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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com
Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA
