My Typical Writing Day - A Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Heather Day Gilbert back to the blog today. Heather writes the Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery series. BELINDA BLAKE AND THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING is the second book in the series and was released on the first of this month.

My Typical Writing Day
By Heather Day Gilbert

I know some people wonder what the illustrious author life looks like, so I thought I'd pull back the curtain and give you a peek at my author workday. I'm a stay at home mom, so writing IS my day job (although this summer I took a break from writing so I could spend time with my three college-aged kids).

-7 am: Wake to get my five year old ready for her day at kindergarten. Make coffee and drink it as soon as possible. Throw on jeans and on cooler days, one of my husband's old oxford work shirts. They're not a fashion statement, but they're comfy.

-8 am: Catch up on any important emails, do marketing work. My "office" is now in my son's bedroom, now that he's moved out to college.

-9 am: Run to post office to mail out any giveaway books. Drink a second cup of coffee.

-10 am: Usually by this point, I'm ready to settle into writing. I recently completed a proposal for another cozy mystery series, as well as the first three chapters, which were edited by my critique partner Becky Doughty and my agent Julie Gwinn.

-Noon: I usually take a lunch break around this time, in which I generally watch a tiny bit of a mystery series on TV (latest finds have been My Life is Murder with the Xena: Warrior Princess actress Lucy Lawless, or Shakespeare and Hathaway, which is set in England. Both are on Amazon Prime channels). Sometimes I'll read a bit, but lately I've been doing most of my leisure reading at night before bed.

Some weeks I pick up my daughter from school, so I write until that afternoon. Quite often, my writing day might look like six hours straight of writing, especially if I'm on a deadline. I do have to remind myself to take breaks and I try to get outside for some vitamin D at some point each day.

Around 5 pm: Supper prep and hang out with my youngest and my hubby.

I haven't been writing at night, but sometimes I do when I have a deadline to meet. I'm that strange author who kills herself to meet every deadline and even turns her stuff in early. ;) I find that's kind of rare in writing circles.

Writing isn't the most glam job, although it does require hours of effort. I'm thankful for my husband's hard work at his job so I have the opportunity to do what I love. Thanks for joining me in a day in the writer life!

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Review

BELINDA BLAKE AND THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING by Heather Day Gilbert

The Second Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery

Although used to dealing with all manner of exotic animals, Belinda Blake hesitates when offered a temporary position at the White Pines Wolf Preserve. With bills mounting, however, the decision becomes easier. After all, Belinda would just have to assist the primary feeder for eight days while the owner was out of town, what could be easier? But when a jovial young tour guide is found dead, bloodied and surrounded by wolves inside one of the enclosures, Belinda has second thoughts. When the wolves are accused of more violent acts, Belinda admits that things aren't adding up. Are the wolves truly to blame, or are they being framed?

Wolves tend to get a bad rap. Maligned by many, these majestic beasts are often misunderstood and vilified. Even Belinda Blake is wary about working with them. Yet, even when suspected of killing and maiming the people trying to care for them, the wolves at White Pines Wolf Preserve are shown to be friendly and loyal. At least readers are afforded the ability to see them in that unprejudiced way, some of the characters may have different opinions.

The second Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery looks at wolf sanctuaries and the sad ways many of its residents arrive. It also looks at family, loyalty, and bravery, traits associated with wolves as well as humans. I appreciate how Belinda keeps an open mind and is smart enough not to jump to conclusions...for the most part. The dynamics of the characters is riveting, both at the preserve and outside of it. We learn more about Red, and see Belinda face some important romantic decisions.

BELINDA BLAKE AND THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING is an engrossing mystery with many different angles. I, for one, would love to meet the wolves I read about in this story, especially Freya and Njord. The two most important themes running through this book are that love shows itself in many forms and people are not always what they seem. Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing.

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Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (An Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert

About Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing  

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series  

Lyrical Press (October 1, 2019)  

Number of Pages ~195 

Exotic pet-sitter Belinda Blake is nervous about her new job at the White Pine Wolf Preserve, but it turns out that the care and feeding of wild carnivores may be the least dangerous part of the gig . . .

Pet-sitter Belinda Blake is no stranger to dealing with wild animals, but she’s wary when the owner of the Greenwich, Connecticut, preserve asks her to help out with her “fluffy darlings.” Her caution seems justified on her very first day, when she discovers a tour guide—dead, bloodied, and surrounded by wolves in the enclosure.

Was it death by predator or something more sinister? The body count rises, but something’s not adding up. As she gets to know the rescued wolves and wolf-dog hybrids better, Belinda realizes that her human colleagues are not above suspicion. With help from her own “pack”—her pregnant sister, Red the chauffeur/bodyguard, and hunky farmer Jonas—Belinda is hot on the killer’s tail, but if she doesn’t find him soon, he’ll do more than muzzle her to keep the truth from escaping.

About Heather Day Gilbert

Heather Day Gilbert, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Like Belinda Blake, Heather plays video games, although so far she hasn't done any exotic pet-sitting or hunted any murderers.

Author Links:
Website: http://heatherdaygilbert.com  
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Q6w6X  
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherdaygilbert/  
Twitter: @heatherdgilbert  
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heatherdgilbert/  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7232683.Heather_Day_Gilbert  

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