March 2026 Edition

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Nouvelle Vague

The 1950s and ’60s introduced a revolutionary film movement known as the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague). It was driven by young auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, who rejected studio conventions in favor of experimental, low-budget filmmaking. Some of my favorite films emerged from this rebellious movement, including Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. American filmmaker Richard Linklater celebrated the era by directing a beloved movie last year called Nouvelle Vague. 

Focused on Jean-Luc Godard making his breakout film Breathless, Nouvelle Vague is a hangout film meant to evoke a period of rising French filmmakers at the time. It’s an immersive film in that it takes you back and makes you nostalgic for an era that felt new and unruly. It captures the energy of young men and women wanting to shake things up and express themselves against the status quo.

Since the early days of cinema, many women worked on films without receiving credit. Women filmmakers and actors like Anna Karina, Suzanne Schiffman, Agnès Varda, Jean Seberg, and Brigitte Bardot gave voice to women throughout the French New Wave, challenging norms and redefining the roles of women on and off screen. While the French New Wave was a major event in cinema, Nouvelle Vague is just one of many “new waves” throughout history. There's always going to come a time to make waves—flooding the shores to make room for something new.

One early scene from the film particularly resonated with me: “It’s past time,” director Jean-Luc Godard says to filmmaker Suzanne Schiffman, to which she replies, “There’s no such thing. When it’s time, it’s time.”

Godard goes on to express that he should have made his film by 25 and how he “missed the wave.” I can relate to this as a writer. I’m sure everyone has some version of, “I should have done this by now.” But it’s okay to be working on things for a very long time. Here’s the thing about waves: they can take a long time to form. Even after forming, waves can take a long time to actually affect anything. We can be working on something now that won’t form into a “new wave” for years and may take even longer to have any impact. And that’s okay. I’m not just talking about art, but life. Take your time. Be present in what’s forming now. “When it’s time, it’s time.”

______________________________

Greetings from the Writing Desk

Welcome to the Author’s Newsletter—March Edition, 2026.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a copy of Shuhari. I’m so humbled by the feedback I’ve received. For those of you who have picked up a copy, please take a moment to leave a review on Goodreads or other platforms where you purchased it. If you haven’t ordered a copy of Shuhari but would like to, here is the link.

I know some of you are here for support and aren’t interested in books, which is perfectly okay. I appreciate all of my newsletter readers. If you aren’t interested in books but still wish to contribute in some way, I will have new art projects for sale soon. If you’d like to lend a little extra support, you’re always welcome to help offset my publication costs by donating through the link at the bottom.

Foster Poems is still going through final edits and will be out in the next month or so. Color Sketches will begin the illustration process in mid-April, and my exciting poetic romance, A Love Unrequited, is well underway. I’m a little behind after recovering from surgery—which is going well, by the way—but all is progressing accordingly. “When it’s time, it’s time.”

Godard says in the Nouvelle Vague film, “The best way to criticize a film is to make one.” Too often, we stand on the sidelines because we don’t have the courage to make waves. It’s easy to critique what we see on paper, on TV, or online—but what are we doing?

My prompt for you today is simple: be present, be patient with yourself, and focus on what you need to do—then do it. Maybe it’s getting more involved in your community, writing a novel or another work of art, or finally baking that dessert you’ve always wanted to try. Get out there and make waves. Stop waiting for them to hit you.

______________________________

• Reading…

Currently enjoying Dante Alighieri’s, The Divine Comedy as translated by Michael Palma. It’s very enjoyable so far. I think this may end up being one of my favorite translations—at least until I learn Italian and can read the original. The Italian epic, in its exploration of salvation, is a major influence on my upcoming work, A Love Unrequited.

• Listening…

As I write this, I’m listening to Dan Levy’s soundtrack for the French animated film I Lost My Body.

• Watching…

I recently rewatched a touching animated film called Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. It tells a story from a child’s perspective as she develops awareness, reminding us of the many new waves of existence.

Random Fact about Joshua…

My favorite animal is the Octopus

______________________________

I hope my work continues to make waves and have an impact on readers. If you have any questions—or just want to chat—feel free to reply to this email. I also love exchanging handwritten letters, so you’re welcome to send snail mail to the address below. Thanks so much for reading! 😊

May Shadow Reveal Light,
Joshua Thaddeus

______________________________

I wrote them down and then I lost them—
my emotions—
after drafting a letter,
carried off by the postman.

I hoped it would feel better,
but I wished for a return to sender.
I left my soul in an envelope—
a letter—
for no one to open.

______________________________

Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com

joshua@joshuathaddeus.com

Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA

February 2026 Edition

“Do not be tense, but ready; not thinking, but not dreaming; not being set, but flexible. It is being wholly and quietly alive, aware, and alert; ready for whatever may come.”

~ Bruce Lee

Poetry in Motion

As I write this, I am recovering from hiatal hernia surgery, and the post-op is miserable. It is an injury I’ve lived with for some time that I believe a particular blow incurred to my chest as a kickboxer. Yet, at the moment, I would take fighting in a ring over the misery I feel right now. Since I was young, writing and the martial arts have always interested me, two forms that often intersect. There are many poets and philosophers among athletes, especially Eastern martial artists. Writing itself is movement. As we breathe, we move. Life is movement, and the world around us is poetry in motion.

I read a book called On Muscle by Bonnie Tsui last year. It tells of Tsui’s experiences as an athlete and how movement shaped her life. It’s a very eloquent story about what our bodies do for us. I especially enjoyed reading about the accomplishments of women athletes in claiming their bodies through athleticism in a male-dominated field. One of the many wonderful things about movement is that it is a way to claim our bodies for ourselves through self-expression. Even if you are not an athlete, I feel Tsui’s experience speaks to us all as people trying to understand our bodies, what we are made of.

Some of you reading may not be athletes. And I’m sure some disapprove of the ridiculous trials we athletes put ourselves through, especially fighters. You’re not wrong. Many athletes, including myself, push too far and suffer consequences. My body carries many storytelling scars. But we are designed to move, and appreciating that ability helps to respect our bodies. That’s what it is to be an athlete, a dancer, a martial artist. It’s what people don’t understand about athletes. We are not trying to harm ourselves. We are trying to test ourselves against nature, to see just what we are capable of. But, like anything in life, fitness can be dangerous, addictive, and even counterproductive. Which is why we must take caution through loving and respecting our bodies.

The quote from Bruce Lee above is about being ready for what may come, for whatever life throws at you. It’s about being adaptable. And that’s what we prepare ourselves for as athletes—to adapt. Though I am suffering at the moment, I have faith in my body and am confident I will recover stronger than before. Take a moment to appreciate your ability to move. Breathe. Feel the rhythm inside you. Look and see the world move around you. Appreciate what movement you have, because you never know when it might fail you.

______________________________

Greetings from the Writing Desk

Welcome to the Author’s Newsletter—February edition, 2026. If you missed the book announcement, a new illustrated and revised edition of Shuhari is available now. I’ve made some adjustments to the website. I have a shop now that will soon be filled with some wonderful new art projects. Update emails will go out as new items arrive in the shop.

Unfortunately, my plans have slowed down due to this surgery. But things are moving along. 2026 will prove to be a productive year. Besides the newly released Shuhari, I have 3 more upcoming releases this year. Two poetry collections, Foster Poems and Color Sketches, are forthcoming. And my gothic romance verse novella, A Love Unrequited, will be available at the end of the year.

Foster Poems is undergoing final edits before publication. And I’m currently back and forth in the editing process of Color Sketches. Inspired by the book of Genesis, Color Sketches is a poetry book spread over seven volumes. Each part correlates the seven colors of the rainbow with the days of creation. It’s an allegorical collection expressing the many shades of existence.

As I reflect on the creation of life, I realize creation is also movement. Perhaps every motion is an act of creation. Remember that we are movers; look around you and capture the movement in your own writing or art. Bring it into your daily life, or occupation. Notice the movement around you and embrace it; appreciate how you move. Movement is poetry. So today I ask you to move, to create.

______________________________

• Reading…

Jorge Luis Borges, The Craft of Verse. Borges is possibly my favorite writer in terms of voice and style. In this work, he also talks about life as poetry. In his mind, poetry is inefficient to describe our experiences, because the poetry is the experience itself. I agree in that it is the conundrum of the poet. We’re trying to capture what we can never really capture with words. But that’s why we write, isn’t it? The joy and frustration of writing both lie in the PURSUIT of the words to express what we feel, knowing we may never find them.

• Listening…

Been hooked on Tom Petty’s Wildflowers album. Crawling Back to You is such a great song. I have fond memories of seeing Petty live in the early aughts.

• Watching…

In the middle of Deep Space Nine as part of my Star Trek rewatch. A Trekkie for life, every so often I go through all the series. I never tire of it. I’m a Sci Fi guy in general: Farscape, Stargate, Doctor Who... I could go on. But Star Trek will always be my favorite.

______________________________

If you have questions at all, or just want to chat, feel free to reply to this email. Also, I love exchanging handwritten letters. You can send snail mail to the address at the bottom. And if you do pick up a copy of Shuhari, please don’t forget to leave a review. Thanks for reading! 😊

May Shadow Reveal Light,
Joshua Thaddeus

______________________________

Never was one to know myself.
I stare at my shadow like a stranger,
looking upon my reflection with suspicion.
I seek not to know myself,
but to forget all notion of identity,
until I am not but that
which moves through me.
But you see me, and in your eyes,
I am found—
afraid I am not but that which you made me.

______________________________

Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com

joshua@joshuathaddeus.com

Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA

November 2025 Edition

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders,
but they have never failed to imitate them.”

~ James Baldwin

Children of the Book

A few weeks ago, I drove my mother to church on a rainy Sunday morning. I wanted to make sure she arrived safely in the bad weather. Well, it did not go as planned as we got into a collision that was very much my fault. I got my mother into a car wreck… totaling her car... on her birthday.

After the initial shock settled and we were certain everyone was alright, my mother said, “I guess I’m getting a new car for my birthday!” She repeated this to the other driver, officer, firefighters and paramedics. Yes, it was quite a circus. Somehow, she had everybody laughing and having a good time amidst the wreckage. She always had a way of creating a positive atmosphere that is beyond me. Here I am, angry at the world, thinking of the myriad ways I could have avoided the situation. But my mother knew it was out of our hands.

I just finished reading Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan. It tells the story of a mother raising her kids in parallel with reading to them. It’s a book about what a mother brings to her kids through reading and how those stories affect them. The book expresses her devotion to the page, and what we bring to the stories we interpret. It’s about setting an example for those around us.

Life is what we make of it, what we bring to a situation. We do not always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond to it. And in doing that, we set an example. My mother, who is a teacher, is still teaching me by setting the example, like she did at the wreckage.

I think about this as we come into the holiday season of family gatherings. It is difficult to share a table with those whose opinions differ from our own, even loved ones. But it’s important that we try to bring our best to a situation. Difficult as it can be, try not to let others affect what is in your heart. And be thankful for what is good. But it’s okay if you need to walk away from the table. Sometimes walking away is the best example you can set. 😉

______________________________

Greetings From the Writing Desk

Welcome to the Author’s Newsletter—November edition 2025. It’s the first Friday of the month, and it’s time for updates. Some of you may have been looking for me on the socials. I have once again opted out of social networking. It’s just not my thing, and it’s never gonna be my thing for a million reasons I won’t get into. But I think social networking is brilliant and love that it works for others. You want to find me, you can reply to this email or reach me through my website. I have many marketing plans for the next year that do not involve social networks.

Right now, I am focusing on building my mailing list, so please share my website with others you know who might be interested in this newsletter. Perhaps you have reader friends, especially those interested in poetry and/or gothic romance. I’m still playing with the format. I’ve been lucky so far to get a couple of new subscribers every month. As soon as my upcoming work, Shuhari, is ready to release, I’ll be expanding a lot more. There will be in-depth updates, chapter samples, offers, and more to come.

Writing is my love, but it can affect me in negative ways. I have to set an example for myself in devotion by showing up no matter how I feel. An early riser, I wake up most mornings at 5am to go for a run. Not running that morning often contributes to my bad days. After my run, I get cleaned up, have breakfast and start writing. But on some days, I just need to walk away from the desk. And that action can sometimes be even better for my writing.

A poetic dialogue between a teacher and student, my upcoming book Shuhari, is all about setting an example for one another. The book is still getting polished while waiting for artwork. Shuhari will be available for preorders soon, arriving on February 3rd, 2026. This will provide time to make any necessary touch-ups and prepare marketing plans. You will find the book’s introduction at the bottom of this newsletter just below the signature.

______________________________

• Reading…

Audition by Katie Kitamura

• Listening…

Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Past is Still Alive

• Watching…

I got around to seeing Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, One Battle After Another. Didn’t love it. But I admired the fun, action-adventure approach to a political thriller. It’s about what is important to each of us, what we value. There’s a caution about becoming what we fight against. In fighting one battle after another, the film encourages us to ask ourselves, who and what we are fighting for. It challenges us to set an example for our children.

______________________________

Next month for December’s newsletter, I will be ready to talk more about my upcoming novel, A Love Unrequited.

If you have questions at all, or just want to chat, feel free to reply to this email. And in case you were wondering, my mom did get that new car. Thanks for reading! 😊

May Shadow Reveal Light,
Joshua Thaddeus

______________________________

I’m going to paint you a portrait,
you will not want to look upon.

Why not?

Because it is yours.

But I know myself.

You know a sketch of yourself.
I cannot tell you who you are,
but I can help you discover your true nature
as we paint your portrait together.

I can paint my own portrait.

Only through reflection,
your relationship with others,
are you introduced to yourself.
“YOU,” the External.
“I,” the Internal.
And the “SELF.”
Only through “You” and “I”
can the Self be realized.

Do you know yourself?

You have shown me many things
I did not know.

What could I possibly teach you?

Everyone is a student,
everyone is a teacher,
and all are learning—
in this eternal dance with one another.

Tell me about this dance.

It is the relationship you share
with the world around you.
The foundation of all relationships
is communication—
the art of expression.
If you are to dance,
you must be able to lead.
And in return—
follow.

I am not capable of such expression.

Of course, you are.
You hide it out of fear.

I am afraid to communicate?

You are afraid to be vulnerable—
You will, of course,
paint your own portrait.
But it will be enriched
by the color of those
with whom you surround yourself.

I am ready.
I am ready to paint my portrait.

You are not,
but none of us are.
The journey begins with desire.
Knowledge cannot be given;
it can only be accepted.

______________________________

Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com

joshua@joshuathaddeus.com

Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA

October 2025 Edition

“I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.”

Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar)

It can seem like we are living in dark days. But when you look at our history, humanity has always gone through dark times. As we strive for a better tomorrow, remember that we do not live at one extreme. Humanity exists in the twilight, somewhere between light and dark in a world of uncertainty. Through uncertainty, it is where we persevere, as it is through those shadows that we come to see light.

______________________________

Greetings from the Writing Desk

Most of you know who I am, but for the new audience I am grateful to have, my name is Joshua Thaddeus. You’ve all heard the story about a gothic fiction writer and poet in New Orleans. I am a cliché, no doubt. But I like to think I avoid them in my work. We are all cliche, are we not? Our story of humanity’s fight against temptation is literally the oldest story in the book. There’s a movie I love called Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Charlie Kaufman. It’s about how we really are all sharing the same experience. James Baldwin talks about shared suffering as a bridge to one another. I often feel that no one can understand my pain. And you can’t because you all suffer differently than I do. But the point is we all suffer and need each other to get through that pain. While so many of our ideas are clichés in life, what is not cliché is our individual and unique expression of those ideas. Our pain, though shared, is unique to each of us. And when we share in that pain with each other, when we communicate to one another, our ideas and feelings with empathy, that is how we find light.

My upcoming work is a short story poem called Shuhari. A Japanese concept of the stages of learning to mastery under the guidance of a teacher. My work is a conversational piece about the student/teacher relationship. Shuhari has gone through a major developmental edit. It expands the idea of communication in relationships and how we all learn from one another. It is mostly a complete work at the moment, but I am currently trying to shape and sculpt it to what it wants to be. Some of you may be familiar with Shuhari as it is a former publication of mine, and it did well. I knew I wanted to expand on the story and have it illustrated. A most inspiring artist, Eva Pola, who communicates beautifully through her lively designs, will actually begin that process in the coming weeks. I will announce a release date soon.

A new gothic romance is also in its first draft, called “A Love Unrequited.” I will update you more on that in the newsletters to come.

______________________________

• Reading…

A gothic novel called “Slashed Beauties,” by A. Rushby. It weaves two narratives of 18th-century London and one of modern-day Seoul. The story features a woman attempting to escape her ancestral connection to anatomical dolls possessed by the women they were modeled after. Legend has it they come to life with a thirst for vengeance against men that have wronged them. I’m loving it so much I am afraid of being disappointed by it. But for now it has me on edge. It’s truly a gothic romance because it understands that the gothic must be romantic in order to terrify. A restrained work, it gives enough information to make you want more without teasing.

• Listening…

I’m not into much modern music, but I recently wanted to find out what all the fuss is about with Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Neither is my typical listen, but I’m enjoying them. Both are far deeper than I expected. I’m listening to Swift’s Folklore and Evermore. Both consistent albums. I find Eilish less consistent in her workflow on albums. But her songs hit great highs for me, and I love her voice. Swift has more of a folk sound I like. I can see why many people like Swift. She has an organic folk sound that is less produced than others out there. And both of them, incredible songwriters.

That I come from an entirely different generation, and can still relate to their music, exemplifies how we can connect through the pain of others.

Songs I like by Billie: My Future, Wildflower, Getting Older, When I Was Older, The Greatest

Songs I like by Swift: No Body No Crime, August, The Last Great American Dynasty

• Watching…

I was hoping to talk about Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, “One Battle After Another,” but I haven’t had a chance to see it. The last thing I saw at the movies was “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.” Do not listen to the critics. I came out of that film euphoric, only to find the reviews had absolutely thrashed it. I really don’t understand. Perhaps not remarkable, but it’s a solid film with a lot of heart. Heavy-handed and uneven, it’s not afraid to be honest. The world-building is fantastical yet feels natural. I very much enjoyed the spontaneous humor, though it doesn’t all land. A movie about life as much as relationships, it doesn’t offer simple solutions but encourages its flawed characters to do better.

______________________________

Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I hope you enjoyed these thoughts and updates. This is going to be a monthly letter, going out in the first week of each month. I look forward to sharing more with you all in the future. Many exciting things to come.

Do not let the shadows consume you, but embrace them in this ghoulish season as you remember they are a part of us. Happy Halloween!

May Shadow Reveal Light,
Joshua Thaddeus

______________________________

So speak-to say in ways you will inspire,
notions of dreams conceived to come alive.

Impact the world and those around yourself;
with voice, imprint on ears so they will hear.

Shout-out of gifts, and sing ballads of woe
for days that come to pass with joy and dread.

Hard times rejoiced by those with whom you share
in close, where your wisdom is most welcome.

Of words given by you, asked of others,
remind that care is yours to take part in.

So, choose to say, and trust to use your voice
for those in heart and soul, letters awake.

______________________________

Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com

joshua@joshuathaddeus.com

Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA