Authors Take Center Stage as "Best of Mississippi" 2008 Honorees

Shadow Play Entertainment, Conversations Book Club and their literary partners are pleased to recognize the "Best of Mississippi" Class of 2008. (Click photo below to enlarge)

On Monday, December 29, 2008 Mississippians gathered to pay tribute to their own at the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, Mississippi. Authors Kia Stokes, Joseph Henderson, Jerome Gentry and Dudley Sykes were all recognized for their contributions to the state as well as the world through words. Hosted by Conversations Book Club President Cyrus A. Webb, the event also featured musical selections from 2007 Best of Mississippi Honoree Diane Johnston. (See below)

To find out more about the work of Best of Mississippi, visit http://www.best-of-ms.org.

BREAKING: Conversations Announces Its Most Fascinating Author of 2008

In 2007 Conversations recognized New York Times Bestselling author Carl Weber as its "Most Fascinating Author of The Year". Now on the eve of 2009, we are pleased to recognized this year's Honoree. Listen to an exclusive interview with the author here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/12/31/Conversations-Announces-Its-Most-Fascinating-Author-of-2008


His name has sparked not only controversy but discussion like few have seen in the literary community. With his first book, DEATH AROUND THE CORNER, being released by Kesington Publishing to rave reviews, it became clear that he was more than just a Platinum-selling recording artist. He was staking his claim to a piece of the literary pie.

Conversations Founder Cyrus A. Webb first was introduced to him in January 2007, and since that time the two have made literary history time and again. Their partnership has been praised everywhere from hiphop websites, Get The Daily News, MTV and even the Chicago Tribune! See links below:

Chicago Tribune
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/jan/06/entertainment/chi-abc-murder6_pjan06

Pro-Hiphop/ MTV News
http://www.prohiphop.com/2008/01/conversations-b.html

http://showhype.com/article/c_murder_teams_with_book_club_plus_r_e_m_south_by/
Get The Daily News
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T-OjI0l9T8&feature=channel_page

Webb also coordinated the author's first book tour (see detailed report of the historic tour that was covered by dozens of Media outlets including Fox News and The Associated Press here: http://conversationsbookclub.blogspot.com/2007/10/mississippi-should-be-honored-c-murder.html)
as well as that for his author (Jacki-o) once her book was released in 2008.

Webb and this year's honoree also began "The TRU Conversations Hour", connecting music and book lovers worldwide through a weekly talk show.

After helping launch the New Orleans branch of Conversations Book Club in January 2008, the most powerful project the two have been a part of is the HIPHOP AND BOOKS literacy campaign which encourages recording artists to aide in promoting reading abmong their fans. (See http://www.hiphopandbooks.com and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYz8ydE0r_o&feature=channel_page )


Truly this man is more than meets the eye: a respected recording artist, bestselling author and publisher. He has brought another audience to books, and the world is better off because of it. There is no wonder that Corey "C-Murder" Miller is Conversations' "Most Fascinating Author of 2008"!

Listen to Converations LIVE! Radio's December "Business of Books" here!

Did you miss Conversations LIVE! Radio's last "Business of Books" segment of 2008? If so, listen to the podcast here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/12/31/decembers-business-of-books-on-conversations-live-radio
After making history by having over 160 guests on its program since June 2008, Conversations LIVE! Radio ends a successful year with a historic all-star panel of authors who talk about their personal journey in the literary world.Hosted by Cyrus A. Webb (above), authors Bonnie Kaye (The Gay Husband Checklist), Bernice Layton (Promises Made), Ken Tucker (Are You Fascinated?), Lady K (Sex Ispires My Best Poetry) and Taylor Ross (A Faded Lilly) talk about their beginnings in the literay world, what challenges they have faced and advice for those entering the business.  Though this was Conversations' last show of 2008, keep updated on other activities by Converations by visiting the book club link at http://www.thebestbookclub.info and the radio show link at http://www.conversationsliveradio.com.

Author Pardis Mahdavi talks to Conversations LIVE! Radio

Did you miss author Pardis Mahdavi's interview with Conversations LIVE! Radio? If so, listen to the podcast here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/va/2008/12/29/author-pardis-mahdavi-talks-to-conversations-live-radio

 

She talked about the inspiration behind gathering the information for her book PASSIONATE UPRISINGS: Iran's Sexual Revolution, the similarities she found between the Iranian and American culture and what she hopes readers get from the thought-provoking experiences she recorded over seven years.

 

To find out more about the author, visit http://www.pardismahdavi.com. Missed previous conversations on our show? Visit http://www.conversationsliveradio.com.

CBC Report: Conversations' Founder Reviews "Abramo's Gift" by Donald Greco

Conversations Book Club Founder Cyrus A. Webb is pleased to announce that this week's review that appears in the Clarion Ledger (Rankin Ledger insert) is of author Donald Greco's "Abramo's Gift"! (See below)

This is Webb's 35th and last review for the paper in 2008. Read the article by visiting this link: http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081227/LIFE/812270306/1003

 

Greco's novel was chosen as one of Conversations' "Best Kept Literary Secrets of 2008 (See complete list here :http://conversationsbookclub.blogspot.com/2008/12/revealed-conversations-best-kept.html ).

In what the author called his 'best interview yet', Greco also appeared as a guest on Conversations LIVE! Radio during December 2008 where he talked about how after writing for over 30 years he decided to publish ABRAMO'S GIFT. He also discusses how those around him found out about his love of writing, what he hopes others get from the lessons in the book and how others can find their own "gift" during this holiday season. Listen to the interview by clicking on this link:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/va/2008/12/11/author-donald-greco-talks-to-conversations-live

 

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

Conversations LIVE! Presents "The Business of Books": Tues. Dec. 30, 2008!

After making history by having over 160 guests on its program since June 2008, Conversations LIVE! Radio ends a successful year with its most popular monthly segment: The Business of Books!Join the program on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 7p.m. CST (8p.m. EST/5p.m. PT) when host Cyrus A. Webb will talk with bestselling authors Bonnie Kaye (The Gay Husband Checklist), Bernice Layton (Promises Made), Ken Tucker (Are You Fascinated?) and Taylor Ross (A Faded Lilly) about their beginnings in the literay world, what challenges they have faced and advice for those entering the business. Webb will also share a special announcement with the listeners about the future of Conversations LIVE! Radio, Conversations Book Club and other components of the Conversations Band. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! This is definitely one show you don't want to miss.

 

Listen to the show LIVE by visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or by calling the studio line to listen over the phone at 1.347.426.3645.

This week's review: "The Marquise Hill Story" by author Sherry Hill

Conversations Book Club's President Cyrus A. Webb is pleased to announce that this week's book review that appears in today's Clarion Ledger (Rankin Ledger insert) is of author Sherry Hill's THE MARQUISE HILL STORY: From The Cradle To The Bowl".

To read the article click this link:
http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081220/LIFE/812200302/1003

Hill will be signing copies of her book at the Borders Book & Music (3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd.) in Metairie on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 from 5-7p.m.
For more information about the book visit http://www.fromthecradletothebowl.com.

 

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