Amanda McNeil (she/her)'s Avatar

Amanda McNeil (she/her)

@mcneilauthor

✨ Sober author, reader & maker 🧢 Joy & hope via crafts + stories πŸ“š Paranormal romance, sci-fi & fantasy πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Queer πŸ’• Married ⬇️ Podcast & books linktr.ee/opinionsofawolf

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15.11.2023
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Latest posts by Amanda McNeil (she/her) @mcneilauthor

Third, if you're going to assemble one of these, have some sort of a tool to pop the pieces out. It's not the same as popping plastic ones out.

25.02.2026 04:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Second, there is something wildly historically inaccurate about this model. Can you spot it?

25.02.2026 04:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

First - more than 10 years of waiting but it took me just about an hour to assemble.

What you procrastinate on usually doesn't take as long as you think.

25.02.2026 04:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Crafting My Procrastinations - Metal Earth Model Assembly
Crafting My Procrastinations - Metal Earth Model Assembly YouTube video by Acutely Amanda

Have you seen those flat-packed metal models in gift shops and wondered what it's like to assemble one? Well, I bought one more than 10 years ago and finally assembled it. Hear all about it and see the process in less than 10 minutes:
youtu.be/yqqmytCuS38?...

25.02.2026 04:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This powerful social commentary brings a refreshingly underrepresented plot to familiar genre territory.

18.02.2026 03:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Berry places missing Black girls, who historically receive little media attention, into the exact narrative space normally occupied in psychological thrillers by:

marital infidelity
blackmail
mysterious inheritances

18.02.2026 03:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The NAACP reports that Black US Americans make up 34% of all missing persons cases but only 12.85% of the population.

18.02.2026 03:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Book Review: We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry A psychological thriller about missing Black girls, fertility stress, and intergenerational trauma’s impact on mental health. Summary:In the wake of her grandmother’s passing, Sydney Si…

This own voices pscyhological thriller puts missing Black girls front and center, and I am here for it. opinionsofawolf.com/2026/02/17/b...

18.02.2026 03:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Heart Garland Needle Felting Pattern (beginner pdf tutorial) - Acutely Amanda & Opinions of a Wolf's Ko-fi Shop This is a PDF digital download of a 6-page beginner-friendly Needle Felting Tutorial for a Heart Garland. This project walks you step-by-step through ...

Need a last-minute Valentine's Day heart garland? Learn to make one with my digital tutorial here. ko-fi.com/s/f10a60c8fc

13.02.2026 04:36 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Someone quickly thanked me for both edits. This is the joyful side of fandoms, I think.

05.01.2026 03:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Client Challenge

The next day I sat down with my cassette player and listened to both sides to see if it was the complete story. It was. I then created an account on Fandom and logged in just to edit the cassette information with the number of cassettes and the narrator. dearamerica.fandom.com/wiki/Voyage_...

05.01.2026 03:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A white woman's hand holds a cassette tape labeled "Scholastic Presents Dear America Voyage on the Great Titanic The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady."

A white woman's hand holds a cassette tape labeled "Scholastic Presents Dear America Voyage on the Great Titanic The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady."

This week I found a cassette of Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic in an antique store (I know, I know, my poor Millennial heart). The fandom didn't know how many cassettes made up the book. There was only one. I risked the $2 and bought it.

05.01.2026 03:39 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Year of the Horse | Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian has made a digital collection of their horse art for the upcoming Year of the Horse, and it's adorable. So much horse art is just named "a horse" or "horses."
www.si.edu/spotlight/lu...

19.12.2025 17:27 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Overheard in a record store today. The vibe I got was GenX dad with millennial daughter discussing younger relative.
Dad:"She asked for a cd player for Christmas"
Daughter:"Should we get her some cds then?"
Dad, baffled:"She says she wants to listen to *my* cds."
Daughter:"You do have a lot."

14.12.2025 04:45 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Stabbing Wool Into Art: My First 2D Needle Felting Project
Stabbing Wool Into Art: My First 2D Needle Felting Project YouTube video by Acutely Amanda

Not sure what needle felting is? I have a YouTube video about that!
youtu.be/Lp7zx_mtALw

04.12.2025 17:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Flat lay of crafting supplies and a final craft. A metal cookie cutter in the shape of a Christmas tree, loose roving wool in green and gold, a needle felting needle, and a finished christmas tree ornament.

Flat lay of crafting supplies and a final craft. A metal cookie cutter in the shape of a Christmas tree, loose roving wool in green and gold, a needle felting needle, and a finished christmas tree ornament.

Here's a sample of what we'll be making - shape options include a tree, star, stocking, candy cane, or gingerbread person.

04.12.2025 17:29 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
St*b & Sip at Melody Maker December 19th Doors open at 6:00 PM Crafting begins at 7:00 PM Event ends at 9:00 PM Come learn the cozy and creative art of needle felting! This beginner-friendly workshop will guide you through shaping wool using...

Central Mass folks! I’m running a beginner needle-felting ornament workshop on Dec 19 at Melody Maker in Clinton πŸŽ„βœ¨
Make your own felted ornament β€” all materials included.

Save your spot: forms.gle/4VycxyQzUjHX...
Clinton Massachusetts β€’ Worcester County

04.12.2025 17:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Books for a Better Year: Self-Care Tools & Tricks for 2026 Reads to meet the new year rested, resourced, healthy, and hopeful for what's ahead!

I just backed Books for a Better Year: Self-Care Tools & Tricks for 2026 on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/mic...

07.11.2025 22:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

That bittersweet sensation of finishing reading a print book you own only to realize it's one you definitely want to keep so your book hoard will not, in fact, decrease.

#booksky

31.10.2025 03:31 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much!

28.10.2025 23:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot of text reading, "Congratulations! This message confirms the acceptance of your submission"

Screenshot of text reading, "Congratulations! This message confirms the acceptance of your submission"

I just got my FIRST EVER poetry acceptance!!!
This has been a goal of mine for literal years.
Never give up.

28.10.2025 23:13 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!! I think in this case it was less brave and more had no idea it would be more difficult than thread, LOL.

09.10.2025 17:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Goodness this is adorable

08.10.2025 20:57 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

If you’ve ever looked at a handmade piece and thought, β€œThat looks peaceful,” this episode is your reminder: creative chaos counts as crafting too. ✨
What DIY have you tried because it β€œlooked easy” only to find out….not so much?

08.10.2025 20:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The project taught me that β€œshirring” (those cute stretchy seams you see on dresses) is deceptively difficult.
Let’s just say my sewing machine and I had some tension issues… literally and emotionally. πŸ˜… (Did you know crying is a rite of passage for shirring? I sure didn’t!)

08.10.2025 20:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Upcycling a Dress into a Shirred Skirt for Fall
Upcycling a Dress into a Shirred Skirt for Fall YouTube video by Acutely Amanda

This week, I’m sharing how what was supposed to be a quick DIY project β€” turning a too-big fall dress into a skirt β€” became a full-blown sewing adventure. πŸ§΅πŸ‚
🎧 Watch here: Upcycling a Dress into a Shirred Skirt for Fall
youtu.be/s7l7NffY7hc
#Crafting #Sewing #DIY #Upcycling #Podcast

08.10.2025 20:55 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

The next time you feel like social media is inescapable, think about that 34.3%.

I know I will be.

04.10.2025 23:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Sometimes it feels like EVERYONE is on social media.

But that's patently untrue.

About 1/3 of people are not.

They can't ALL be children. (Especially with how many children have social media).

04.10.2025 23:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Only 68.7% of the world's population uses the internet. *The internet.*

65.7% of the world's population uses social media. (Shout out to that 3% on the internet but not on social media).

This statistic really surprised me.

#BookSky πŸ“šπŸ’™ #digitaldetox #socialmedia

04.10.2025 23:01 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I love this thanks for sharing.

03.10.2025 11:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0