Three Mississippi Authors Come Together to Promote Reading in Pearl, Sat. April 4th

Conversations Book Club will be hosting events for Mississippi authors Cyrus Webb, Stanley Clark and Stephanie Mitchell in Rankin County Saturday, April 4th geared towards encouraging reading and sharing valuable lessons.

It all begins at 9a.m. at Subway Restaurant inside the Pearl Wal-Mart (5520 Highway 80 E, Pearl, MS),with "Breakfast with Bella". There Webb and Mitchell will be signing and discussing their book BELLA'S DANCING LESSON that encourages kids to not allow a mistake or fall to stop them from pursuing their goals and dreams.

Then from 1-3p.m. Webb, Mitchell and Clark will be at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS). Webb will be signing BELLA'S DANCING LESSON with Mitchell as well as his own books AUBREY'S WORLD, the inspirational book WORDS I CHOOSE TO LIVE BY and A.J. AND THE TALENT SHOW (that he co-wrote with author Herschel Dixon of KY) and STANDRIA'S BIG DREAM that he co-wrote with Clark.

Both events are free and open to the public, however, books will be available for purchasing at both events.

For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.conversationsbookclub.com.

Conversations Book Club featured in Mississippi's state newspaper, online worldwide

(Photo credit: KATHY LILES--- SPECIAL TO THE NORTHEAST LEDGER)

Good morning all!
Well, here it is: the news we hinted at last week. The Conversations Book Club is the subject of a full newspaper story by the Clarion Ledger's NORTHEAST LEDGER circular. The article, written by staff writer Raymond Reeves, breaks down our humble beginnings and how we have set up to make a mark through books.

If you missed the article, you can read it by clicking here.

Thank you to everyone who made this success possible, and if you are new to the site don't forget to visit our others sites: Read My Lips and Breakfast with Books.

Already a week of activity and success for Conversations Book Club and its authors!

We are in the middle of a very busy week for Conversations Book Club and its partner, For The People Productions, but we wanted to go ahead and begin the recap of what we have had going on!

First we have to say a big THANK YOU to National Bestselling author Andrew Neiderman for joining Conversations Book Club via conference call on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. He is a man who doesn't have to go above and beyond like that, but he was gracious and shared a wealth of information with the group. On that note, make sure that you look out for his release coming later this year: UNHOLY BIRTH. It centers around a great deal of social issues that I know will keep your attention throughout!

Next I have to report that we began our three-day series of events with National Bestselling author Reshonda Tate Billingsley today--- and what a day it was! For those who met us along the way, all we can say is that we appreciate your support. So much was accomplished in the seven hours we are together today! Our journey began with a continental breakfast at the Medgar Evers Library and moved on to an interview on Clearchannel's 95.5 FM (Thanks Faye Myles and Lance Fuller for making that happen for us). After the interview we found ourselves meeting Alice Tisdale (Publisher of the Jackson Advocate Newspaper), visiting the Clarion Ledger offices and then signing books at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on HWY 18! From there we visited and signed books at the Margaret Walker Alexander Library and the Northside Library before calling it day.

In true "Conversations" fashion, you know we took lots of pictures, so look for the album by the end of the week--- and we have TWO MORE DAYS LEFT!!!

If you haven't printed out your own copy of our schedule, you will find it on the right of this site by clicking on the appropriate link.

We hope you will join us before she leaves us on Friday.

CONVERSATIONS BOOK CLUB Presents the Scrapbook from the Carl Weber visit--- Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Conversations Book Club Presents Carl Weber,012307

On behalf of For The People Productions and Conversations Book Club, we humbly thank everyone who came out and showed support for the Carl Weber visit. On Tuesday, January 23, 2007 the two organizations made history by hosting the author in Mississippi and were greeted by appreciative fans at each and every stop. Our thanks goes out to the Medgar Evers Library, Waldenbooks, the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Pearl, the Brandon Public Library and the Richard Wright Library. All of you made the day just that much better with your open arms and support. For all of the fans who showed up at each location, all we can say is this couldn't have happened without you. Feel free to click on the image above (or below) to access the scrapbook of the trip.

Conversations Book Club Presents Carl Weber,012307

This event was brought to you in part by Tricom Publicity Inc. and the Read My Lips Literacy Project.

"CONVERSATIONS BOOK CLUB Spearheads Aggressive Fight Against Illiteracy in Mississippi"

"CONVERSATIONS BOOK CLUB Spearheads Aggressive Fight Against Illiteracy in Mississippi"

Contact: Stanley Clark, President
For The People Productions
forthepeopleproductions@yahoo.com
www.thebestbookclub.info
773.344.7220

After introducing itself in December 2006 with an exclusive interview with bestselling author Carl Weber via conference call at Medgar Evers Library, Conversations Book Club (aka CBC) let it be known that it was not going to be just another discussion group. Not only does it tackle books that are relevant to events of the day, but CBC also allows its members and visitors to talk directly to the author (either in person or via conference call) at each session, thus enhancing the conversation. Conversations Book Club teamed up with the Medgar Evers Library (Jackson, MS) to make this accessible to all who are 18 and up and interested in participating. The book club meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at the library, each day at 6p.m. (see website www.thebestbookclub.info for a complete schedule of events and authors.)

"It was important for CBC to be something anyone would want to attend," says Stanley Clark, 34, President of For The People Productions, the public relations firm that is working with the fledging book club. "Thanks to Ms. Turner at the (Medgar Evers) Library, it we have already had two successful book discussions with two bestselling authors." (The second one was on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 with author Nancy Bush, author of "Candy Apple Red" and "Electric Blue.")

The main goal of Conversations Book Club is to make reading interesting for young adults as well as those who have been longtime readers. "When you are reading a book how many of us have wanted to ask the author what they were thinking when they wrote something or created a character? With Conversations Book Club, book lovers can do just that. It has even partnered with Waldens Bookstore (Metrocenter) and Wal-Mart superstores in Hinds and Rankin County to bring these authors to the masses when they are in town.

According to published statistics Mississippi still ranks high in illiteracy cases. As the Conversations Book Club selects its authors that is kept in the forefront: to promote reading and the enjoyment that can come from books. Though most of the authors the book club discusses are joining the discussions via conference call, some are taking the extra step and actually visiting Mississippi to support the work of Conversations. Confirmed visitors to the state include bestselling authors Carl Weber (Tuesday, January 23, 2007), Keith Lee Johnson (Friday, March 9, 2007), Mary B. Morrison (Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 21st, 2007), Clarence Nero (Friday, June 8th and Saturday, June 9th, 2007), Jihad (Friday, July 27th and Saturday, July 28th), Travis Hunter (Friday, August 10th and Saturday, August 11th) and Victoria Christopher Murray (Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th).

"There is something for everyone," Clark explains. "We don't want to exclude anyone who enjoys books or wishes to learn more about the authors we are discussing." The book club is free to join, however, purchasing books are the responsibility of each member. Each discussion does include a book giveaway by that author. "At the end of the day, Conversations just wants to do its part in helping others enjoy the power of the written word."

Conversations will end the month of January 2007 will be on the 26th with an exclusive telephone interview with bestselling author Theresa Gonsalves, the real life "Billy Jean" of Michael Jackson's popular song. She will be discussing her book OBSESSIONS that chronicles her friendship with the pop star and her own obsession that nearly killed her.

During the month of February 2007, Conversations Book Club will use its influence with authors to highlight the importance of self-awareness. It is being heralded as "Know Thyself Month" for the book club. This will feature EXCLUSIVE interviews with authors HICKSON (whose book of poetry GHETTO HEAT has been featured on the hit series The Wire), Bakari Kitwana (whose book WHY WHITE KIDS LOVE HIPHOP has been highly praised on BET, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC), Mary B. Morrison (the erotic storyteller of SOMEBODY'S GOTTA BE ON TOP and co-wrote SHE AIN'T THE ONE with Carl Weber), Derrick L. Briggs (whose innovative Book Club "BOOKS ARE SEXY" has gained attention for targeting men, especially same-gender-loving-men, to read) and Gloria Mallette (the National bestselling author of WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK and IF THERE BE PAIN.)

For more information about the book club and upcoming events, visit www.thebestbookclub.info or contact Stanley Clark at 773.344.7220.