Another week is in the books, and Page Chewing continues to stay busy. Between fantasy readalongs, author interviews, podcast planning, and a return trip to one of the most overwhelming bookstores I’ve ever visited, there’s been plenty happening behind the scenes.

Here’s a look at what I’ve been reading and what’s coming next.

Continuing Through The Bonehunters

I’m still making my way through The Bonehunters, the sixth Malazan Book of the Fallen novel. Most of my progress has been through the audiobook during my daily commute, which has been a great way to squeeze more reading into a busy schedule.

While I continue to admire Steven Erikson’s worldbuilding and ambition, I still find myself wishing I connected more deeply with some of the characters. Malazan constantly shifts between continents and storylines, making it an incredible world to explore, but sometimes a challenging one to emotionally settle into.

Even so, it’s been a rewarding experience discussing each section with the Page Burners group.

Returning to The Second Apocalypse

Our rereader series has officially moved into The Warrior Prophet, the second novel in R. Scott Bakker’s The Second Apocalypse.

One thing I’ve discovered during this spoiler filled reread is that discussing a series you’ve already finished isn’t necessarily easier. Instead of avoiding spoilers, you’re constantly trying to connect the countless pieces Bakker plants early that don’t pay off until much later.

It’s been a fun challenge, and I’m looking forward to continuing the journey with Shawn and Shobz.

Reading Along with Carpentry in an Elven Forest

One of the biggest surprises recently has been revisiting Carpentry in an Elven Forest.

The humor has landed even better this time around, and it’s exactly the kind of dry fantasy comedy I enjoy. It balances genuine adventure with plenty of laughs without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard to be funny.

Beyond the Page Continues to Grow

The Beyond the Page interview series continues to be one of my favorite parts of creating content.

Recent conversations have included:

• Seth Pantich
• John Land
• Darlene Franklin

Coming soon you’ll also hear conversations with Nancy Jason Ensley, Paul Pape, and Zach James, author and founder of the new creative platform Starscript.

Every guest brings a different perspective on writing, publishing, and creativity, and I’ve been fortunate to have some fantastic conversations lately.

Bringing Back Friday Conversations

After reviewing podcast analytics over the past few months, one thing stood out.

The old Friday Conversations episodes continue attracting listeners long after they were released.

Because of that, I’m working on bringing the series back with a more consistent format. The goal is to have a small group of regular guests who can join me for relaxed discussions about books, publishing, movies, and whatever else comes up.

Nothing is finalized yet, but it’s something I’m pretty damn excited about.

A Return Trip to the Bookstore

A few weeks ago I visited what might be the most overwhelming used bookstore I’ve ever seen.

Imagine warehouse sized shelves packed floor to ceiling with books and stacks of books filling nearly every aisle.

The first visit was sensory overload.

This time I knew what to expect, took plenty of photos, and even managed to leave without buying any more books for my already overflowing TBR.

Instead, I found a few other treasures that I’ll be sharing soon in an upcoming blog post.

Looking Ahead

I’m also continuing work on several upcoming projects, including:

• More Beyond the Page interviews
• The return of Friday Conversations
• Continuing the Carpentry in an Elven Forest readalong
• Future chapter-by-chapter discussions of Blood Meridian
• The eventual launch of the Daily Page series

There’s a lot in the pipeline, and I’m excited to keep building Page Chewing into something that serves readers and listeners alike.

Question of the Week

If you could choose one topic for a future Page Chewing episode, what would it be?

Whether it’s a book you’d like to read together, a genre you’d like explored, or a discussion topic you’ve always wanted to hear, I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments.

As always, thank you for reading, listening, and supporting Page Chewing. Every download, comment, and conversation helps make this community what it is. Happy reading!

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