Million-copy bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series, Debbie Johnson, has signed a three-book deal with Storm for a new series.

Set in the idyllic, fictional town of Starshine Cove in Dorset, it’s an escapist read full of Debbie’s trademark humour, cosiness and romance.

Debbie, who has sold more than one-million copies of her books worldwide and won the Romantic Novelists’ Association award for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year, will publish the first book of her new series, Escape to Starshine Cove, in July 2023.

Debbie said: ‘I’m so excited to be joining the team at Storm, and can’t wait to introduce readers to the world of Starshine Cove. These books are full of warmth and comfort and friendship, and I’m looking forward to working with Storm to put a little bit of joy out into the world!’

Storm editor, Kathryn Taussig added: ‘Debbie is a total master of her craft, and she’s been a delight to work with from day one. Her writing has all the trademarks of the best books in this genre: a gorgeously escapist setting, genuine characters you want to return to and an unputdownable story with a romance at its heart. But what I think makes Debbie stand out from the crowd is how insightful her books are, and also how funny. I laughed out loud so many times while editing and I know readers are going to absolutely love this new series too.’

Debbie’s agent, Hayley Steed said: ‘Debbie writes the kind of fiction we all need to read right now – joyous, uplifting, escapist stories which whisk you away – and the new Starshine Cove series is an absolute treat for her readers, old and new.’