Middle Ground Books: After Hours

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...

From coming-of-age stories to provocative adult fiction, the crew unpacks what happens when books get banned and authors land on the cancel list. They dig into who draws the line, how those labels reshape careers and readership, and why the stories meant to be silenced often end up louder than ever. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours by following the store on Instagram, Facebook,...

Lance, Megan, and Debra introduce themselves, brainstorm the show’s name, and dive into the world of young adult fiction over drinks and laughter. Stay connected with Middle Ground Books After Hours by following the store on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The team shares new arrivals, staff picks, community updates, and behind the counter moments. Explore upcoming events, book recommendations, a...