We hope you enjoyed the June 2026 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. Many thanks to Orlando Bartro, Sheila Kirk, Scarlet Carter, and Tony Valerino for their contributions to the magazine.
We’re celebrating 250 years of this experiment in democracy. How are you feeling about the future? With the cost of almost everything continuing to go up; remember, we are a free publication.
Also, Belated Happy Canada Day to our Northern neighbors!
July in This Awful Awesome Life is a time to look back on our past, examine our present reality, and plan for a kinder more equitable future. It’s been a brutal year as the United States remains embroiled in conflicts in the Middle East, the cost of living continues to rise, and established civil rights are at risk for many Americans. It’s disheartening and exhausting.
We must not hide behind parades, celebrations, and grandiose speeches pretending our democratic republic is perfect. It’s time to acknowledge the good, the bad, the ugly, and decide how we’ll be moving forward.
Special thanks to Sheila Kirk for sharing the inspirational story of Deborah Sampson and her heroic actions during the American Revolution.
Instead of my usual short story, I’m sharing some thoughts about preserving history and the stories that define us.
Sifting through 250 years in one issue is an impossible task. We decided to focus on some defining events that continue to shape our country and some of the true heroes of American history. I have articles about the Battle of Gettysburg and The Gettysburg Address, Westward Expansion, and the 250-year struggle to expand and protect the rights of all Americans.
Author and history blogger Tony Valerino has graced us with two articles. The first is about the Declaration of Independence and his second article features an inspirational American, Mr. Frederick Douglass.
Orlando Bartro explores “crooked” in the world of AI.
I decided to forego my poem and traditional book review this month to explore the writings of Thomas Paine, one of our most influential founding fathers.
For our column, “Happy Birthday,” celebrating the birthdays of famous writers, I selected Margaret Walker, a prominent writer from the African American literary movement known as the Chicago Black Renaissance.
“What’s in a Word?” features inspiring quotes from famous Americans, and we have a fun quiz celebrating American authors.
For July 2026 in “The Twelve Months of Grain,” I’m featuring barley. Bere Barley, a grain brought from Europe by early settlers, was a crop staple in the colonies. A smaller variety of barley has been grown by Native Americans for centuries. Enjoy this recipe for Mushroom Barley Soup.
For our adult reading recommendations, I teamed up with Tony Valerinio to select thought-provoking nonfiction works about historical events in the United States and biographies of Americans who helped shape our country.
Our reading recommendations for kids and young adults feature an eclectic mix of fiction and non-fiction.
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. Because of changes made by Squarespace upcoming Author Pages may be slightly different.
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.
Luke Murphy’s new novel in the Calvin Watters Mystery series, Dark Horse is available online and in stores. Read all about it in this issue. I had hoped to include my review, but after waiting years for my next Calvin Watter fix, I want to be able to slow down, enjoy the action, and write a fitting review. Look for my review in our August issue.
Annette Dashofy’s fifth Detective Honeywell mystery, Hell Has No Fury, can be preordered before its release date, August 6, 2026. Photographer Emma Anderson, Detective Matthias Honeywell’s love interest, needs help after her addict sister disappears and an unscrupulous land developer trying to steal her family’s land is murdered. When Emma’s best friend, Eric is implicated in the murder, Can Honeywell involve himself in a case outside of his jurisdiction?
Alaska Wilderness Mystery Author Robin Barefield recently released Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier Volume 2: True Crime and Mystery in Alaska. This volume covers stories of murder and mystery in Alaska spanning 130 years, mysterious disappearances, serial killers, and even spies! Learn about the fascinating techniques used by Alaska State Troopers to solve crimes in remote areas that are often frozen and inaccessible by roads. If you enjoy true crime you’ll love this book!
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. I’m incredibly proud of this novel. If you enjoy my writing, you should 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.
Adults can and should be able to disagree without threats, name calling, spreading misinformation, or lying. Can the leaders you support do this?
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 aloud. Do they care about the Constitution and the people of this country?
In 2025 and 2026, we have struggled with maintaining the checks and balances between the three branches of our federal government. The fight continues as we head to the midterm elections. Which political leaders disregard/ignore the powers of Congress and the authority of the federal courts? Who can we elect who will protect and support the Constitution of the United States? Do your homework before the midterms. Our future depends on choosing the best leaders at all levels of government.
After the mid-terms, pay attention and insist that our elected officials make good on their campaign promises. Hold them accountable!
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Happy Reading,
Fran