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Few Pacific Northwest writers have been as prolific or successful as Debbie Macomber. The Port Orchard resident has penned more than 150 romance novels and other forms of fiction, and more than 60 million copies of her work are in print throughout the world. Her latest efforts include a children’s book, a non-fiction book, and a cookbook that came out in August, titled, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Cookbook. We recently caught up with her to discuss what she loves about Washington state.

You write about the fictional town of Cedar Cove. What’s your favorite real-live local town?
Hands down, it’s Leavenworth. I love it there—it’s a German-style, Bavarian village. I’m a real Christmas person, and they really do Christmas well. My husband, Wayne, and I have gone to the tree-lighting ceremony every year for the last five. I’m a big knitter, and there are a bunch of great knitting stores in that area: Cashmere Cottage Yarn in Cashmere, Wooly Bully Yarns in Leavenworth and Elite Needleworks Shoppers in Wenatchee.

Why do you like small towns so much?
I love the way everyone looks out for one another, the way everyone and everything comes together and is connected in some way. I was born and raised in Yakima, which qualifies as a small town. Of course Port Orchard would be considered one, as well.

If you’re from Yakima, you must be partial to Washington wines, no?
They didn’t have a wine industry when I lived there; that’s sprouted in the last 30 years. Every summer we go to the Yakima and Walla Walla valleys and do a wine weekend. One of our favorites is L’Ecole No. 41. We usually stay in a hotel room and hire a driver to take us around.

Closer to home, near Port Orchard, where do you go for a night on the town?
Our favorite restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall in Kent called Mexico Lindo. When we come home after at trip, we always stop there for lunch or dinner. Even if it’s 3 p.m., we’ll wait in the parking lot until they open. I always order the cheese enchiladas.

Any other regional rituals we should know about?
We love the Sequim Lavender Festival. They hold it every July (the 2010 event is July 16-18). Sequim has grown to become the lavender capital of the country. It’s nice to see; for years, that was a town searching for an identity. Sometimes we’ll also just drive along Hood Canal for a scenic drive. When we do that, we always stop at the Hoodsport winery; they make great rhubarb and raspberry wines.

Generally speaking, how many of your personal vacations end up in your books?
Tons. Two of my books (When Christmas Comes and Where Angels Go) are set in Leavenworth, and as you know Cedar Cove is based loosely on Port Orchard. To be honest, it’s all fodder for the grist. Everything that happens in my life turns up in a book. It inspires me to have more fulfilling experiences when I’m out and about. In Washington, that’s not hard to do.