Conversations Book Club's Online Chapter Announces 1st Quarter Selections For 2012

(Monday, December 12, 2011) Since November 2006 Conversations Book Club and its founder Cyrus Webb have worked to promote the importance of reading and discussing exciting books as well as highlighting the authors who write them. In 2012 that mission will continue and grow with the online chapter holding monthly discussions with the author and YOU can join the conversation!

To give everyone time to read and enjoy the selection before each discussion, we are pleased to announce the choices for our book club for the first quarter of 2012. These are book personally chosen by Webb as fascinating reads, and he is sure you will find them to be the same.


The online chapter will "meet" online every second Saturday of each month beginning @ 6p.m. et (5p.m. ct/3p.m. pt) for the hour. Each discussion will be moderated by Webb and the author will be present to answer questions and provide extra insight. Joining the book club discussion is easy. Simply visit www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive at the time of the book club meeting and enter the chat room. There you can ask questions of the author and get involved with others who are a part of the book club.

Here is the schedule for the first quarter of 2012:
* JANUARY 2012 BOOK SELECTION: "New From The Inside Out" by Kim Vazquez (discussion with the author will be Sat. January 14th)
* FEBRUARY 2012 BOOK SELECTION: "Chasing Butterflies" by Frieda Barnes (discussion with the author will be Sat. Feb. 11th)
* MARCH 2012 BOOK SELECTION: "Pharmacology" by Christopher Herz (discussion with the author will be Sat. March 10th)

Make plans to join the conversation today! Get your copy of the books by visiting Amazon.com or ordering from your favorite bookseller.

Have questions of suggestions for future selections? Contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. For current events and other important announcements make sure to bookmark www.thebestbookclub.info. CONVERSATIONS: Feeding your love of life!

Rankin County Uses Book Discussion To Address Hate Crimes, Death Penalties During Racial Reconciliation Month

(Pearl, MS)Conversations Book Club President and Rankin County native Cyrus Webb will be hosting a book signing and moderating a free discussion of Mississippi native John Grisham's book A TIME TO KILL on Wed. October 19, 2011 at the Pearl Public Library ( 2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS). The meeting, which will begin at 6p.m., is geared towards sharing thoughts about the book but how it ironically addresses two of the big issues on the national stage right now: hate crimes and the death penalty.

Webb, 36, decided to use the book as the club's monthly selection because of the national attention that has been brought to Mississippi once again due to the death of a black man in Jackson, MS in June 2011 allegedly committed by a white teen from Rankin County strictly because of his race. After the recent execution of Troy Davis in Jackson, GA, however, Webb knew that the book club would be one of the best ways to not only address the issues but give individuals a structured place to have a real conversation.

For Webb, A TIME TO KILL was just the right book. "It has more than just the elements of good against evil," Webb says. "There are real moral issues that the book addresses, and it does it in a way that makes you question how you really feel about the issues. In some cases there is no clear definition of right and wrong."


Before the discussion begins Mississippi native Alean Adams will be signing her book WAY BEYOND PISGAH beginning at 5p.m. Her book chronicles her own fight with racism in the state and what she and others did to combat it.

Admission to both events is free and open to the public. For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

(March 25-26, 2011) Mississippi Welcomes Author M. Beatryce Shaw

(March 25-26, 2011) Conversations Book Club and its partners welcome children's book author M. Beatryce Shaw to Mississippi. She will be signing her books MR. BROWNE'S ROSES and MR. BROWNE AND THE ROSE SHOW which deal with early childhood color awareness and dealing with individuals with disabilities.

"We are excited about Beatryce being with us," says Cyrus Webb, President of Conversations Book Club. "Her books give our children and us adults messages that we have to deal with on a daily basis."

Below is her public schedule:

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2011
* 1-3p.m., Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS)
* 4-6p.m., Appetizers Restaurant (3000 Hwy 80 E * Pearl, MS)

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011
* 9:30-11a.m., Breakfast with Books (Subway Restaurant * 112 Service Drive * Brandon, MS)
* 1-3p.m., Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS)
* 6-7:30p.m., Appetizers Restaurant (3000 Hwy 80 E * Pearl, MS)

For more information about Shaw and her books, visit www.schoonerpublications.com. To find out more information about the schedule and Conversations Book Club, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

Author Jackie Carpenter's Visit To MS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

(Saturday, January 8, 2011) Day two with author Jackie Carpenter completed what was an amazing visit of inspiration, hope and the assurance of the light at the end of the tunnel of whatever we are going through.

NOTE: If you missed the report from Day 1 of Jackie's visit to Mississippi, read it here: http://conversationsbookclub.blogspot.com/2011/01/frijan-7-2011-cbc-report-author-jackie.html

Cyrus Webb of Conversations Book Club began the day at the Crossgates area Subway Restaurant discussing the message of Carpenter's book THE BRIDGE and the importance of faith when it comes to challenges in life.

Joining the conversation was long-time friend of the book club Jennifer Vess.

From there it was on the Pearl Public Library where for two straight hours, Jackie was able to meet patrons and library employees, sharing her book and what she hopes they take away from it.




OVER 30 COPIES of THE BRIDGE made its way into the hands of individuals who seemed excited to not only meet the author but take home something that could help them as they deal with their own problems in life.

Conversations Book Club wishes to personally thank Ramesh Gajjar and the staff at Subway Crossgates in Brandon, the staff of the Pearl Public Library, book club supporter Annette Brown and all those who made day two of this literary event a success.

To find out more about Jackie and her book, visit www.bridgetoamiracle.com. To stay abreast of other events hosted by Conversations Book Club, visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

(Fri.Jan. 7, 2011) CBC Report: Author Jackie Carpenter's Visit To Mississippi, Day One

(Friday, January 7, 2011) Shadow Play Entertainment and Conversations Book Club welcomed Jackie Carpenter, author of THE BRIDGE, to Mississippi on Friday, January 7, 2011 to begin her two day promotion of the book and how her faith helped guide her through a dark chapter of her life.

Hosted by Conversations' President Cyrus Webb and co-sponsored by Stanley Clark of For The People Productions, the day began at Medgar Evers Library in South Jackson. There Carpenter shared snippets of her life story and how the inspiration for the book came about.


Those in attendance listened intently as she explained that it was never her intention to become an author, but God had other plans.
Before leaving the library, she also donated a copy of her book to them so it can be shared with the patrons.

While in Jackson, Webb and Carpenter stopped by Clear Channel's radio offices to drop off a copy of the book for Nikki Dulaney of Hallelujah 95.5 FM for consideration for her book club selections.


From there, the group was on its way to Pearl, MS where Webb introduced Carpenter to some of the staff at the Pearl Public Library, and she donated copies of her book THE BRIDGE to them for use by their patrons.


As it would be, Conversations Book Club supporter and evangelist Diane Johnston was also present at the library, and was able to get a copy of Carpenter's book as well!

Next stop was Milestone Christian Bookstore where Carpenter was able to talk with management about her book and even laid the groundwork for a future signing at the stop when she returns to Mississippi!


The final stop of the day was at DSI, the renal center where Webb's grandmother is on dialysis. Several nurses from the Mississippi State Hospital had expressed interest to Webb about their love of books, and he was able to introduce them to the visiting author, share her book and the message she hopes they get from it.


The overall message that Jackie Carpenter shared was this: "I had to go through the test in order to have a testimony, and I had to endure the mess so I could have a message." What an incredible way to look at tests and trials that we all go through!

Find out more about Jackie Carpenter and her inspiring book at www.bridgetoamiracle.com. Shadow Play Entertainment and For The People Productions thanks the author, her family and everyone who shared the day with them. Day Two will include events in Brandon and Pearl, Mississippi. Details can be found at www.thebestbookclub.info.

(January 7-8,2011) Mississippi Welcomes Author Jackie Carpenter

Conversations Book Club welcomes Jackie Carpenter, author of THE BRIDGE, to Mississippi in events scheduled for January 7th and 8th.


FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2011
* 9:30-10:30a.m., "Breakfast with Books" @ Medgar Evers Library * Jackson, MS
* 1-3p.m., Meet & Greet @ Margaret Walker Alexander Library * 2525 Robinson Rd * Jackson, MS
* 6-7p.m., Meet & Greet/Signing @ Appetizers Restaurant * 3000 Hwy 80E * Pearl, MS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2011
* 9:30-11a.m., "Breakfast with Books" @ Subway Crossgates * Service Drive * Brandon, MS
* 1-3p.m., Booksigning @ Pearl Public Library * 2416 Old Brandon Rd * Pearl, MS
* 6-7:30p.m., Meet & Greet/Signing @ Appetizers Restaurant * 3000 Hwy 80 E* Pearl,MS

All events are free and open to the public and are part of Conversations' year-long mission of encouraging reading during 2011.

Additional information about the book and the author can be found at www.bridgetoamiracle.com. For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. Additional information can also be found at www.thebestbookclub.info.