Middle Ground Books: After Hours

Lit RPG takes over the shop as Megan, Debra, and Lance dig into Dungeon Crawler Carl , A Parade of Horribles , and the strange pull of stories built around game mechanics, monsters, and impossible odds. The conversation branches into isekai, Aethon Books, sci-fi versus fantasy, Reddit reactions, and why Matt Dinniman’s series hits harder than its premise suggests. Support Middle Ground Books where...

Debra, Megan, and Lance settle in after a long week for a looser, after-hours recording. The conversation drifts through Emporia Kansas events, Comic Con memories, merchandise ideas, and the podcast’s unexpected international reach, with side tangents that stretch from Bob Ross to Scooby-Doo. Another chance to spend time with the hosts outside the usual book talk. Well…for the most part. Support M...

Independent Bookstore Day is almost here, so the shop is in prep mode. There are plans for a costume event for kids, raffle prizes, local authors coming through, and a couple golden tickets hidden somewhere in the store. In between all the planning, the trio still finds time to give the rundown . When a bookstore turns an event into something interactive, does it bring people in or just add to the...

Megan, Debra, and Lance open with a Comic-Con recap before moving into a National Poetry Month reading. They explore haiku from Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki, selections from Shel Silverstein, slam pieces by Taylor Mali and Mike McGee, and Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est.” The conversation also includes original Midwestern poetry from Kerry Moyer and a reading of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Bed...

Middle Ground Books After Hours steps onto the Comiccon floor. Along the way, you’ll meet Jeffrey Winkler, who founded Cate’s Concepts and works across both design and hands-on building, Stephanie Hasen, a literary agent working with authors and publishers in children’s and young adult literature, Basi, owner of Senciil Studios, a Midwest-based Black comic book company, Kyle Strahm, known for his...

The bookstore trio scrambles to finish Comicon costumes while celebrating their surprising connection to Wishbone, the beloved literary dog. Lance reads gruesome passages from Dante's Inferno, sparking debate about whether it's profound literature or medieval fanfic. Inspired by a book about magical libraries that relocate people into classic novels, they debate which public domain book they'd esc...

Megan and Debra bring in their latest book club picks while Lance reads from a Terry Pratchett story, all of it sitting in the same space at once while they all get ready for Comicon. Do you push through a book no matter what, question everything as you go, or stop the second something feels off? If any of these books caught your ear, you can get your copy through Middle Ground Books, wherever you...

Irish mystery fiction, St. Patrick’s Day folklore, and a focus on Caimh McDonnell’s Bunny McGarry series and its mix of humor and crime. If any of these books caught your ear, you can get your copy through Middle Ground Books, wherever you are. Print books and ebooks are available worldwide through the shop’s Bookshop page, and audiobooks are available through the store as well. Support Middle Gro...

Fantasy author T. Kingfisher has built a reputation for mixing humor, horror, and strange creatures in unforgettable ways. This chapter looks at Nine Goblins and the unusual tone that defines her fantasy worlds. When fantasy mixes humor with darker elements, does it make the story more memorable or does it pull you out of the world? Support Middle Ground Books wherever you are. Physical books and...

This chapter takes a look at the realities of running a small bookstore and the strange things that come through the door. From used book buybacks to unexpected finds, the shelves sometimes fill with items no one could have predicted. The team talks about blind date with a book ideas, unusual inventory, and the day to day surprises that come with owning a bookstore. It’s a glimpse into the unpredi...

When you come back to a series years later, how do you refresh yourself? Recaps, spoilers, rereads, or just jump in and hope for the best? This chapter returns to the Page Turners series and moves through the books currently taking up Megan, Debra, and Lance’s headspace. The conversation ranges from finally finishing a long awaited fantasy finale to revisiting the grisly beginnings of the mystery...

This chapter centers on Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bone Dust as an entry point into cozy fantasy. The conversation moves from small business storytelling to the realities of self publishing and traditional shelves, drawing in part from SFF Addicts Podcast episodes 39 and 40. From orc run coffee shops to struggling bookshops, the genre keeps its focus on work, community,...

This interlude steps away from a single theme and introduces unrestrained conversations between Megan, Deborah, and Lance about what has been taking up their headspace lately. The conversation moves through author habits, hobbies, and the dynamics between each member. From sea creatures to the kinds of museums that make you wonder who decided they should exist in the first place, the range is wide...

Lance, Megan, and Deborah reflect on Black History Month, sharing personal experiences, reading insights, and the authors and stories that have shaped how they think about the month. The conversation moves between books, culture, and lived experience, creating space for thoughtful discussion rather than tidy conclusions. If any of these books caught your ear, you can get your copy through Middle G...

The Page Turners series continues as the group settles in to talk through what they’ve been reading lately. The conversation bounces between time travel, romance, bookish love, and the usual side paths that come with a table full of readers. Along the way, they share what’s been happening around the shop and invite anyone in the Emporia area to stop by, hang out, and find their next favorite read....

The group revisits a conversation with Tiffany Killoren , talking through her move from practicing law into writing fiction, what it cost to walk away from one profession, and how that decision slowly opened the door to a writing career that found readers far beyond where it began. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours by following the store on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The te...

A January episode with a little something sweet in the air, offering a happy early birthday nod to A. A. Milne. The group spends the episode in the Hundred Acre Wood, talking all things Winnie-the-Pooh and the world Milne wrote into being. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours by following the store on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The team shares new arrivals, staff picks, commun...

A special tribute episode in celebration of the belated "Tolkien day" based on Tolkien’s January 3 birthday. The group talks about J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, touching on their personal histories, their books, friendships, and all that helped shape their writing. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours by following the store on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The team shares new...

Lance, Debra, and Megan look back at their favorite reads from 2025 and share what they’re excited to read in 2026. The episode touches on what’s ahead for the store, including new events and activities, and ways they’re hoping to make the shop an even more active place for readers to spend time together in the year ahead. 📖 The Covered Pages Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Micha...

This is the final part in the Christmas Special trilogy, closing out the holiday season with a conversation about Dungeon Crawler Carl and how it can actually be attuned to Christmas, kind of like Die Hard. 📖 The Covered Pages Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman If this caught your ears, you can find it through the links in the section below. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours...

Part two of the three part Christmas special finds the group talking through children’s Christmas books and how those stories land differently now than they did growing up. The Covered Pages How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss Jan Brett Christmas and winter titles: The Mitten, The Hat, The Christmas Sweater, Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, Gingerbread Baby, and The Night Before Christm...

The crew opens their first Christmas special by settling in with The Hogfather, the holiday tale they all read to get into the spirit of the season. The Covered Pages The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett Mort by Terry Pratchett The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett The Carpet People by Terry...

The crew settles in to talk through the books they just finished reading, sharing first impressions, lingering thoughts, and the pieces of each story that stayed with them. They dig into how a book’s structure shapes the experience and how certain themes land once the final chapter closes. Also, Lance follows through on a promise he made in the last episode. The Covered Pages: “A Fire Endless” by...

The crew settles in with drinks and finally gets a moment to breathe after a long day. They share what they are reading now, what is waiting on their shelves, and how their different tastes shape the rhythm of running Middle Ground Books and Gifts in Emporia KS. It is a soft, late night conversation with the lights turned low, a family style moment in their own bookstore, talking about the stories...

The hosts dig into the reality of today’s publishing market and how small bookstores are expected to compete with giant companies that control prices and swallow the profits. They talk about overpriced banned books, the way big retailers create fake rarity, and why local shops carry the same titles without the inflated cost. It is an honest look at surviving as a community bookstore in an industry...