Conversations welcomes Bestselling authors Joy & Deja King --- Sept. 26-27, 2008

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
8-10a.m. -- School visit to encourage reading/literacy (Private event)
11-1p.m. --- Meet & Greet @ Wal-Mart (HWY 18 * Jackson, MS)
3-5p.m. --- Meet & Greet/ Booksigning @ Richard Wright Library (515 W. McDowell Road * Jackson, MS)
6-8p.m. --- Booksigning/Meet & Greet (TBA)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2008
8-9a.m. --- "Breakfast with Books", Meet & Greet @ Shoney (Pearson Road * Pearl, MS)
11-1p.m. --- Meet & Greet @ Pearl Public Library (Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS)
2-4p.m. --- Booksigning @ Borders (100 Dogwood Blvd * Flowood, MS)
4-5p.m. --- Book discussion of the "Bitch" series @ Borders (100 Dogwood Blvd * Flowood, MS)
7-9p.m.--- "Spoken Word Saturdays @ Subway Restaurant (1000 HWY W * Pearl, MS) --- special guest/reading

Former Governor William Winter's book "The Measure of Our Days" selected as Sept. 2008 book of the month

The "Nonfiction Conversations" Book Club in Mississippi has chosen the book "The Measure of our Days" by former Governor William Winter to be discussed during September 2008 as their book of the month.
(NOTE: A review of the book appeared in the Rankin Ledger on Sat. September 6, 2008. Read it here: http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080906/LIFE/809060305/1003)

The public is invited to the meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at the Pearl Public Library (Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS) beginning at 6p.m. Whether you have read the book or not, you are encouraged to attend. Moderated by book club President Cyrus A. Webb, they will discuss how Winter's speeches and writings foreshadowed the current political scene that we now find ourselves in.

Admission free. Light refreshments will be provided by the book club. For more information, contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. Information about the book club can be found at http://www.thebestbookclub.info.

Conversations discusses the life and legacy of V. C. Andrews--- Tues. Sept. 30, 2008

Join Conversations Book Club's annual discussion of the life and legacy of author V. C. Andrews!

With millions of her books in print in over a dozen countries worldwide, there have been few authors who have been able to make the kind of impact as
V. C. Andrews. But who really was she? How is she still enthralling us from the grave? This and more will be discussed during this special edition of Conversations LIVE! radio show. Hosted by Cyrus A. Webb, the program will allow listeners to talk about how the stories of V. C. Andrews have affected them.

Join us live online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive on TUES. SEPT. 30, 2008 --- 5-6:30p.m. CST for this history-making discussion and joining of fans worldwide. Then continue to tune in at 7p.m. CST for our live interview with Bestselling author (and V. C. Andrews' ghostwriter) Andrew Neiderman!

Have comments you want to make or want to join the conversation? Call in at 347.426.3645! Invite your friends to join this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
For more information, contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or visit either www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or www.thebestbookclub.info.

CBC Report: Join our book club meetings during September 2008!

Conversations Book Club is pleased to invite you to our online and in-person book discussions that we will be having during the month of September 2008. Once again paving new ground for the way that books are read and discussed , these are meetings that you will definitely want to join.
Thursday, September 4, 2008 @ 7p.m. CST
Bestselling author Pamela Samuels-Young leads us live through a discussion of her new thriller MURDER ON THE DOWN LOW. This will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Monday, September 8, 2008 @ 5p.m. CST
Bestselling author Francis Cole Jones leads us live through a discussion of her book HOW TO WOW and explains how we can always make our first impression the best impression. This book was chosen as one of Conversations' "Top 20 Summer Reads of 2008". This will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 @ 4p.m. CST
Bestselling author J. L. King returns to Conversations LIVE! for an online book discussion of his novel LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET. It is his first novel, and it is already burning up the bestsellers' list. We'll talk about the book live and answer your questions along the way. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Thursday, September 11, 2008 @ 7p.m. CST
Online forum "Separate but Equal: African American authors in today's bookstores". Panelists include Bestselling authors Gloria Mallette, Bernice McFadden, Margaret Johnson Hodge and Angel M. Hunter. They will discuss the difficulties of breaking into mainstream circles because of race, subject matter and the politics of the publishing industry. This will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 8p.m. CST
Zane Bell, a Primerica representative will school us on "How Money Works". This will be based on a free publication Primerica distributes for adults to help their children with understanding money, however, there are tips for them as well. Want your own copy of the booklet? Listen in to see how you can get it! The discussion will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Thursday, September 18, 2008 @ 6p.m. CST
Conversations' Non-Fiction chapter will meet at the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, MS to discuss the book THE MEASURE OF OUR DAYS by William Winter. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

Monday, September 22, 2008 @ 7p.m. CST
In this 90-minute online panel discussed called "The Business of Books", authors Deatri King-Bey, D. T. Pollard, Alretha Thomas,Arlether Wilson and Rodney Lofton discuss their careers, how their ideals of being published were tested and why they wouldn't want to do anything else. The discussion will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 @ 6p.m. CST In our continuation on discussing the role of Hiphop on today's community, we will look at the double standards that exist in regard to the genre and sexuality. The topic "Hiphop and Sexuality" will explore this and more with a panel discussion like none other. The discussion will take place through Conversations LIVE! on Blog Talk Radio. To listen and/or participate in the meeting, simply log on to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call us at 347.426.3645.

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

TAKE TEN: Conversations' interview with author Peron Long

Author Peron Long is not waiting on others to establish his success. Everyday of his life he is constanting grinding, determinied to make sure you know who he is. The 38 year old from Rock Hill, South Carolina has a real story to tell about how he has achieved the success he has attained-- and you would do well to listen to it.
Peron, thank you for taking out the time to talk with Conversations. Before we get into your book PULPIT CONFESSIONS, I want to get your reaction to the success you have experienced since it was published. Have you been surprised at the response from readers?
I have been extremely surprised at the response received of Pulpit Confessions. My first thoughts were that those who are fans of Christian Fiction would want to hang me from a cross and those who were not fans of Christian Fiction would write PC off as just another "preacher done wrong" story.

You thank a lot of family in the acknowledgements for the book. Would you say they are surprised at how the book has been received and is a career as an author something they would have expected from you?
No one who actually knows me is surprised at my career. Most of my family members often remind me of how as a child I would lock myself in my room for hours never coming out with the exception to use the bathroom. When my parents would punish me they often did so by taking away all of my paper, pencils, pens and books and they would force me outside to play.

One of the things that intrigues me about your book is the fact that it takes the reader into the motivations of someone who is in a position of power. Tell us how the idea for the book developed and what your motivation was for writing it?
My inspiration for this novel was based on the current state of today's Spiritual community. Over the past couple of years we have seen the fall of congregations due to the acts of Man. My goal while writing PC was to show a more humanistic side of those viewed as the epitome of Righteousness.

 

Read the entire interview here: http://authorstaketen.blogspot.com/2008/09/take-ten-author-peron-long-pupit.html

 

 

 

TAKE TEN: Our Interview with author Recha Peay

Author Recha Peay has been on the national scene for approxiamately three years, and already she has given us a body of writings that will stay around for quite some time. She began working with Conversations in early 2007, and already the two have organized not only this interview but her touring schedule as well. Now with the success of her new book, ILLUSIONS OF LOVE, Peay talks with her fans and authors about her career, the roll of journals in her writing process and how what she loves remain a test for her to fully promote. This is our conversation.

Recha, we came in contact with other in 2007, and I am glad we were finally able to share you for with the Conversations audience. Before we get into your newest book ILLUSION OF LOVE, I want you to tell our readers a little about yourself. Before we start I would like to take the time to thank you for this opportunity. Also I would like to thank family, friends and book clubs for their support.

I currently reside outside of Memphis, Tennessee. I have two wonderful children Ebone age 19 and Frederick age 15. I'm employed full-time as a Medical Technologist and I manage to write whenever and wherever I can.

I have read your first two books, MYSTERY OF A WOMAN and INTIMATE BETRAYAL, and it seems as though you really have a grasp on getting the reader in touch with your characters. Is that something that comes easy for you or is that just part of the craft you have developed?
Visualizing the character comes easy but developing them into individuals with true to life physical traits and characteristics can be challenging. By far I'm my own worse critic as I examine then re-examine each project for future improvements.

Looking back at your beginnings as a writer, was there a time when it really just clicked with you that this was something you wanted to do for life?
Since the 9th grade becoming a full-time author has been a dream. In high school I wrote poetry and short stories. After graduation I wanted to major in English with a minor in Communications but was side tracked when my vision was doubted. Never letting go of my dream I majored in Biology eventually obtaining a B.S. in Medical Technology.

Writing was a passion so I kept a journal with me at all times. Years later news of a job closing propelled me to finish my first project 'Mystery of a Woman'. Then I knew I wanted to do it for life.

 

Ready the entire interview here: http://authorstaketen.blogspot.com/2008/09/take-ten-author-recha-peay.html

Conversations and Hiphop and Books to be recognized in USA TODAY

Conversations Book Club has found itself on the cutting edge of the way discussions are being held, and the proof has been in the thought-provoking forums it has been hosting 2008. Using its partnership with its sister program Hiphop and Books, respected panelists from all walks of life have come together to discuss issues that matter to people of any community.

In August 2008 the fifth panel BLACKS AND OBAMA: A Vote of Conscience, Conviction or Color? received national attention, sparking interviews with ABC and even the USA Today. The panelists tackled the complex topic with an open mind and willingness to listen to a variety of viewpoints while feeling respected in their own choices.

Look for the USA Today to run a feature article involving Conversations' panel discussions as this historic Presidental election nears.

Conversations Book Club and Hiphop and Books Literary Campaign wish to thank the Clarion Ledger Newspaper, The Jackson Advocate Newspaper, The Mississippi Link Newspaper and ABC's 16 WAPT for their coverage of our events.

Continue to visit http://www.thebestbookclub.info and http://www.hiphopandbooks.com for updates.