Amanda Flieder
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Welcome to the Blog for Amanda Flieder
​Updates on Fridays

Thoughts, Words and Random Ideas...

A Fairy: Free Downloads

11/29/2021

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The Portal Problem, Episode 3: A Fairy - by Amanda Flieder
    Hi! The free downloads for The Portal Problem, Episode 3: A Fairy are now available over on the story's page  :)
    Please join me in noting the irony that, with no longer doing regular writing and blog updates, last week I had three days with hours I could spend at my keyboard. I did some drafting and some editing. (Not even all in the same stories!)
    Now join me in being happy that one of our little businesses is taking off a wee bit faster than expected. Not sure how many updates I'll manage in the coming months, but things are
– for the first time in a long time – legitimately looking up. The trick will be to keep things in that direction. I guess we'll find out if life will allow. Hope you get to have a good week!
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A Fairy: Part 3

11/21/2021

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    Another late update, and kind of a sad one (but only a little). Reality has been throwing a lot at me lately with everything happening in the world on top of everything we're doing at home – much like it's been throwing a lot at so many people. Looking at what directions I'd like to pursue and where I'm hoping they can lead has been a big preoccupation for me these past weeks. We've somehow created a few awesome opportunities in our little piece of the world, and I don't have enough hands to grab all of them.
    Which leads to prioritizing, especially with a body like mine that doesn't work very well. (Well, a body that often doesn't work as well as I need it to, and usually with pain involved.) Priorities at the moment are raising the kids, keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table, and finding joy in doing all of it because my husband and I have both worked soul-crushing jobs and really don't want to anymore. (Insert here: can't do it anymore, healthy mental health is needed for the top two priorities to be maintained.)
    Looking at the opportunities we have right now, it's become clear I need to let go of regular writing. It's bringing a lot of joy to me, but also a lot of stress and lost time for other things like movie nights with the kids and keeping up with opportunities that pay bills. So, as of today, writing will sideline and regular blog posts will be stopping for the foreseeable future. 
The Portal Problem Episode 3: A Fairy - by Amanda Flieder
Click the image above to read from the beginning. This is the final part of the story, free downloads will be available soon! :)
    Right now, at 41 years old, I think I've finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up: Entrepreneur. Not something I planned on before now, that's for sure. My parents ran from-home businesses when I was a kid and I already knew the amount of work involved. It's a big part of why I like working for other people so much lol. I'm falling in love with having a freeze-drying business, though; despite the labor involved I really, really want to dedicate the time and effort needed to help our little food business find success. Plus, our other little business of shirts and stickers has grown up a bit more and it's time to give that some honest attention.
    Letting go of regular writing feels like a good decision right now. I'll still be posting up short stories on my Wattpad and in my Short Stories as I finish them, but not on a regular schedule. I like this new direction life is taking. It's terrifying and exciting so it must be a big enough change to be worth it. I hope life treats you well, and that you get to have an excellent week. Happy reading!

3. A Lizard

        Aston ducked behind a rocky outcropping and caught his breath to listen for any pursuit. The poachers sounded like they were remaining in place to search the small clearing where they’d lost the fairy. They were still yelling at the one Aston had struck with the branch, mostly that trees didn’t attack people. He huffed a quiet chuckle and then looked around for any of the familiar landmarks he’d noted while running toward the fight, spotting a certain knotted and twisted tree not too far off.
        He set his hand on the ground for the fairy to be able to step off easily. “I suppose you’d prefer to be on your way?” he asked.

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A Fairy: Part 2

11/12/2021

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    Happy Friday! Things have been so busy this week I barely know if I'm even doing anything useful anymore... I suppose I have to assume that 'useful' is relative, and getting the things done is the important part. I'm pretty sure we have our freeze dried stock quantities for small markets figured out (mostly), and people keep finding our shirt and sticker website (which is awesome), so it's just the tasks of keeping up with demands.
    It's a cool problem to have lol.
The Portal Problem, Episode 3: A Fairy - by Amanda Flieder
Click the image to read from the beginning :)
    Aside from being a cool problem, it's also a time-eating monster of multiple daily tasks and I've had zero writing time this week. Free time typically only happened around bedtime so most of it went into watching some Netflix and – yesterday, a really bad anxiety day for almost no reason – a surprise hour without Must Do Right Now activities got relegated to playing a Roblox obby with the kids.
    I'm still happily confused about playing Roblox being an anxiety coping strategy for me. I haven't truly enjoyed video games since I was about eleven years old and my grandmother let me play Doctor Mario on her Nintendo. (To be fair, simple games like that as phone apps are still my go-to for brain distractions. Bubble Witch 2 has been my favorite recent app for years lol.)
    I find the apps distract my brain without helping, though. All the anxiety is still there when I turn off the app. The nice part about Roblox is that I can play even for only an hour and it calms down my anxiety. No idea why it works for me, but I'm not going to start questioning it. Simple obbys make my brain happy, and focused happiness causes a confuddled retreat of my anxiety monster back into the corner. Wonderfully nifty little reset for me whenever I can carve out time for it, so I try to carve out the time on days when I need it. Easier said than done, I know, but healthy coping strategies do work well when used. Who knew?
    I guess now it's time to post this up, log off, and get started on today's to-do list. First on my list: breakfast and coffee. Lol. I hope you get to have a great weekend!

2. Mercenary Morals

        Draessellor tasted and sniffed the air more than usual as they were eating. Aston knew the behaviour meant there was another person around, but ‘around’ could mean anywhere from nearby to three days away depending on that person’s hygiene and if they were upwind. That estimate narrowed quickly to nearby when someone cried out in surprise within a distance Aston could hear. Metal clanged and there were more shouts.
        Aston stood and turned, easily finding the direction the sounds of a scuffle were coming from. Draessellor stayed seated, tearing off and methodically chewing another bite of venison.
        The noise of the fighting changed from scuffling to definite attackers and a single voice of being attacked. “Don’t you think we should...?” Aston left the question hanging and gestured toward the noises.

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A Fairy: Part 1

11/5/2021

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    So, earlier this Fall we decided to start doing local markets with our freeze dried foods business. Covid restrictions have been good for small markets so far, as in the people working them and attending all understand and typically comply happily (or without loud complaints). Plus, working markets seemed a great opportunity to grow our business without over-committing ourselves due to being able to set our own schedule. We did a couple of markets, then the Delta Variant rolled into the province on high speed and two markets we were booked for were postponed.
    They're now happening this month. As are the two markets we'd planned on having tables at. November no longer has weekends lol. Wish us luck!
    As for a writing update, I got a new office chair
– it's so comfy! I had no idea my old chair had died to that extent – and I've unfortunately gotten very few hours to sit in it. Story ideas are stuck in my head at the moment; they have to wait. Editing is my go-to when I get writing time. It's funny to me how I can fall in love with every story over and over each time I come back for a revision pass after letting the manuscripts sit. That makes editing, a task many writers seem to not like, so enjoyable to me.
    Anyhoo, off and running again.
(The market for this weekend starts tonight!) The story starting today is a continuation of a short story series I started a couple of years ago, The Portal Problem. It's a very interesting fantasy world to me, so welcome back. I hope you get to have a great weekend :)

1. Traveling Woes

Picture
        “We could at least have gotten a horse for me,” Aston muttered, looking back at the small valley they’d gone the long way around.
        The roads in and out of the valley were wide and well maintained, horses and wagons plentiful from the glimpses he could catch, and the amount of smoke boasted evidence of a large settlement. Midday bells rang out cheerfully and Aston slouched longingly; bells meant the town down there was there big enough for bells.
        “We could’ve gone for a meal with actual spices in it!” Aston called, turning to see his Reptillian protector and travelling companion wasn’t waiting for him at all. Again.

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    AManda FLIEDER

    A weekly blog updating on Fridays with quick personal blurbs about me, as in what's going on during my life as an Author and mom, and that doles out my short stories and novellas in bite-sized parts for everyone to read for free!

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