Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara by Stacey Margaret Jones When a friend of mine from high school and I decided on Santa Barbara for a weekend reunion in March, I admit I didn’t choose it for its literary history, but because it was a wine-tasting destination I hadn’t yet visited. I’ve been to California just enough for it… Continue reading Santa Barbara

Key West

If you visit Key West, Florida—the southernmost city in the continental United States—and stroll down Duval Street in the city’s historic district, you’ll pass numerous T-shirt shops, a glance at which will likely convince you that the city is geared only toward the entertainment of drooling Neanderthals. But don’t despair and don’t stop there. We… Continue reading Key West

Trivia Question for February 25

  Anthony Burgess was born on this date in 1917. What name is actually on his birth certificate?   [av_button label=’ Use The Comment Form Below To Submit You Answer’ link=’http://jayruud.com/trivia-question-for-february-25/’ link_target=” color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’large’ position=’center’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue83b’ font=’entypo-fontello’]    

Trivia Question for February 18

  On this date in 1885, Mark Twain’s classic Huckleberry Finn was published. What writer had this to say about Twain’s great novel? All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.   [av_button… Continue reading Trivia Question for February 18

Fatal Feast Now Shipping and a Public Reading

Jay’s new novel, Fatal Feast, is now available at your favorite bookstore or online bookseller   [av_button label=’Purchase Fatal Feast at Barnes & Noble’ link=’manually,http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fatal-feast-jay-ruud/1120061714′ link_target=’_blank’ color=’green’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’medium’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue84e’ font=’entypo-fontello’] [av_button label=’Purchase Fatal Feast at Amazon’ link=’manually,http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Feast-A-Merlin-Mystery/dp/1432829874/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410550928′ link_target=’_blank’ color=’green’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’medium’ position=’right’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue84e’ font=’entypo-fontello’] Jay will read an excerpt from Fatal… Continue reading Fatal Feast Now Shipping and a Public Reading

Trivia Question for February 11

  On this date in 1963, Sylvia Plath committed suicide. Can you tell me the title of the book for which Plath won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry?   [av_button label=’ Use The Comment Form Below To Submit You Answer’ link=’http://jayruud.com/trivia-question-for-february-11/’ link_target=” color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’large’ position=’center’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue83b’ font=’entypo-fontello’]