped out at me. It was from Debbie Macomber’s executive assistant (as in the Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times Bestselling author who has more than 200 million copies of her books in print) asking if I was going to be attending the American Christian Fiction Writer’s conference. If so, Debbie extended an invitation to join her for coffee or lunch.
I almost dropped my phone.
Hands shaking with excitement, I looked up the conference details and quickly checked to see if I could still register to attend, since until that moment had not planned at all to attend. Even if registration was closed, I figured I could catch a flight to Nashville the following week and still meet Debbie.
Since I live less than six hours away from Debbie, though, I replied that I would happily book a flight to Nashville if I could get one, but if Debbie was open to the idea, I could also drive to her hometown and meet her there at her convenience.
Thankfully, an appointment was set up to have lunch with her in Port Orchard. Even better, the scheduled date to meet her fell at a time when Captain Cavedweller had the time off and could go with me.
With jangled nerves, I went to her office and met her incredible staff (that includes her beautiful daughter, Adele, who is the CEO of Debbie Macomber, Inc.) .
They were all so friendly, welcoming, and gracious.
Then I met Debbie.
(Please ignore the fact I look like a drugged whackadoodle! We all know how much I enjoy having my photo taken – but this was Debbie! I had to have a photo!)
She’s even more fantastic in person than I imagined she’d be.
Debbie is absolutely lovely. And so kind. And warm and generous and sweet. Perfectly wonderful.
Adele and Ashley, the brand’s marketing manager, (and both are just fabulous women) joined us and we had a delicious lunch where they answered any question I asked and shared a wealth of helpful information.
My heart was filled to overflowing with the joy and graciousness and willingness to lift others up that I experienced with these amazing individuals.
I’m so, so glad I brashly asked if I could meet Debbie in Port Orchard (the inspiration for her Cedar Cove series) and so grateful Debbie and her staff made it happen. Not only is Port Orchard a delightful town, it will forever be etched in my memory as the place I met Debbie Macomber.
