We hope you enjoyed the June 2025 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. Many thanks to Orlando Bartro for his contributions to the magazine. We’ve reached the second half of the year. How are you feeling about the future? With the cost of almost everything certain to increase in the coming months, remember; we are a free publication.
For the many states (including my state) who recently dealt with heat waves, unpredictable weather conditions, downed trees, and power and internet outages, I hope everyone stayed safe and now have their power restored. Special thanks to the first responders, road crews, and utility workers who worked tirelessly to help during this difficult time. Thanks also to the neighbors who looked out for each other.
Orlando Bartro is hearing things, and you can, too.
This month, we are celebrating nature! I’ve written a short story to go with our theme.
Our beloved cat Milo is once again battling cancer. His six-pound body is out of options. My poem this month is dedicated to him and his irrepressible spirit.
Do you ever sit and just listen to the birds singing or the squirrels chattering and rushing through the tree branches? From a tiny mosquito to a giant whale, the sounds of nature are all around us, but what if they weren’t? What if we so severely damaged our ecological system that there were no more insects? How would birds survive? How would our crops get pollinated? How would we survive food chain disruptions?
This month, we have a Q&A with the award-winning nature photographer, author, and public speaker Doris Dumrauf. Dumrauf lives in western Pennsylvania. Her yard is a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.
For our column, “Happy Birthday,” celebrating the birthdays of famous writers, I selected E.B. White the author of Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan.
In honor of our nation’s independence, I decided to celebrate by reviewing Fight of the Century. This non-fiction work, edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, features a collection of gifted writers reflecting on 100 years of landmark ACLU cases.
For July 2025 in “The Twelve Months of Fruit,” I decided to feature a perfect summer fruit that’s also enjoyed year-round, blueberries. We put them in pies, muffins, cakes, smoothies and salads, but have you ever put them on a pizza? This month we bring you the link to a delicious recipe, Blueberry, Feta, and Honey-Caramelized Onion Naan Pizza.
Our reading recommendations for kids, young adults, and adults feature a nature theme.
We’re streaming nature documentaries.
Test your knowledge of animals with our quiz, “Secrets of the Animal Kingdom.” Were you paying attention when Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and Jeff Corwin were entertaining and educating us about the creatures we share this planet with?
We’re constantly updating our Author Page to include the latest published works of your new favorite authors, and we’re adding authors. Being able to give authors a free place to display their work is a dream come true for me, so please check every month to see who’s new and what’s new.
Don’t miss our new Artist Page where we will be celebrating creatives and providing their contact information. We will be updating and adding to the list during this month and the following months, so keep checking our new page.
Everything in Between is now available as an audiobook and in hardcover or paperback. The narrator, Louise Porter, does a wonderful job bringing Sabrina and her story to life. I can’t wait for you to have a listen. You can purchase the audiobook for Everything in Between on Amazon, iTunes, or Audible. https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Everything-in-Between/dp/B0DDR8GRWS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TV0J0HCWYT7T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tdRKc5MxwdOobXZOLckDvQ.0BXe9QYH3JnZOn9j0LC6Yy6gCG9UI3lIcRu4KlRnIPs&dib_tag=se&keywords=everything+in+between+by+frances+joyce+audiobook&qid=1725234363&sprefix=everything+in+between+by+frances+joyce+audiobook%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-
I’m incredibly proud of this novel. If you enjoy my writing, you should definitely check it out. Independent authors can’t afford splashy book launches and expensive PR campaigns to make the public aware of their work. Your support is greatly appreciated.
All year we’ve been encouraging you to make informed choices at the ballot box. The election may be over, but insuring we have responsible people in places of authority is a never-ending job. If you’re worried about the capabilities/qualifications of certain cabinet members, please make those concerns known to your Senators and Representatives. You can email or call their office and make your concerns known. We The People should have a say in our future. If you don’t want billionaires to have access to your private information and finances, speak up because it’s happening. Do you want people with no accountability to the American people evaluating how your tax dollars should be allocated and the benefits you will receive? Are you concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and SNAP? Are you okay with senators defending these cuts by saying things like, “Well, we’re all going to die sometime,” or “They [my constituents] will get over it,” while they pay little to nothing for the finest healthcare available and will be entitled to that level of care for the rest of their lives? These programs protect our most vulnerable members of society. Let the people in Congress know what you expect them to do to restore our safety, security, economy, and good standing in the world before we have a recession and/or a major global conflict.
If you are worried about the direction of our government, start preparing for the midterms now. Do your research, so we don’t end up with legislators who care more about partisanship than serving the needs of the American people. The League of Women Voters is a reputable and impartial source for information. Check them out before you head to the polls.
Please keep showing up and voting. We will never tell you who to vote for, but we will keep telling you to vote and do your homework! Be an educated not indoctrinated voter!
Which incumbent legislators have actually authored and submitted legislation to benefit Americans? Who’s all talk and soundbites? Who refuses to bring legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives or Senate, so our Representatives/Senators can vote on it? We pay them to conduct the government’s business, not to sit and do nothing. We don’t pay them to do the bidding of political parties or billionaires. Would you hire this person to run your business or trust them to be a fair boss? Would you trust them to make decisions about your safety and well-being?
Now more than ever, I encourage you to watch C-SPAN and get to know the members of Congress, the members of the president’s cabinet, and the leading experts who testify at Congressional hearings. Listen to what they are saying and what they refuse to say out loud. Do they actually care about the Constitution and the people of this country?
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Happy Reading,
Fran