In the first book, The Long Quiche Goodbye, we meet Charlotte Bessette who has just opened Fromagerie Bessette, or the Cheese Shop as the residents of Providence, Ohio call it. At the shop's grand opening, between the various cheese and wine samplings, a little thing like a crime of passion touches Charlotte's world.

The most difficult part of writing the Long Quiche Goodbye was made easier by Avery's preferred use of outlining. "The schedule was tight but editors were changed in the middle so the first manuscript didn't get read or approved until well into January. And then my second outline which my editor required wasn't approved until February 1st and she needed a completed manuscript by May 15th." In an uncharacteristic understatement, Avery adds, "Fifteen weeks to write thirty chapters requires focus.

"I've always worked from an outline, but now I work from a very detailed outline. My editor appreciates it. She can see the red herrings, the clues, the motives for all the suspects. It works well for both of us."

Avery feels it helps her stick to a schedule and finds freedom in writing chapters from an outline already vetted by her editor. She does make changes to the outline but she knows the main goal, who did it, and why.

Her schedule for writing falls into a comfortable routine. She gets up early and loves to write first thing (think 6AM) for about an hour or so. Then she walks her dog, eats, exercises, and get back to writing. Her first session takes place in her home office, filled with to-do lists and PR materials. Since she doesn't like to see all that her second writing session is often at a coffee shop because "there are absolutely no distractions. Put in the iBuds, turn on music (without words - Latin, jazz, classical) and write. I'll sit there for two hours writing steadily. It's an incredibly alpha state to be in."

It is here she is working on her next projects. Next up is the second Cheese Shop Mystery, Lost and Fondue where Charlotte's friend Meredith turns an abandoned winery into a college. To commemorate the event artists come to town and one ends up dead and Charlotte gets involved to clear her friend's niece.

About those suspense-thrillers. Avery's current work here involves a male protagonist set in the Bay area nearer to San Jose. Her other books have female leads and are set in Lake Tahoe or San Francisco. She says, "No common threads except that they all lean toward the thriller and not the mystery."

When not writing her own works, she takes time to read her favorites. "I adore Lisa Gardner's work. Michael Connelly, Harlan Coban, Lisa Scottline, Sue Grafton. I read inspirational quote books when I'm feeling low.

Needless to say, Avery is excited about The Long Quiche Goodbye hitting the bookstores with Lost and Fondue not far behind. She has poured her passion into the work , as she does with all her writing. For her you direct you passion and "write one book. Then write another, and another. Keep at it. Believe you can."

Yes with her passion, drive, and desire, expect to see more than the Cheese Shop Mysteries in the bookstores. I'm betting we see some of her suspense thrillers in the not too distant future.

Terry DiDomenico has spent most of her professional career editing and writing for university publications with a little freelancing on the side. She lives with her husband and two cats on four acres in south central Pennsylvania. She is working on her first novel - a thriller of course.