Page Chewing

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 wa...

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 P...

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 h...

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, t...

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...

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...

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 De...

Join me for the first installment of our Carpentry in the Elven Forest group read as we dive into chapters 1–13 . We discuss the book's surprisingly humorous tone, the creation of its world, the growing conflict between the Gentleman and the Deep Dark, and meet an unforgettable cast of characters including Jeff, Amber, and everyone's favorite foul-mouthed talking badger, Oggy. We'll also share fir...

Some stories are written to entertain. Others are written because they need to be told. In Episode 12 of Beyond the Page , Steve welcomes author, artist, educator, and former nurse Nancy Jasin Ensley to discuss her deeply personal memoir, The Tire Swing: A Memoir About Survival . Nancy shares the experiences that inspired her book, the challenges of writing about trauma, and how storytelling becam...

This week on the Page Chewing Weekly Update , I'm sharing what I've been reading, what's coming up on the podcast, and a few changes happening behind the scenes. We talk about my progress through The Bonehunters , the beginning of The Warrior Prophet reread, and why Carpentry in an Elven Forest has been even funnier than I remembered. I also share updates on upcoming Beyond the Page interviews, th...

In this episode of Page Burners , we continue our readthrough of The Bonehunters with a deep dive into Chapters 11 and 12 , where Steven Erikson blends philosophy, mythology, and character drama into another thought-provoking stretch of the Malazan saga. Our discussion explores Heboric's increasingly enigmatic journey and the divided opinions he inspires, as we debate his role, his connection to t...

Warning: This discussion contains major spoilers for the entire Second Apocalypse series , including The Aspect-Emperor novels. Our spoiler-filled reread of The Second Apocalypse continues with Part IV: The Warrior from The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker . This section marks the return of Kellhus to center stage as he begins his uneasy journey alongside Cnaiür. Looking back after fi...

What makes stories so powerful? In Episode 11 of Beyond the Page , Steve sits down with author, artist, educator, and award-winning poet Darlene Franklin Campbell for a thoughtful conversation about fantasy, mythology, identity, and the enduring importance of storytelling. Darlene discusses how her love of Southern fiction eventually led her back to the science fantasy series she'd been developing...

In Episode 10 of Beyond the Page , Steve sits down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jon Land to explore the craft of storytelling, pacing, and keeping readers hooked from the very first page. Jon shares lessons learned from writing more than 70 novels, why he believes stories should begin "in the middle," the importance of writing with confidence, and why the best writers trust...

This week on Panel Chewing , Steve and Jarrod tackle another packed week of comics, discussing everything from superhero slugfests and creator-owned horror to indie standouts and long-awaited returns. Along the way they share their thoughts on Absolute Superman , Assorted Crisis Events , White Boat , Fury of the Firestorm , King Spawn , Odin , Fear of Death , Star Crossed , American Caper , and mo...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Seth Panitch, author, playwright, actor, director, and educator to discuss his debut novel, Antique , and the lifelong creative journey that led him to writing fiction. Drawing on decades of experience in theater, performance, and teaching, Seth shares how storytelling has shaped every stage of his life. The conversation explores the lasting influence of Shake...

Our spoiler-filled reread of The Second Apocalypse continues with Part III: The Harlot from The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker . This section places Esmenet at the center of the story, revealing both the cruelty of Earwa and the remarkable resilience that makes her one of the series' most compelling characters. Looking back with the knowledge of all seven books, these chapters are f...

In this episode of Page Burners , we continue our journey through The Bonehunters with a full discussion of Chapters 8–10 , where Steven Erikson expands the series' mythology while setting major events into motion. This week we dive into Paran's evolving role as Master of the Deck and explore what these chapters reveal about ascendants, gods, and the nature of power in the Malazan world. We also e...

What does it take to build an epic fantasy world that feels real? On this episode of Beyond the Page , Steve sits down with fantasy author Robert Riley , whose debut novel Blood of Tomorrow launches a sweeping new series years in the making. Robert discusses creating believable worlds without overwhelming readers, why history and leadership shape every aspect of his storytelling, and how his caree...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Richard Spegal , author of the Eternal Knights series, to discuss writing mature dark fantasy, creating believable characters, and why the best stories are driven by people, not plot. Richard shares how his military service, personal experiences, and lifelong love of speculative fiction have shaped his writing. Rather than following familiar genre formulas, he...

This week on Panel Chewing , we kick things off by discussing one of the biggest stories in comics: Marvel Comics' decision to relocate its publishing division from New York to Burbank, California. Is this simply a cost-cutting move, or does it signal a major shift in the future of comic publishing? We share our thoughts on what it could mean for creators, comic shops, and the industry as a whole....

In this episode, Steve sits down with Fernando Alessandri, author, psychologist, filmmaker, comedian, and creative thinker whose work blends humor with surprising insight into human nature. The conversation begins with Fernando's novel Agent Bigglesby: Not Dead Yet , a comedy imagining what happens when an aging super spy refuses to retire, but quickly expands into an engaging discussion about cre...

This week on the Weekly Update, I share some exciting milestones for Page Chewing. The podcast has officially reached Captivate's monetization threshold, memberships are now available, and I've been booked with author interviews all the way into October. I also talk about why I'm restarting Carpentry and the Elven Forest , the next stage of our The Second Apocalypse spoiler-filled reread, upcoming...

The spoiler-filled reread of The Second Apocalypse continues as we tackle Part II: The Emperor from The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker . This section shifts the focus from Achamian to the political chaos surrounding Emperor Xerius III, introducing one of fantasy's most entertainingly paranoid rulers while laying even more pieces on Bakker's enormous chessboard. On a reread, it's rem...

Welcome back to Beyond the Page , the Page Chewing interview series where we explore the stories behind the storytellers. In this episode, Steve sits down with horror author Alex Grass , whose latest collection, Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror , embraces cosmic horror, body horror, and the wonderfully strange corners of speculative fiction. The conversation begins with horror but quickly ex...