Pizza and Dinos with SciFi Author Derek Borne

The AI problem strikes bookish spaces

In this weeks solo episode I dive into generative AI in creative spaces. Specifically what the Barnes and Noble CEO recently said about AI books being sold in stores. I also go over a quick reading and life update, as well as the watch of the day. Generative AI is an extremely important topic I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject in the comments. Follow my socials! Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thatguyjae] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/booksandbeyond_thatguyjae/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588058892648&locale=cy_GB#]

Pizza and Dinos with SciFi Author Derek Borne

This week on Books & Beyond, I sit down with indie sci-fi author Derek Borne for a conversation that covers everything from pizza and dinosaurs to building a writing career in 2026. Derek shares his writing journey, research methods for crafting believable sci-fi worlds, and how BookTok has expanded his book sales beyond what he expected. We dive into the practical side of self-publishing, the challenges of marketing your own work, and how content creation has fundamentally changed what's possible for authors outside traditional publishing. Whether you're a sci-fi nerd like us, an aspiring author navigating the indie landscape, or just curious about the creative process behind the books you love - this conversation delivers. Derek's journey from writing in obscurity to finding his audience through strategic content is both inspiring and instructive. Plus, we talk about pizza and dinosaurs. Because priorities. Guest: Derek Borne, indie sci-fi author Connect with Derek:https://linktr.ee/DerekBorneAuthor [https://linktr.ee/DerekBorneAuthor] TikTok - @derekborne_author [https://www.tiktok.com/@derekborne_author] IG - @derekborne.author [https://www.instagram.com/derekborne.author/] #IndieAuthor #SciFi #BookTok #SelfPublishing #ContentCreation #BooksAndBeyond

You Don't Own Your E-Books: The Kindle Problem

Amazon just announced they're killing support for older Kindle models through a firmware update that will essentially force users to upgrade or lose functionality. As someone who uses a Kindle and cares about reading accessibility, this news is incredibly disappointing and it highlights a much bigger problem with digital media ownership. In this week's solo episode, I break down what Amazon is doing, why it's anti-consumer, and why this matters beyond just inconveniencing Kindle users. When you buy an ebook, you don't actually own it , you're just purchasing the right to access it. And the company that sold it to you can revoke that access at any time, for any reason. I discuss the dangers of relying entirely on digital media, why physical books and physical media in general matter more than ever, and how these kinds of corporate decisions set dangerous precedents. Today it's forced upgrades. Tomorrow it could be removed access to books Amazon decides are "problematic." When companies control our libraries, they control what we can read, and that's a slippery slope toward censorship that should concern everyone. Whether you use a Kindle, collect physical books, or just care about consumer rights and media preservation, this episode explores why digital ownership is a lie and what we risk by accepting it as the new normal. https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-pulls-support-for-perfectly-fine-older-kindles/ [https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-pulls-support-for-perfectly-fine-older-kindles/]

Top 5 reads of Q1 2026

In this week's solo episode, I'm breaking down my top 5 reads from Q1 2026 and there's a surprising twist. 2026 has been an incredible reading year so far, but when I looked at my favorites, I noticed something interesting: only ONE of my top 5 comes from my usual preferred genres of sci-fi and fantasy. Even more surprising? Two of them are non-fiction, which is ironic considering I completely failed to meet my non-fiction reading goals last year. I walk through each of these standout books, what made them exceptional, and why stepping outside my comfort zone has led to some of my best reads in years. I also share my new monthly reading challenge: choosing at least one book from five different genres and selecting those genres at the start of each month. This intentional approach to diversifying my reading has already paid off in Q1, and I'm excited to see where it takes me for the rest of the year. Finally, I address something you've probably noticed.... the lack of guest episodes recently. Guests will always be a vital part of Books & Beyond, but I've had some scheduling challenges early this year. More importantly, I have a backlog of indie authors I want to feature on the show, but I'm committed to reading their books first out of respect for their work and our conversation. I'm making solid progress through that list, so expect guest episodes to ramp back up in the coming weeks and months. Whether you're looking for reading recommendations, curious about intentional genre-hopping, or wondering what's next for the podcast, this episode covers it all!

Don't Go Chasing Algorithms

In this week's solo episode, I'm talking about something that's been weighing on me: the algorithm trap. I titled this one "Don't Go Chasing Algorithms" (yes, a nod to TLC's "Waterfalls") because I realized I'd fallen into the exhausting cycle of obsessing over analytics and only posting what I thought would perform well. And honestly? It led straight to burnout. I take you back to the beginning of my content creation journey, when everything was new, fun, and I posted whatever felt right without overthinking it. But as I gained experience and learned more about metrics, watch time, and all the data available to us, I started stressing over every decision. What would the algorithm like? What format performs best? Which platform rewards what content? I lost sight of why I started creating in the first place. In this episode, I share my plan moving forward: getting back to posting what I genuinely love, even if it's silly, even if it might not perform well according to the numbers. I talk about why the community we build - the real connections, the conversations, the people who actually engage with our content matters more than vanity metrics ever will. If you've ever felt burned out chasing algorithmic approval, if you've lost the joy in creating because you're too focused on analytics, or if you're trying to remember why you started making content in the first place, this episode is for you. Sometimes the best strategy is just being authentic and trusting that your people will find you.