From Avery aka Daryl:
With the upcoming release of FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, I'm in Cheddar cheese mode, and I'm sharing a delicious grilled cheese recipe in just a sec plus a book giveaway below. IN FACT IT'S ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE GRILLED CHEESES! So don't miss it!
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But first, alas...(a lot of you know this already) my publisher doesn’t want to publish the Cheese Shop Mystery series any longer after the release of #7. Rats!
FYI...from day one, working with Berkley Prime Crime has
been wonderful. I can't say enough about the people there. The editors, copy
editors, artists, and publicists and all wonderful. I have been blessed to write the series. The response I received after THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE was
published was a huge boost to my ego. Truly a month before I was given the
contract, I was ready to give up writing all together. I stunk, I was awful. I
thought I’d never make it. And then the magical happened. And because of the
Cheese Shop Mysteries’ success, I was able to score another contract for The
Cookbook Nook Mysteries.
So why are they saying it's the end? Well, let’s just say Penguin has changed its practices after merging with Random House, and I imagine the standard for cost
effectiveness must be higher than what the Cheese Shop Mysteries reap. Bah humbug on the almighty dollar, but that is the way of the world.
I am awash with mixed emotions. I’m glad as well as
sad. Why sad? I love writing the series.
I love spending time with Charlotte and her family and friends. With the series' end, I
feel like I’m moving out of Ohio and none of us have email or phones so we can keep in
contact. Shoot! I guess I could always write a little story for myself just to bring the to life, right?
I hope fans will be happy with the way I’ve capped
off the series. I have taken care to make sure that the story is solid but the conclusion
is, what you might say, open-ended, just in case the publisher changes its
mind. (Ha! Not likely!) I’m sure I’ll hear if you aren’t pleased. So many have written me over
the years, with praise as well as critiques. Do you know that one fan really
hates the word ogle? And another
simply can’t stand how frivolous Charlotte’s assistant Rebecca acts. She is early
twenties, and I know a lot of frivolous, darling 20-somethings, but that’s beside the point. LOL
Now, just so you don’t panic, it’s not like the books
won’t be available. So if you haven’t read them all yet, feel confident that
you’ll be able to find them in a bookstore or online, or you'll be able to order them. There are lots of people who
haven’t read them. If only I had all those readers! J
I do have a few reasons why I’m glad the Cheese Shop Mystery Series is ending:
First, having the protagonist marry in a series is tricky.
How many spouses appreciate that his or her amateur sleuth spouse is always in
danger? But I'm glad I married Charlotte off. I know she will live a happily-evera-fter with Jordan.
I know that many of you wanted her to wind up with Umberto Urso (U-ey), but he has
his future, too. You’ll learn more in this new book. Promise.
Secondly, I’ll no longer have to spend a fortune on
expensive cheeses just to say that I’ve tasted them, though I will continue to
eat cheese and experiment with some costly ones. That part of my research has
been a blast!
Thirdly, I could conceivably write another series set
in the foodie world, and one of those people in the series might be a cheese
maven. She or he just wouldn’t be the protagonist. Certainly I will have Jenna,
in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, cooking with cheese and visiting the
cheese shop in Crystal Cove.
Lastly, I have always wanted to write suspense.
That’s where I started my writing career, but I set that genre aside when I was
lucky enough to be offered a culinary mystery series. So…yes, I’m going to focus on publishing a
suspense novel. The first is one that my husband loved. If all goes well, it will be coming out soon! Watch this space or sign up for my newsletter
so you’ll find out when!
And just as a footnote: with this new paradigm at the publishing house, I'm not certain my Cookbook Nook Mysteries will be picked up. Uh-oh! Oh, if only I
knew what that magic number was! Anybody have a crystal ball? Oh, wait, Jenna's aunt does. Hmm. I'll ask Vera. But if you like that series, please get the
word out to friends. Otherwise…I might be writing two suspense novels. And
reading. And walking Sparky. And digging in my garden.
Ah, the life of an author!
SPICY GRILLED CHEESE WITH BACON
(Makes 2 sandwiches)
4
slices bread
4
tablespoons butter
4
tablespoons cream cheese
1/2
teaspoon white pepper
1/2
teaspoon paprika
2 green
onions, chopped
2 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes of Tabasco sauce
6
ounces white or orange Cheddar cheese
4
slices bacon, cooked crisply, cut in half
Butter each slice of bread on one side. Spread the
cream cheese on the other side of the bread. [Note: This is the inside of the sandwich; the butter side is the
outside.]
To assemble: (For each sandwich) Sprinkle two slices of bread,
cream cheese side up, with the spices and top with chopped green onions. Place
half the Cheddar cheese on top of the onions. Place 4 halves of crisp bacon on
the cheese. Top with the remaining cheese. Set the other slices of bread on top
of the two sandwiches and press slightly.
If cooking
on a stovetop: Heat a large skillet
over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Set the sandwiches on the skillet and
cook for 4 minutes, until golden brown. Flip the sandwiches, using a spatula
and being careful not to lose the avocado and other goodies. Cook another 2-4
minutes. You can compress the sandwich with the spatula. Turn the sandwich one
more time. Press down with the spatula, and remove from the pan. Let cool about
2-3 minutes, and serve.
If cooking
on a panini or sandwich maker: Set
the sandwich on the griddle and slowly lower the top. Cook for a total of 4
minutes. Remove from the griddle and let cool 2-3 minutes, then serve. Beware, the insides might ooze out the
sides. If the lid is too heavy, you might want to consider resorting to the
stovetop method.
Today, I'll be giving away winner's CHOICE of the first 6 Cheese Shop Mysteries plus some fun swag. Winner will be picked Friday, the 15th. Leave your name and email so I can contact you if you WIN, and tell me what is your favorite cheese for a grilled cheese?
Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!
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