(Sat. August 27, 2011) Conversations Book Club and Cyrus Webb Host "Breakfast With Books"

(Saturday, August 27, 2011 *Brandon, MS) Conversations Book Club and its founder Cyrus Webb are committed to promoting the power of books and self-esteem when it comes to today's youth. They are also intersted in promoting a healthier lifestyle. For this reason on Saturday, August 27, 2011 from 9-10:30a.m. Webb and members of the book club will be enjoying the delicious breakfast memu at Subway Restaurant Crossgates (112 Service Drive * Brandon, MS) but also giving out 50 free copies of the entertaining children's book TOO TALL ALICE written by author Barbara Worton.


"Too Tall Alice is just the kind of book to encourage our youth that they are special just the way they are," says Webb, 36. "When I started Conversations Book Club in November 2006 I wanted it to be a place where everyone could find something that fit their lives no matter where they are. For young people I think Too Tall Alice accomplishes that and more."

There is no purchase necessary to get your free copy of this great book, however, Webb invites anyone to join the book club and him in having breakfast and socializing with the group. For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or at 601.896.5616. To foind out more information about other events hosted by Conversations Book Club visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

CONVERSATIONS: Feeding Your Love Of Life!

NYT Bestselling author Wahida Clark's Visit To MS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

On behalf of Shadow Play Entertainment and Conversations Book Club, thanks to everyone who made the visit of New York Times bestselling author Wahida Clark to Mississippi a success.

The historic event on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 began at Subway Restaurant in Brandon, MS with "Breakfast with Books".

There Conversations President Cyrus Webb and book club member Jacque Jones met Ms. Clark and her team and talked about the day's activities and, of course, books!

"I have been waiting for this day for quite a while," says Webb. The 35 year old began Conversations Book Club in November 2006 as a co-ed reading group for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. After interviewing Wahida Clark on his radio show Conversations LIVE in December 2007, he knew she was someone he was going to remember for some time. This visit was the first time the two had met in person.

Jones, who was with Conversations Book Club in Jackson, MS back in January 2007 when it hosted its first author (New York Times Bestselling author Carl Weber) was thrilled to be with the group again as it hosted its 100th author Wahida Clark. "I'm a big fan," Jacque told the prolific author. "It's such an honor and a privilege to be here with you." During the event, she was also able to get her books signed.

After the official kick-off the group headed to Wal-Mart Supercenter in Pearl, MS to sign their stock of Clark's new title JUSTIFY MY THUG. The store was sold out.

Conversations and Clark then headed to Target in Flowood, MS to sign their stock. After doing so the books were placed at customer service where they began to sell before Clark could even leave the store.

From there it was on to Books-A-Million in Jackson, MS where Clark signed what stock the store had left and even met with members from other book clubs who had heard the news about her visit.



Also in attendance at this event was Conversations Book Club co-founder Stanley Clark and Mississippi authors Jerome Cooper and Mississippi Slim.

Leaving Books-A-Million was not easy, but with a jam-packed schedule the group had to move on. Next stop was a sit-down interview with Christian Vance of The Jackson Advocate Newspaper in Jackson, MS. There Ms. Clark shared pieces of her story, and Cyrus Webb presented Christian with a copy of JUSTIFY MY THUG to read and review for the newspaper.

The next stop on the trip was a meet and greet at Medgar Evers Library in Jackson, MS.

When the touring group arrived there were almost a dozen avid readers waiting to greet the bestselling author. After hugs were given and books signed, Wahida Clark sat down amongst the group and discussed the books that they loved so much. Joining this group were authors Felita McElroy, Linda Stokes and Latesha W. Thomas.

The last event of the day was held at the host bookstore for the visit: Borders Bookstore in Flowood, MS.




Thanks to General Manager Judy Wolf and the staff, this was the perfect ending to a productive day. Wahida was met with waiting fans who had books in hand and more than half of the books in the store bearing her name flew off the shelves and the signing table.

For Webb, this was more than welcoming his group's 100th author. It was able recognizing the talent of an amazing woman. "There is really no one else like Wahida Clark," he says. "Mississippi was fortunate to have her, and I know this is something that readers will be talking about for quite some time."

For more information about Wahida Clark and her upcoming events, visit www.wclarkpublishing.com. To see what is next for Conversations Book Club, visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

(Tues. June 28, 2011) Mississippi Welcomes NYT Bestselling author Wahida Clark

Conversations Book Club is excited to announce that New York Times Bestselling author Wahida Clark will be visiting the state of Mississippi for the first time on Tues. June 28, 2011. This is in association with the author's JUSTIFY MY THUG tour and is a one day only event!

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb has coordinated the schedule for Ms. Clark and welcomes all readers from books clubs and reading groups from across the state and beyond to support this historic visit.

Below is the public schedule:

--- 9:30-11am., "Breakfast with Books" (Subway Restaurant * 112 Service Dr. *
Brandon, MS )
--- 1-3p.m., Meet & Greet/Signing (Medgar Evers Library * 4215 Medgars Evers Blvd *
Jackson, MS)
--- 5-7p.m., Booksigning (Borders Bookstore * 100 Dogwood
Blvd * Flowood, MS 39232

The host bookstore for Ms. Clark's visit is BORDERS BOOKSTORE (100 Dogwood Blvd * Flowood, MS 39232).

For questions about any of the events, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.thebestbookclub.info or www.wclarkpublishing.com. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!

Conversations' 50 Summer Reads of 2011

by Cyrus Webb for Conversations Book Club/Conversations Magazine

What does it take to be a great Summer read? For me the book has to be entertaining, educational and worth my sharing its message with others. In the past, Conversations has recognized 25 titles that I think would be perfect to take along with you during the Summer months and enjoy during your down time. Since I am celebrating my 36th birthday in July of this year, I then thought it would be fun to extend the list to 36 titles worthy of your consideration. So how did I end up with a list of 50? To be honest, the roster of authors I have had the pleasure of reading over the past year have made it much too difficult for me to narrow it down any further.

Here you have the titles that I have personally read and enjoyed and believe you will as well. For the first time in the 4 years I have compiled this listing, I am also including the publisher's information. Why? Because I think they deserve credit for producing what I consider to be amazing books. As is my custom I put all books on a level playing field, meaning you will find self-published authors here as well as established authors. This is important, because I think it shows how the world of publishing has changed and that what matters is not how you are published but what you are publishing.

Enjoy this roster of non-fiction and fiction titles, and make sure to let the authors know that you appreciate what they are doing for the world through books.

NON-FICTION TITLES (Listed in no particular order)

"The Paper Garden", Molly Peacock (Bloomsbury)
"A Happy You", Elizabeth Lombardo, MD (Morgan James)
"Pharoah", DaPharoah69 (KOE Publications)
"Lord Jennings", DaPharoah69 (KOE Publications)
"Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy" , Shellie Rushing Tomlinson (Penguin)
"The Warmth Of Other Suns", Isabel Wilkerson (Random House)
"Miracle Man", Robert B. Haas (Bascom Hill)
"Black and Bulletproof", Marcus Hardie (New Horizon Press)
"Evel", Leigh Montville (Doubleday)
"I Had Every Excuse To Fail, But I Chose None", Sebastian K. Young (Skybash Publishing)
"Running Scared", Robert Leon Davis (Kregel Publications)
"Soulshaping", Jeff Brown (North Atlantic Books)
"Life Is What You Make It", Carl Mathis (Tate Publishing)
"Year Of Our Lord", T. R. Pearson (Mockingbird Publishing)
"What Every Fat Girl Wants", Roxanne Harris (Unknown)
"Expand This Moment", John Selby (New World Library)
"Bad Dog (A Love Story)", Martin Kihn (Pantheon Books)
"The Way Of The Happy Woman", Sara Avant Stover (New World Library)
"Incognito", Michael Sidney Fosberg (Incognito, Inc.)

FICTION TITLES (Listed In No Particular Order)

"The Loss Of Certainty Series (Jackson/The Gamble/River Rising)", T. P.Jones (Synergy Books)
"Journal Of A UFO Investigator", David Halperin (Viking Publishing)
"Soul Trapper," F.J. Lennon (Atria)
"In The Shadow Of Swords," Val Gunn (Errant Press)
"More Boy Than Girl," Tony Lindsay (Penknife Press)
"The King Of Diamonds", Simon Tolkien (St. Martin's Press)
""Heartbreak Of A Hustler's Wife," Nikki Turner (One World/Ballantine)
"Private Sessions," Nigel Barto (I Universe)
"The Kitchen Daughter," Jael McHenry (Simon & Schuster)
"The Disgruntled Wives Club," Portia A. Cosby (Distinct Publishing)
"Dancing Her Dreams Away," Alretha Thomas (Diverse Arts Collective)
"Come Sunday Morning," Terry E. Hill (Urban Renaissance)
"Diary Of A Stalker," Electa Rome Parks (Urban Renaissance)
"Witches Of East End," Melissa de la Cruz (Hyperion)
"The Map Across Time," C.S. Lakin (Living Ink Books)
"Suspicions," Sasha Campbell (Dafina)
"Killing Them Softly," Roy Glenn (Escapism Ent.)
"The Butterfly's Daughter," Mary Alice Monroe (Simon & Schuster)
"Just Wanna Testify," Pearl Cleage (Ballantine Books)
"L. A. Summer," Sheryl Mallory-Johnson (Wanasoma Books)
"The Murderer's Daughters," Randy Susan Meyers (St. Martin's Griffin)
"Contrary Creek," Tom Walker & Mary Walker Baron (Wheatmark)
"Exposure," Therese Fowler (Ballantine Books)
"Caught In The Middle," Jennifer Luckett (nHouse Publishing)
"Split Second," Catherine Coulter (G. P. Putnam's Sons)
"Finding Frances," Janice M. Van Dyck (Winston Higgins Press)
"Now You See Her," Joy Fielding (Simon & Schuster)
"Stalina," Emily Rubin (Amazon Encore)
"Southern Discomfort," LaTonya Jones (Plenary Publishing)
"The Dawn Country," Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W. Michael Gear (FORGE)
"The Sandalwood Tree," Elle Newmark (Atria)

Our Summer Reads Of 2011 will be included in our Summer Issue of Conversations Magazine that is being released on June 13, 2011. Find details at www.conversationsmag.com.

To find out information about past titles featured on Conversations' Summer reading list, visit www.thebestbookclub.info. CONVERSATIONS: Feeding Your Love Of Life!

Conversations Presents 20 Must-Read Books For Young Readers

by Cyrus Webb (appears in the May/June Issue of Conversations Magazine)

When it comes to books for children and young readers, Conversations and company Shadow Play Entertainment are committed to celebrate titles that both entertain as well as inform. As summer approaches, this issue seemed as good of a time as any to recognize some of the books we have enjoyed and recommend as well as the authors and publishers that made them possible.

These are what we consider must-reads, and it is our hope that you will give them some consideration as you make plans for this summer's "To Do" list (Listed in no particular order):

* "Let's Get Ready For First Grade!" by Stacey Kannenberg (Cedar Valley Publishing)
* "Ella B. Jenkins Meets President Barack Obama" by Eve Lynne and Desiree Thomas Gordy (Robijo Publishing)
* "Too Tall Alice" by Barbara Worton (Great Little Books, LLC)
* "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters" by Barack Obama (Alfred A. Knopf)
* "Mr. Browne and the Rose Show" by M. Beatryce Shaw (Schooner Publications)
* "The Chip: A 21st Century Superhero" by George Jack (Langdon Street Press)
* "Rico The Seagull, Making The Best Out Of A Mess" by April Mahoney (A Good Person Publishing)
* "Color Struck" by Pamela & Joel Tuck (Joechel Books)
* "The Rivalry" by John Feinstein (Alfred A. Knopf)
* "Louisa" by Richard Emmel (Parson Place Press)
* "Be Real And Great Now" by Zenaida Roy-Almario (BRAGN)
* "Adventures of Rusty & Ginger Fox" by Tim Ostermeyer (Synergy Books)
* "The Sons Of Liberty" by Alexander Lagos and Joseph Lagos (Random House)
* "Hairy Harry" by Debra Christenson (Publish America)
* "The Skinny On Bullying" by Mike Cassidy (Rand Media Co.)
* "Before There Was Mozart" by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House)
* "The Fenway Foul-Up" by David A. Kelly (Stepping Stones Books/Random House)
* "Trouble In Troublesome Creek" by Nancy Kelly Allen (Red Rock Press)
* "The Young Professionals" by Models For Success (Rathsi Publishing)
* "Miracle In Sumatra: The Story Of Gutsy Gus" by Jeanne McNaney (Ovation Books)-

Already enjoyed some of the titles we have listed? Share your thoughts on www.conversationsmag.com and www.amazon.com. Know of some great books that didn't make our list? Let us know of those as well! You can also contact me directly at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

Looking for some great adult books to add to your collection? You can find selections by visiting www.thebestbookclub.info. CONVERSATIONS: Feeding Your Love Of Life.
Get your May/June issue of Conversations Magazine by clicking here!

Conversations and Author Jerome Cooper: Mission Accomplished!

Shadow Play Entertainment and Conversations Book Club would like to thank everyone who made the first booksigning for Mississippi author Jerome Cooper a success.

Hosted by Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb, the event took place on Thurs. April 28, 2011 at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS), and Cooper got the opportunity to share the premise of his book as well as interact with patrons.




Find out more information about the author and the book, visit http://tinyurl.com/adualblessing. To see what is next for Conversations Book Club, visit www.thebestbookclub.info or contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

CONVERSATIONS: Feeding your love of life!

(Thurs. April 28th) Conversations Hosts Author Jerome Cooper

Conversations Book Club is pleased to invite you to an event taking place in Pearl, MS on Thurs. April 28, 2011 geared towards promoting reading and supporting Mississippi authors. It will take place at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS) from 4-5:30p.m. featuring Jerome Cooper, author of the book A DUAL BLESSING.

This event is free and open to the public, however, the author will have their book available for purchasing. For more information on this event, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.thebestbookclub.info.