Hold onto your carrots, folks! This week on Between the Covers, Jay and Stacey tumble down the rabbit hole into the wacky and wild world of Richard Adams’ Watership Down! We’re talking high-stakes bunny drama—think Game of Thrones but with more fur and fewer betrayals (well, maybe the same amount of betrayals). Join us as we discuss how a band of fluffy fugitives turned a quiet meadow into the setting for an epic adventure. If you’ve ever wanted to read rabbits as action heroes—this is the episode for you.

Ready to dive into a world where magic, art, and superheroes collide?

In this episode of Between the Covers with Jay and Stacey, we’re unmasking the brilliance of Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Join us as we explore the thrilling escapades of two Jewish cousins in 1930s New York City who create a comic book superhero that takes the world by storm. From daring escapes and hidden magic tricks to the golden age of comics and the shadows of World War II, this novel is a rollercoaster of adventure, creativity, and heart. We’ll share why this Pulitzer Prize-winning tale has leapt into our list of the 100 most lovable books and why it deserves a spot on your reading list. Trust us, you won’t want to miss this incredible journey!

https://linktr.ee/betweenthecoverspodcast

🌟 An adventure packed with mystery, magic, and unforgettable characters. We unravel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. Jay and Stacey take you on Milkman Dead’s epic journey—filled with family secrets, quests for identity, and the mystical allure of flight. We’ll break down why this novel is a must-read with its unforgettable characters and poetic prose that stay with you long after the final page. Plus Chaos Reader goes for the birds!

Have a favorite book with a quest? Drop it in the comments!

✨Rate, review, and share this episode with fellow book lovers ! 📚

All the links!

https://linktr.ee/betweenthecoverspodcast

Just in time for Halloween, step into the dark, eerie world of Edgar Allan Poe! In this episode, Jay and Stacey crack open The Complete Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe and dive into tales that blend horror, mystery, and the bizarre like only Poe can do. Why do these stories still have people sleeping with the lights on? Tune in to find out!

Links

JayRuud.com

StaceyMargaretJones.com

Amazon

Treasure of Sherwood book

https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8

Mr. Catherine book

https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG

Publishers

Encircle Publications

https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Creators Publishing

https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine

BIOS

Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.

Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.

Romance, war, and heartbreak, all set against the chaotic backdrop of World War I. We’re talking A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway on Between The Covers. Jay and Stacey break down why this book deserves its spot on our list of the 100 most lovable books. We’ll explore how Hemingway’s sparse, yet powerful writing style pulls you into the doomed love affair between an American ambulance driver and a British nurse.

Links

JayRuud.com

StaceyMargaretJones.com

Amazon

Treasure of Sherwood book

https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8

Mr. Catherine book

https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG

Publishers

Encircle Publications

https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Creators Publishing

https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine

BIOS

Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.

Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.

Get ready to dive deep into the chilling and thought-provoking world of George Orwell’s 1984! In this episode of Between The Covers, Jay and Stacey peel back the layers of one of the most iconic dystopian novels of all time. From the oppressive government of Big Brother to the eerie surveillance state, we’ll explore why 1984 feels as relevant today as ever. With its intense exploration of freedom, control, and the truth, this novel will have you questioning the world around you. Tune in for a fun, lively discussion where we unpack Orwell’s prophetic vision, and discover why 1984 is a must-read for anyone who loves books that make you think, gasp, and even rebel a little.

Links

JayRuud.com

StaceyMargaretJones.com

Amazon

Treasure of Sherwood book

https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8

Mr. Catherine book

https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG

Publishers

Encircle Publications

https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Creators Publishing

https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine

BIOS

Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.

Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.

Alright, book lovers, it’s time to party like it’s the Roaring Twenties! 🎉 In this episode of Between the Covers, Jay and Stacey are breaking down one of the most iconic stories ever: The Great Gatsby! What’s the deal with those crazy parties, that mysterious green light, and a guy who’s obsessed with winning over Daisy Buchanan? We’re diving into the glitz, the glam, and the drama—because Gatsby’s world is full of secrets, heartbreak, and champagne! 🍾 If you haven’t read this book yet, you’ll want to after this episode! Trust us, it’s more than just high school homework—it’s a wild ride of love, lies, and the chase for the American Dream.

Links

JayRuud.com

StaceyMargaretJones.com

Amazon

Treasure of Sherwood book

https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8

Mr. Catherine book

https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG

Publishers

Encircle Publications

https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Creators Publishing

https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine

BIOS

Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.

Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.

Get ready for a heart-wrenching, thought-provoking journey with "The Things They Carried" by Tim O’Brien. In this episode of Between the Covers, Jay and Stacey unpack the emotional weight and physical burdens carried by a group of soldiers during the Vietnam War. But it’s not just a war story—this book blends truth and fiction in ways that’ll keep you turning pages. It’s about memory, survival, and the things that stay with us long after the battle is over. Join us as we dig into why this novel made the list of the 100 most lovable books and why it’s an unforgettable must-read.

Links

JayRuud.com

StaceyMargaretJones.com

Amazon

https://a.co/d/2MRNdd8

https://a.co/d/3bPVBMG

Encircle Publications

https://encirclepub.com/encircle-author/jay-ruud/

Creators Publishing

https://www.creators.com/books/mr-catherine

BIOS

Jay Ruud is a retired professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, now devoting much of his time to fiction writing. He earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and taught college literature courses for 40 years. He chaired the English department at the University of Central Arkansas for 13 years, prior to which he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University in South Dakota. He published scholarly books on Chaucer, Dante, and Tolkien, and has retold the traditional legend of King Arthur for modern readers as a series of Merlin Mysteries. He is currently in the midst of a series of Robin Hood mysteries, the most recent of which, Treasure of Sherwood, has just been published by Encircle Press.

Stacey Margaret Jones is an Arkansas writer, whose novel MR. CATHERINE was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer New Horizons Debut Novel Award. She's also a Pushcart-Prize-nominated poet, essayist and literature and creative writing instructor. She lives with her husband author Jay Ruud and their four literarily named dogs, Gwenhyfar, Lavinia, Gareth and Sylvia. You can find her on Instagram at @sharkushka and TikTok at @normfluencers.