BREAKING: Converations confirms dates for "Hiphop & Books" Rallies

Conversations Book Club & TRU Publishing are excited to announce the CONFIRMED DATES for upcoming "Hiphop & Books" Rallies that will be held throughout the United States.

Hosted by Cyrus A. Webb, the events will be to entertain lovers of hiphop as well as promote the cause of reading across the country. At the end of the day, Conversations & TRU want others to JOIN THE ADDICTION and get hooked on books!

(Conversations Book Club President Cyrus A. Webb seen here with National Recording Artist/Mississippi native David Banner. Banner wrote the Foreword to the book Country Fried Soul: Adventures in Dirty South Hiphop by author Tamara Palmer.)

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• SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008--- 1-5p.m. @ Smith Park in Downtown Jackson. Rally will include performances by Trill, G-Money, E of Causin' Drama Entertainment, Britt, Lil' Half Ounce, Ondrea Nicole and more! Concession-style food will be available as well as vendors on hand. ADMISSION FREE. For details, call 601.664.8805.
• SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008 --- 7-9p.m. @ Comfort Inn O'Hare International (2550 Landmeir Road * Elk Grove Village, IL) * Rally features recording artists TBA as well as information about the importance of reading and staying in school. Admission, $5.00. For details, call 601.664.8805.
• SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008 --- 7-9p.m. @ Best Western (HWY 78--- 5024 Lamar Ave. * Memphis, TN) * Rally features recording artists TBA as well as information about the importance of reading and staying in school. Admission, $5.00. For details, call 601.664.8805
• SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 --- 1P.M. @ Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown (246 Baronne St. * New Orleans, LA) Rally featuring encouragment from Rapper/Author C-Murder and bestselling authors Brian Smith, Tony Lindsay and Dedra Johnson! Admission, $5.00. For details, call 601.664.8805.
• THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 --- 4-6P.M./ 7-9P.M. @ Quality Inn & Suites Arlington (1607 N. Watson Rd. * Arlington, TX 76006) Two rallies will be held featuring recording artists (TBA) as well as information about the importance of reading. $500 in new books will be given away at each rally to the most represented school. 
• FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2008--- 4-6p.m./7-9p.m. @ Quality Inn & Suites (9041 Westheimer Road * Houston, TX 77063) Two rallies will be held featuring recording artists (TBA) as well as information about the importance of reading. $500 in new books will be given away at each rally to the most represented school.
• SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 --- 7p.m. @ Quality Inn & Suites (2705 E. South Blvd. * Montgomery, AL) * Rally featuring Bestselling author Angel M. Hunter (author of SISTER GIRLS, FAKING IT and TURNED OUT) Admission free. Details, call 601.664.8805.
• SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008 --- 7p.m. @ Comfort Inn & Suites (795 Pollard Blvd. * Atlanta, GA 30315) * Rally featuring recording artists TBA as well as information about the importance of reading. Admission is $15.00 which includes a copy of Jacki-O's book GROWN & GANGSTA, published by TRU Publishing. Details, call 601.664.8805.
• SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 ---11-3p.m. / "2nd Annual All 4 One Statewide Book Club Meet & Greet". This event is open to all book clubs and book lovers that are in the state of Mississippi as well as chapters of Conversations Book Club that meet all over the United States. Admission is free and you are encouraged to bring your lunch for the break. Our special guests include Bestselling auhors Electa Rome Parks and Diane Dorce'. Details, call 601.664.8805.  http://www.hiphopandbooks.com

Conversations & TRU Proudly Announce Hiphop Literacy Tour

Conversations Book Club Founder Cyrus A. Webb and TRU Publishing President Corey "C-Murder" Miller are pleased to announce another historic event that will bring the worlds of hiphop and literature together: Introducing The "Hiphop & Books Tour" (http://www.hiphopandbooks.com)!

(Conversations Book Club President Cyrus A. Webb & TRU Publishing Founder C-Murder seen seated here.)

 

"Once I announced (last week) that I would be hosting a "Hiphop & Books" Youth Rally in Mississippi, it became clear from the response that this was something that would have to be duplicated throughout the country," Webb said in a state on his website http://www.thebestbookclub.info. "We have to come to grips with the truth: our world is in trouble, and the more we try to ignore the warning signs when it comes to the apathy towards reading the more we are just burying our heads in the sand."

 

In the past there have been hiphop recording artists that have written books, but there has never been a nationwide assault on the problem of literacy among lovers of the hiphop community. That is where the "Hiphop & Books" Tour comes in.

 

This is how the tour will work:

Beginning Saturday, April 26, 2008 Webb will introduce the tour in Jackson, MS with his recording artists Trill and G-Money as participants in the event. The three of them and another representative of the book club will then begin traveling the country duplicating the same type of events. At each stop Trill & G-Money will perform as well as TWO recording artists from the area in which they are visiting. Webb will also invite authors from that area to participate in the event, telling the public about their literary projects. In each city, Conversations & TRU will be donating a total of $500 of BRAND NEW BOOKS to an organization that can use them to encourage reading. This could be a library, Boys & Girls Club or other non-profit organization.

 

*     Sponsors/Supporters for the "Hiphop & Books" Tour are Shadow Play Entertainment, For The People Productions, Yo!Raps.com, The Hype Magazine, http://www.weneedtostop.com, The Hip-Hop Chronicle, C-Rich & The Independent Nation, C. O. D. Records and Off Da Chain Entertainment.

 

Dates are being added quickly. If you are interested in being a sponsor or hosting a "Hiphop & Books" event in your city, feel free to contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

 

For complete details, you are asked to visit this link: http://hiphoploversread.webs.com/hiphopbooksrallies.htm.

THIS WEEK'S REVIEW: V. L. Green's WHEN DESTINIES MEET

Conversations Book Club Founder and President, Cyrus A. Webb, ends the first month of his new partnership with the state of Mississippi's largest daily newspaper today with his review of Mississippi's own V. L. Green's book WHEN DESTINIES MEET. (see below)

 

Remember that Green will be one of four Mississippi authors that will be participating in Conversations' "Book Lovers Day" that will be held in Pearl, MS on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. (For details, visit http://www.thebestbookclub.info.)

 

To read his review of author/poet Green's debut novel click (or copy and paste) this link:

http://rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080329/LIFE/803290309/1003

Conversations Book Club Reveals What YOU can expect in April 2008!

In the first 3 months of 2008, Conversations Book Club has once again shown why it has been called "the best book club". Already hosting 13 authors this year, it is gearing up for a powerful month of activities and SIX NEW AUTHORS in April 2008.

These are the visits you can look forward to:

Bestselling authors Joy King & L. A. Banks (April 11-12, 2008)

Bestselling author Tina Brooks McKinney (April 18-19, 2008)

Bestselling authors Craig Alexander & Darden North* (April 22, 2008)

Bestselling author Michelle McGriff (April 27-29, 2008)

 

Also in April 2008, look for interviews with Bestselling authors Treasure Blue, Kwan,

Trice Hickman, Kim Reid, Portia Cosby and Gretchen Craig!

 

*     NOTE: This event will also involve authors Voncele Savage & V. L. Green.

C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info

This week's feature: "How To Get Out of Debt" by Harrine Freeman

After hosting  Bestselling author Harrine Freeman (author of HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT) earlier in March 2008---Conversations Book Club Founder Cyrus A. Webb knew it was a book he had to review for others to appreciate. He got his chance with this week's book review that appears in the Rankin Ledger in Mississippi and online worldwide.

(Click on the link below to read the review.)

http://rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/LIFE/803220306/1003

Harrine Freeman
CEO/Owner, H.E. Freeman Enterprises   http://www.hefreemanenterprises.com 
Speaker, Columnist, Author of How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free

 

C'mon. What are you waiting on? JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info

Are You "Grown & Gangsta" Enough? Enter our special contest today!

Do You Have what It Takes To Be GROWN & GANGSTA?

TRU Publishing & Conversations Book Club, in connection with our partner BeBop Record Shops, want to put you to the challenge! Purchase Jacki-O's book GROWN & GANGSTA today through Bebop Record Shop, mail in proof of purchase along with a song in which you are featured for a chance to win the honor of recording a song with the "Madam of Miami" Jacki-O & the Founder of TRU Publishing C-Murder!

 

GROWN & GANGSTA can be purchased by calling BeBop Record Stores in the Maywood Mart Center (601.981.5000) and 3887 Metro Drive near Metrocenter Mall (601.969.3181) for only $12.95 plus taxes and handling. Credit/debit cards and money orders are acceptable forms of payment. Each store can provide their mailing address and the total to be mailed in for the purchase of the book, however, proof of purchase & cds should be mailed to the following (NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS!):

 Tru Records * 3154 B. College Drive #534 * Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

Include your name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Deadline for all submissions is July 4, 2008. The winner will be announced July 19, 2008.

 

C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!

http://www.trupublishing.com    http://www.thebestbookclub.info

"GROWN & GANGSTA" by Jacki-O on sale NOW at Mississippi BeBop Stores!

Once again Conversations Book Club and its partner TRU Publishing are making history in the promotion of Recording artist/author Jacki-O's book GROWN & GANGSTA. Starting Friday, March 21, 2008, Mississippi residents can purchase the book at BeBop Record Stores in Mississippi! This is the first time that the BeBop chain has ever carried books in their retail outlets, however, it was a chance that they were willing to take.


"I just called the store up and asked them if they were interested in helping us promote reading and making history," says Cyrus A. Webb of Conversations Book Club and TRU Publishing. "It was something that I knew could go either way, but they saw the vision and wanted to support our cause."

"This is a win-win for all parties involved," agrees Ann Lampe of BeBop Record Stores. "We are glad to do what we can to promote reading as well as give our customers something they can't find anywhere else."

As part of the new partnership with BeBop Record Stores, Webb has agreed to bypass the larger music stores and will only sign similar agreements with independent stores in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia.

"This is our way of remaining true to the grassroots effort both Conversations and TRU began with," Webb explained. "If we can get to as many people as possible in the neighborhods where they are, it will help us get one step closer to everyone wanting to pick up a book and give it a shot."

Mississippi residents can get the book at BeBop Record Stores in the Maywood Mart Center (601.981.5000) and 3887 Metro Drive near Metrocenter Mall (601.969.3181) for only $12.95.
C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info http://www.trupublishing.com