Hello,

I hope the new year is treating you with kindness. I wanted to send out this correspondence as a means of touching base with the community and to share some of our updates here at the press.

How have you been?

How were your holidays?

My inbox is open for your answers, should you decide to share.

Looking Back: The Heart of the Friday Feature

In June 2025, I started The Friday Feature. My goal was a simple one: I wanted a publication that was truly artist-centered.

When people ask what drives this project, I often point to exposure by "The Big Three": Steve Irwin, Mr. Rogers, and Bob Ross. Specifically, I'm guided by Bob Ross philosophy: "The secret to doing anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe you can do strong enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe."

I feel the same way about writing and poetry. I believe everyone is capable of it. Because of that, I don't believe in meticulous curation focused solely on sales or mass publication. My mission is to uplift members of this community and encourage growth from within.

While I have had to issue rejections where the work didn't align with our core values and ethics, or would have breached content guidelines, I strive to avoid traditional "critique." I knew going into this that the landscape was competitive, but that hasn't changed our approach.

Growth and Milestones

As a one-man operation supported by two dedicated volunteers, our growth has been steady. That pace has been a blessing; it's given us the breathing room to refine our processes and chart the course forward.

Thanks to every person who has threaded themselves into the community we are weaving here, we have grown substantially. I'm thrilled to share that we are now a recognized serial publication through the ISSN.

What's Next: The Future of Thistle & Thread

Annual Anthology: From the beginning, I knew I wanted an archival record of our work—a way to share the individual "threads" of this community as one collective body. I spent a long time mulling over the best way to do this. Should it be monthly? Digital only? Paid or unpaid?

After much thought, we've decided to move forward with an Annual Anthology. We feel the best way to honor your work is to present the entire year's journey together, much like a finished patchwork quilt. Since The Friday Feature began in June, our production cycle will run from June to June. We'll be opening up communication soon regarding inclusion and what the next steps look like for those featured.

Refining Our Social Presence: While we maintain a presence across the "Metaverse" platforms, we are narrowing our focus to better serve you without the noise of oversaturation.

• Instagram: This will remain our primary home for visual updates and community interaction.
• Facebook: We are pivoting this page to focus specifically on our local presence in the community.
• Your Input: While The Friday Feature and Loose Threads remain our steady heartbeat, I want to ask: What would you like to see more of? We want to fill in the gaps in our feed with content that actually adds value to your day.

The Vision for Full Manuscripts Transparency is a fundamental pillar of this press. I have had inquiries regarding when we will open the door for full-length manuscript submissions.

Right now, we are continuing to prioritize our serial publications. We believe every author deserves a level of dedicated support and reach that matches the quality of their work. By focusing on The Friday Feature first, we are building the foundation necessary to give full-length books the spotlight and resources they truly deserve.

Community Spotlight & Discoveries

One of my favorite parts of operating this press is the constant discovery of new voices. As I am scrolling, I am constantly reminded of how much talent exists in the world.

But I don't want to be the only one sharing. Who are you reading or listening to right now?

If you've discovered a writer or artist who deserves more eyes on their work, I want to know. Email me directly and tell me about them, or if you prefer, tag them or send their page to us on Instagram.

A Final Note from the Desk

I try my best to follow updates from the community, especially achievements. Here are some notable ones:

• Rachel Turney: released her debut chapbook, Women Making Soup Together.
• Jes Mendoza: has released 46 episodes so far of her podcast, The Art of Showing Up.
• Gordan Struić: released a volume of poetry, Pogled iznutra.
• Danum Skald: was published in Low Hanging Fruit Digimag.
• Icarus Lapyx: has been working closely with Black NoiseLiterary Magazine.
• Adam Breier: has appeared in multiple literary journals, such as Mad Persona Magazine and Azarao Lit Journal.
• Ingrid Brown: had poems debut in an anthology by Rough Diamond Poetry and joined the staff for The Poetry Lighthouse as an editor.
• Saraphir Camille: was published in the quarterly copy of SHINE magazine.

As I write this correspondence, I am watching the snow pile up outside here in Wisconsin, which feels like a fitting backdrop for this update.

I send this off in immense gratitude for you being a part of what we are building. Stay warm. Stay creative, and I'll see you in the next update.

With care,
Tyler Tittle
Founder & Editor · Thistle & Thread Press
tyler@thistleandthread.org
thistleandthread.org