Page Chewing
Page Chewing is a podcast where books, comics, and conversations come together. Host Steve chats with authors, artists, and fellow readers about storytelling, beloved fictional worlds, and the ideas that linger after finishing a book. Each episode explores the craft behind creating stories and the personal connections readers form with them.
Episodes
Some Comics Just Keep Pulling Us Back In | Panel Chewing #151
This week on Panel Chewing #151, Steve and Jarrod kick things off with a conversation about the rising value of Green Lantern #87, the Lanterns television series, and the difficult balancing act of adapting beloved comic book characters for new audiences.Then it's time to dig into this week's comics!Steve returns to Absolute Superman #23, a series he desperately wants to love but can't seem to qui
Pet Sematary Read-Along #5: Chapters 21–25 Church Isn't the Same
In Chapters 21–25 of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the mystery surrounding the burial ground deepens as Church returns from the dead, but something about him has changed.This time, I'm discussing Jud's increasingly suspicious behavior, the strange atmosphere surrounding the burial ground, and the consequences of disrupting the natural cycle of life and death.I'm also beginning to question whether J
Beyond the Page: From Dragons to Fighter Jets — Building a Multiverse with Terrence Rotering
What happens when a simple fantasy story written for your children grows into an interconnected multiverse spanning thousands of years?In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author and retired Air Force veteran Terrence Rotering to discuss his ambitious Chronicle Series, an expanding collection of books blending epic fantasy, science fiction, military action, and Christian-inspired spi
Pet Sematary Read-Along #4 | Chapters 16–20: A Terrifying Warning
The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 16–20, and things are becoming increasingly unsettling.Victor Pascow returns with a terrifying warning for Louis Creed, raising even more questions about what's happening in Ludlow and the mysterious Pet Sematary. Was Louis really dreaming? What does Pascow know? And what lies beyond the cemetery?We also discuss Norma's health scare, Louis settli
The Books I'm Reading (and Struggling With) | Weekly Update
It's another weekly update from Page Chewing! This week I'm checking in on my progress through The Bonehunters, discussing the challenges of reading Malazan, and sharing why Tender Is the Flesh has become one of the most genuinely unsettling books I've encountered.I'm also continuing my reread of R. Scott Bakker's The Second Apocalypse, exploring Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and enjoying the unexp
The Bonehunters Ch. 22 Finale | The Empire Turns
After months of reading, Page Burners dives into Chapter 22 and an explosive finale that brings storylines stretching across the Malazan series crashing together in Malaz City.Erikson has spent an entire book moving pieces across the board.Now they've arrived in Malaz City.Join us for our full-spoiler discussion of Chapter 22 and the finale of The Bonehunters as we try to make sense of what just h
Pet Sematary Read-Along #3 | Chapters 11–15: The Nightmare Begins
The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 11–15, and it feels like we've reached the moment when Stephen King's nightmare truly begins.This is a relatively short section, but a major event involving Victor Pascow dramatically increases the creepiness and raises some big questions. Why does Victor know Louis's name? What exactly is wrong with the Pet Sematary? What does Jud know? And how
Can You Read Too Much Fantasy? | Friday Conversation
This week on the Friday Conversation, I'm joined by Jose from Fantasy Talks Live and author Alex French for an open discussion about genre burnout and whether fantasy is particularly susceptible to it.We talk about massive series, thousand page books, taking breaks from our favorite genres, and why we inevitably seem to come back to fantasy anyway.Along the way, the conversation expands into stand
Beyond the Page: Turning History Into Poetry with Andrea W. LeDew
In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with poet and author Andrea W. LeDew to discuss Polemics, a collection that grew from years of blogging, poetry, essays, and reflections on contemporary American life.Andrea talks about her path from studying English and practicing law to homeschooling, blogging, and eventually publishing her work. We explore writing as a way of processing diffic
Pet Sematary Read-Along #2 | Chapters 6–10: Something Isn’t Right in Ludlow
The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 6–10, and Stephen King is already turning our attention toward one unavoidable subject: death.This time I'm looking at the developing friendship between Louis and Jud, the Creed family dynamic, Rachel's discomfort with death, our first trip to the Pet Sematary, and the increasingly eerie feeling surrounding Ludlow and the woods.I'm also adding ou
150 Episodes of Comics, Trombones & Picks of the Week | Panel Chewing #150
Panel Chewing has officially reached 150 episodes!We kick off this milestone episode with a question for comic collectors and readers: does the physical format of a comic matter? From standard issues and oversized magazine format books to tiny Lone Wolf and Cub editions, we talk about size, paper quality, price, collecting headaches and whether publishers like DSTLRY are using larger formats as a
My Top 10 Grimdark & Dark Fantasy Books
What are my favorite grimdark and dark fantasy books?This isn't quite the usual list.I'm counting down ten of the books and series that have stuck with me the most—from lesser-known indie fantasy to some familiar names that longtime Page Chewing listeners probably won't be surprised to see near the top.We get into brutal worlds, morally complicated characters, dark humor, grief, violence, philosop
Beyond the Page: Reclaiming Your Life After Emotional Abuse with Eva Levina
In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve talks with Eva Levina, author of the two book Death Is No Reason to Stop Living series, about her experience in a 25-year marriage that she describes as involving covert emotional abuse and the difficult journey of rebuilding her life afterward. Eva discusses the subtle warning signs she says she missed, including gaslighting, constant criticism, sleep de
Pet Sematary Read-Along #1 | Chapters 1–5: Something Feels Off
The Pet Sematary Read-Along begins!For the first episode, I'm discussing Stephen King's introduction and Chapters 1–5 as the Creed family settles into their new home and Louis begins an unexpected friendship with their neighbor, Jud.This is my first time reading Pet Sematary, and I've never seen any of the film adaptations, so I'm going into the story almost completely blind. Using the same evolvi
Blood Meridian Is Over… Now It’s Time for Pet Sematary | Weekly Update
This week on Page Chewing, I’m wrapping up my September Blood Meridian read-along and looking ahead to October’s journey through Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.I talk about how slowing down and reading Blood Meridian one chapter at a time completely changed my experience with the novel, what I’m currently reading—including The Warrior Prophet and Lone Wolf and Cub—and what’s coming up on Page Chewing
You Don’t Read Comics? Here Are 10 Great Places to Start
Think comic books are all superheroes, capes, and decades of confusing continuity? There’s a lot more to the medium than that.In this episode, Steve shares 10 comics he’d recommend to someone who says, “I don’t read comics—where do I start?”This isn’t a ranking of the greatest comics ever written. Instead, these are approachable recommendations covering fantasy, crime, science fiction, comedy, sup
Understanding Blood Meridian with Steven Frye | Judge Holden, the Kid & What It All Means
After 23 chapters, the Blood Meridian read-along is complete—but the questions certainly aren't.For this special concluding conversation, I'm joined by Steven Frye, author of Understanding Cormac McCarthy, to dig into some of the biggest questions I was left with after finishing Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian.What exactly is Judge Holden? Why is he so interested in the kid? Does the kid actually
Our REAL Pick of the Week Wasn't a New Comic | Panel Chewing #149
We start with Jarrod's thoughts on Supergirl, which leads us into a larger conversation about superhero movies, shorter theatrical windows, interconnected universes, and whether Marvel and DC would be better served by worrying less about the bigger universe and simply making good individual movies. 149Then it's time for this week's comics, including Lost Fantasy #2, Absolute Cassandra Cain #1, De
Blood Meridian Chapter 23 | The Dance Never Ends
We've reached the end of Blood Meridian.Chapter 23 brings the kid, now the man, face-to-face with Judge Holden one final time, and suddenly so many things we've been tracking throughout this read-along begin connecting.The dancing.The kid's capacity for mercy.The Judge's obsession with war.Predators and prey.Cycles of violence.And the question we've been asking almost from the beginning: Why did J
Blood Meridian Chapter 22 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
For twenty-two chapters, we've been asking the same question.Why is Judge Holden interested in the kid?We've noticed the smiles.The conversations.The Judge's attempts to influence him.The kid's apparent resistance.Holden hunting him through the desert.And throughout all of it, we've wondered whether the Judge sees something in the kid that we don't.Chapter 22 may finally give us the answer.Page Ch
Blood Meridian Chapter 21 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 21 is short, but it gives us one of the clearest looks yet at who the kid has become.Wounded and still being hunted by Judge Holden, the kid has multiple opportunities to abandon Tobin and save himself. Tobin even tells him to go.The kid refuses.He also gets an opportunity to fire at the Judge and doesn't take it, raising another question we've been carrying since Chapter 15: is the kid ac
Blood Meridian Chapter 20 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
In Chapter 20, the remains of the gang are scattered and vulnerable. The kid is wounded, Toadvine and Tobin are trying to survive alongside him, and the hunters we've followed throughout the novel have finally become the hunted.Except for Judge Holden.The Judge emerges from the destruction of the gang seemingly transformed into an even more frightening figure. He stalks the survivors through the w
Page Burners: The Bonehunters Ch. 22 | The Empire Turns
We've reached the end of The Bonehunters.In this episode of Page Burners, we dive into Chapter 22, as Steven Erikson brings months of reading and storylines stretching across multiple Malazan novels, crashing together in an explosive finale.After four months with The Bonehunters, it's finally time to say goodbye to Book Six and figure out exactly what this ending means for the Malazan Empire and t
Blood Meridian Chapter 19 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 19 brings one of the biggest turning points in our Blood Meridian read-along: John Joel Glanton finally meets his end.After taking control of the Colorado River ferry, Glanton's gang turns another opportunity for profit into something far more horrific. Travelers who simply want to cross the river become victims of robbery, murder, assault, and abuse as the gang's violence reaches another
Blood Meridian Chapter 18 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 18 of Blood Meridian is extremely short, but there's much more happening here than its length initially suggests.The chapter focuses on the disabled man Glanton's gang has been carrying in a cage. When a group of women discovers him, their reaction creates a striking contrast with the way the gang has treated him: they release him, wash him, care for him, and seemingly recognize a humanity
Beyond the Page: Can Science Prove Life After Death? | Don Schechter on Ascendants
In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with filmmaker, professor, TEDx director, and author Don Schechter to discuss his science fiction techno thriller Ascendants.Don shares the remarkable 20 year journey that took Ascendants from an idea for a film to a series of short films and eventually a novel. They explore the book's collision of science and belief, what happens when technology
Blood Meridian Chapter 17 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 17 may be the most revealing Judge Holden chapter of Blood Meridian so far.The Judge lays out his philosophy of war, games, morality, chance, agency, and the human desire to impose order on a universe that may have none. His argument that war exists independently of human judgment gives us one of the clearest glimpses yet into the worldview behind this mysterious character.But then McCarth
This Comic Feels Like a Nightmare | Panel Chewing #148
This week on Panel Chewing, we're talking Batman, dropping comics from our pull lists, discovering some unexpected favorites and reading a comic that feels like an actual nightmare.We kick things off with a list of the Top 10 standalone Batman stories, including The Long Halloween, Hush, The Court of Owls, The Killing Joke, Year One, and The Dark Knight Returns. Some placements make sense. Others?
Blood Meridian Chapter 16 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 16 returns us to Glanton's gang as they continue moving across the landscape and leaving death behind them.This isn't one of the most character-heavy chapters of Blood Meridian, but it reinforces just how completely violence has become the gang's normal way of interacting with the world. Murder barely requires justification anymore, and consequences seem almost irrelevant.In this episode,
Beyond the Page: Samurai in Space, Character-Driven Sci-Fi & Starfire Dragons with Dawn Ross
On this episode of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by science-fiction author Dawn Ross, creator of the seven-book Starfire Dragons series.Dawn explains how the “dragons” of Starfire Dragons aren't literal creatures, but symbolic of a futuristic warrior culture. At the center of the story are characters dealing with loyalty, family, morality, and the difficult choices that arise when doing the “right”
Blood Meridian Chapter 15 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 15 shifts the focus back toward the kid as Glanton's gang is scattered, exhausted, starving, and on the run.In this episode, I look at the kid's encounter with the wounded Shelby and his refusal to kill him, raising a difficult question we've encountered before: is refusing to kill an act of mercy when it leaves someone behind to suffer?We also get one of the most striking scenes in the no
Blood Meridian Chapter 14 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 14 pushes Glanton's gang even further into violence that seems increasingly disconnected from profit, survival, or any practical purpose.After wondering last chapter whether these men kill for profit or pleasure, I'm beginning to lean toward an answer. The scalp trade may finance their reign of terror, but much of what they're doing now seems to exist simply because they want to inflict vi
The Warrior Prophet Chapters 22–25: The Circumfix
Our full-series reread of R. Scott Bakker’s The Warrior Prophet reaches its conclusion with Chapters 22–25.We also look back at The Warrior Prophet as a whole and ask a question that surprised all three of us: Is this book actually better on a reread than we remembered? Both Shawn and Shobz found the battles and desert journey much less overwhelming this time, while I found myself appreciating the
Blood Meridian Chapter 13 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 13 continues one of the darkest stretches of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian as Glanton's gang moves from place to place leaving bodies behind them.At this point, one question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: are these men still killing for money, or do they simply enjoy killing?In this episode, I explore the gang's increasingly indiscriminate violence, the kid's growing bold
Page Burners: The Bonehunters Ch. 19–21 | When the Heavens Fall
In this episode of Page Burners, we enter the penultimate stretch of Steven Erikson's The Bonehunters with a full-spoiler discussion of Chapters 19–21—and one of the strangest convergences we've encountered in Malazan so far.As always, this is a full-spoiler discussion for everything we've read so far in Malazan Book of the Fallen and the connected Ian C. Esslemont novels.Only Chapter 22 remains.T
Blood Meridian Chapter 12 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 12 is one of the most disturbing chapters of our Blood Meridian read-along so far.Next up: Chapter 13.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdDAmazon Prime Free Tria
Blood Meridian Chapter 11 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 11 might be the most difficult and revealing chapter of our Blood Meridian read-along so far.I'm not pretending I have Chapter 11 figured out. This is one we're putting a big mark beside so we can return to it later.Next up: Chapter 12.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKns
Beyond the Page: If Not Now, When? | Ray Hartjen on Cancer, Storytelling & Living with Purpose
What happens when life suddenly reminds you that time isn't guaranteed?On this episode of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by author, musician, and storyteller Ray Hartjen for a conversation about creativity, resilience, and learning to live with greater intention.It’s a conversation about making something meaningful out of difficult experiences and remembering to actually live while we have the opport
Blood Meridian Chapter 10 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 10 of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian gives us our deepest look at Judge Holden yet.Next up: Chapter 11.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdDAmazon Prime Free T
Too Many #1s, Too Many Good Comics | Panel Chewing #147
This week on Panel Chewing, we have the opposite of a bad comics problem: there were almost too many good books to choose from.Join us for a great week of comics, some unexpected favorites, and another journey down the assassin's road.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible S
Blood Meridian Chapter 9 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 9.This isn't a definitive guide to Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter per day, recording immediate reactions and watching our interpretations change along the way.Next up: Chapter 10.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Sta
Blood Meridian Chapter 8 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 8.This isn't intended as a definitive explanation of Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter at a time and keeping a running notebook of our observations as they develop.Next up: Chapter 9.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible St
Blood Meridian Chapter 7 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 7.Next up: Chapter 8.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdDAmazon Prime Fre
The Warrior Prophet Chapters 18–21: There Will Be Fire
The Slog continues as our full-series reread of R. Scott Bakker’s The Warrior Prophet reaches Chapters 18–21.The Holy War enters one of the most brutal stretches of its journey. Water disappears, the desert becomes an enemy of its own, and the enormous scale of death becomes almost impossible to comprehend. Even when salvation seems to appear, it brings new horrors with it. As always, we're reread
Blood Meridian Chapter 6 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Chapter 6 is a short but important transitional chapter in our journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian.It's a brief stop in the read along, but it feels like we're crossing a threshold.Next up: Chapter 7.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Member
Blood Meridian Chapter 5 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 5.This isn't intended as a definitive explanation of Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter at a time, recording observations, asking questions, and building a notebook that we'll revisit as the novel develops.Next up: Chapter 6.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffilia
We Actually Picked the Same Comic?! | Panel Chewing #146
This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod do something that almost never happens: they choose the same Pick of the Week.But first, why are there so many #1 issues? We talk about the appeal of jumping into a brand-new comic from the beginning, whether publishers are leaning too heavily on #1s to boost sales, and why more comics might benefit from starting as limited series instead of promising a
Blood Meridian Chapter 4 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 4.This isn't intended as a definitive explanation of Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter at a time, recording what stands out and building a running notebook as the novel develops.Next up: Chapter 5.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the s
Beyond the Page: Matt Witten on 51%, Dystopia & Writing for TV
What happens when corporations don’t just control the things you buy, but begin to own pieces of your life?It’s a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, creativity, television, books, and writing something you genuinely care about.Find Matt: https://mattwittenwriter.com/Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard F
Blood Meridian Chapter 3 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
Our chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 3.This isn't a definitive explanation of Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter at a time, recording observations, asking questions, and seeing how those ideas change as the novel develops.Next up: Chapter 4.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support
Blood Meridian Chapter 2 | Chapter by Chapter Read Along
The journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian continues with Chapter 2.This isn't intended as a definitive explanation of Blood Meridian. We're reading one chapter at a time, recording observations, asking questions, and seeing where those questions take us.Next up: Chapter 3.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Stan
Beyond the Page #24 | Science, Human Rights & Peace with Zafra Lerman
In Episode 24 of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by scientist, educator, human rights advocate, and author Zafra Lerman for a remarkable conversation about a life devoted to education, freedom, and peace.This is a conversation about science, courage, human rights, diplomacy, education, and what one person can accomplish by refusing to believe that division has to be permanent.Find Zafra: https://zafra
Blood Meridian Chapter 1 | A Chapter by Chapter Read Along
We're beginning a chapter-by-chapter journey through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, reading and discussing one chapter every day.Read Chapter 1, listen along, and join me tomorrow for Chapter 2.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://am
The Warrior Prophet Chapters 14–17: Becoming the Warrior Prophet
Our full-spoiler reread of R. Scott Bakker's The Warrior Prophet continues with Chapters 14–17, bringing us to the end of Part Two.⚠️ FULL SERIES SPOILERS: This discussion contains spoilers for all seven books of The Second Apocalypse.Welcome back to the Slog.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https:/
Beyond the Page #23 | Lost Treasure & Family Secrets with Brigid Kennedy
In this episode of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by author and professional violinist Brigid Kennedy for an incredible conversation about family history, lost treasure, Irish roots, the Amazon, and the unusual experience that led her to become a novelist.It’s a conversation about much more than writing a novel. It’s about preserving the stories that might otherwise disappear—and sometimes creating t
Good Comics, Bad Comics & a $15 Conan | Panel Chewing #145
This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod are back with another stack of new comics, some winners, some disappointments—and one comic carrying a whopping $15 price tag.Join us for comic reviews, industry talk, our Picks of the Week, and another journey down the assassin's road.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standar
Beyond the Page #22 | Fantasy, Romance & the Promise of a Happy Ending with Michelle Miles
In Episode 22 of Beyond the Page, I sit down with author and fellow podcaster Michelle Miles to talk about fantasy romance, fairy-tale retellings, dark paranormal romance, worldbuilding, and the enduring appeal of the happily-ever-after.Michelle has written more than 45 books across fantasy, paranormal romance, and fairy-tale retellings. We discuss how the recent rise of romantasy has brought fant
The Warrior Prophet Chapters 9–13: The Making of a Prophet
Our full-spoiler reread of R. Scott Bakker’s The Warrior Prophet continues with Chapters 9–13, as Kellhus’s influence over the Holy War begins to grow at an astonishing pace.⚠️ Full-series spoilers: This discussion assumes you have finished The Second Apocalypse. Nothing is off limits.Welcome back to the Slog.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that su
Beyond the Page #21: The AI Tsunami: Are We Ready for What’s Coming? | Guy Morris
In Episode 21 of Beyond the Page, I sit down with author Guy Morris to discuss his new nonfiction book, The AI Tsunami, and the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence.It's a fascinating conversation about technology, power, creativity, risk, and what individuals can do as AI becomes an increasingly important part of everyday life.Find Guy Morris: https://www.guymorrisbooks.com/Page Chew
Is the Cub Becoming the Wolf? | Panel Chewing #144
Panel Chewing #144 talks Marvel vs. DC, reviews this week’s comics, reveals our Picks of the Week, and discusses Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 12.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/
Beyond the Page #20 | Sasquatch, Storytelling & What Makes Us Human with Maxim Langstaff
In Episode 20 of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by author Maxim Langstaff to discuss his novel SASQ’ET and the fascinating research that took him far beyond the popular image of Bigfoot.It’s a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, technology, nature, creativity, and the strange things that make us human.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that sup
Found Family & Moving Forward | Carpentry in the Elven Forest Finale
We've reached the end of our Carpentry in the Elven Forest by Alex French readalong!Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdDAmazon Prime Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3UptxI9
One Read Ends, Another Begins | Weekly Update
This week on the Page Chewing Weekly Update, I'm catching up on what I've been reading, what's happening across the podcasts, and what I'm getting ready to tackle next.Question of the Week:Do you start a fantasy series when it hasn't been completed yet, or do you wait until the entire series is finished?Thanks for listening, and let me know what you're reading this week!Page Chewing BlogPage Chewi
The Warrior Prophet Part I: The Dead Remember | The Second Apocalypse Reread
Our Second Apocalypse reread continues as we begin The Warrior Prophet by R. Scott Bakker and it doesn't take long for the questions to start piling up.And, because this is a reread, we inevitably end up asking questions that take us all the way to The Unholy Consult.⚠️ FULL SERIES SPOILERS: This discussion assumes you have finished all seven books of The Second Apocalypse. Nothing is off limits.W
Page Burners: The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson Ch. 17–18 | A Year of Lies
In this episode of Page Burners, we continue our journey through Steven Erikson’s The Bonehunters with a full-spoiler discussion of Chapters 17 and 18, as storylines from across the Malazan world begin to collide.As always, this is a full-spoiler discussion for everything we've read so far in Malazan Book of the Fallen and the connected Ian C. Esslemont novels.Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSu
Friday Conversation Ep. 160: Are We Living in the Dystopia We Used to Read About?
In Episode 160 of the Friday Conversation, Steve is joined by Alex French and Layla Goushey for a wide ranging discussion about AI, creativity, technology, books, and the increasingly blurry line between science fiction and reality.It's an open, unscripted conversation about AI, art, authors, readers, fandom, technology, and what storytelling might look like in the future with plenty of tangents a
Beyond the Page #19 | Writing Love Into History with Paula Panariello
In Episode 19 of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by historical romance author Paula Panariello to talk about writing love stories within the realities of the past, the research required to make historical fiction believable, and beginning an entirely new creative chapter after retirement.Paula spent decades reading romance before deciding to try writing one herself. What began with a writing workshop
A Better Week for Comics & Lone Wolf & Cub Vol. 11 | Panel Chewing #143
This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod dig into another week of comics—but first, they take a look at the state of the comic book industry. Are more people actually buying comics? Why is DC's Absolute line dominating comic shops? And what happens to smaller indie titles when stores simply can't afford to keep them on the shelves?Then it's time for the week's reviews, including Absolute Batma
Beyond the Page #18 | Hit the Road and Thrive: Living a Creative Life with Dave Letterfly
In Episode 18 of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by author, artist, musician, and lifelong adventurer Dave Letterfly, author of Hit the Road and Thrive: Seven Secrets for Living the Dream.Dave’s path has been anything but conventional. From joining a traveling circus at 16 and working as a drummer and performing horseman to becoming a sign painter, RV mural artist, and traveling pinstriper, Dave has b
The Gentleman Makes His Move | Carpentry in the Elven Forest (Chapters 26–38)
The quest is heating up as we continue our group read of Carpentry in the Elven Forest by Alex French, covering chapters 26–38.This week, Jef, Amber, and Oggy attempt their heist for the Feather of Choosing with a plan that doesn't exactly go as expected. We also get a different perspective on the Rangers, learn more about what Amber may have to prove, and discover an unexpected benefit from the m
Blood Meridian is Coming & Friday Conversations Is Back! | Weekly Update
After missing last week's update, I'm back with plenty to catch up on!This week I'm talking about my continued journey through The Bonehunters, why reading Malazan with a group has become almost essential for me, and the very different experience I've been having with the much lighter and funnier Carpentry in the Elven Forest. I'm also continuing Lone Wolf and Cub on Panel Chewing and our full-spo
Page Burners: The Bonehunters Ch. 13–16 | Broken Gods, Broken People
In this episode of Page Burners, we continue our journey through The Bonehunters with a full-spoiler discussion of Chapters 13–16, where gods fall, old conflicts return in new forms, and Steven Erikson keeps pushing the series deeper into questions of power, suffering, and whether humanity ever truly learns from its mistakes.We spend a lot of time with Paran as he steps further into his role as Ma
Beyond the Page 17: Not a Real Enemy: Survival, Freedom & Family History with Robert J. Wolf
In this episode of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by Dr. Robert J. Wolf, author of Not a Real Enemy: The True Story of a Hungarian Jewish Man’s Fight for Freedom.Robert shares the extraordinary story of his father, Ervin Wolf, a Hungarian Jewish man who survived forced labor during World War II, escaped multiple times, endured Nazi and Communist rule, and eventually fled Hungary following the 1956 Hu
Beyond the Page 16: Liam Begley on Broken Interstellar, Sci-Fi & Worker Solidarity
In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with author Liam Begley to discuss Broken Interstellar, a science fiction space opera that approaches humanity’s future among the stars from a very different perspective: the workers who keep everything running.Liam describes the novel as a “union workers space opera,” following a cargo worker stranded on a deserted planet who must find his way b
A Rough Week for Comics, an Amazing Week for Lone Wolf & Cub | Panel Chewing #142
This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod are back with two weeks' worth of comics and unfortunately, the stack isn't exactly overflowing with winners.They dig into Absolute Green Lantern, Absolute Superman, Kingdom of Earth, Endeavour, Savage Sword of Conan, Queen in Black, Foundations, Red Roots, Powers 25, Terabytes, American Caper, The Dirt Beneath the Devil, Ezra Cain: Mysteries of the Per
Beyond the Page 15: From Hollywood to Novelist with Kay A. Oliver
What happens when someone who spent decades behind the scenes in Hollywood decides to become a novelist?In Episode 15 of Beyond the Page, I sit down with award-winning author Kay A. Oliver to talk about her journey from a nearly 30-year career in the entertainment industry to writing fiction and building an impressive catalog of 18 novels.Kay shares how her experiences in Hollywood influenced her
The Quest Takes Shape | Carpentry in the Elven Forest (Chapters 14–25)
The pieces are starting to come together in our Carpentry in the Elven Forest by Alex French group read!This week, we're diving into chapters 14–25, as Jeff and Oggy set out to rescue Amber, the trolls turn out to be far more complicated than expected, and Gaskin continues to reveal just how powerful and mysterious he might actually be.We also learn more about the Gentleman and the Deep Dark, the
The Darkness That Comes Before Part V: The Holy War – Prophecy, Politics & the Gathering Storm
Our reread of The Darkness That Comes Before concludes with Part V: The Holy War, where years of prophecy, politics, and preparation finally converge as the march toward Shimeh begins. In this spoiler-filled discussion, we explore Kellhus' growing influence within the Holy War, Cnaiür's remarkable ability to navigate an unfamiliar culture, and Achaamian's continuing struggle with prophecy, dreams,
Beyond the Page 14 | Zack James on StarScript & the Future of Independent Publishing
In this episode of Beyond the Page, I'm joined by Zack James, founder of StarScript, a new self-publishing and entertainment platform built to help authors, podcasters, musicians, filmmakers, and other creators grow sustainable businesses around their work.We discuss why publishing is only the beginning, the challenges of audience discovery, social media algorithms, community building, creator own
Beyond the Page 13 | From TEDx to Death's Intern - Paul Pape on Creativity, Horror & Building a Creative Career
What does it take to build a life around creativity?In Episode 13 of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, designer, and author Paul Pape for a fascinating conversation about writing, business, imagination, and the challenges of publishing.Paul shares how years of helping creative entrepreneurs eventually led him to fiction, including his supernatural horror novel Death
