Rankin County Uses Book Discussion To Address Hate Crimes, Death Penalties During Racial Reconciliation Month

(Pearl, MS)Conversations Book Club President and Rankin County native Cyrus Webb will be hosting a book signing and moderating a free discussion of Mississippi native John Grisham's book A TIME TO KILL on Wed. October 19, 2011 at the Pearl Public Library ( 2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS). The meeting, which will begin at 6p.m., is geared towards sharing thoughts about the book but how it ironically addresses two of the big issues on the national stage right now: hate crimes and the death penalty.

Webb, 36, decided to use the book as the club's monthly selection because of the national attention that has been brought to Mississippi once again due to the death of a black man in Jackson, MS in June 2011 allegedly committed by a white teen from Rankin County strictly because of his race. After the recent execution of Troy Davis in Jackson, GA, however, Webb knew that the book club would be one of the best ways to not only address the issues but give individuals a structured place to have a real conversation.

For Webb, A TIME TO KILL was just the right book. "It has more than just the elements of good against evil," Webb says. "There are real moral issues that the book addresses, and it does it in a way that makes you question how you really feel about the issues. In some cases there is no clear definition of right and wrong."


Before the discussion begins Mississippi native Alean Adams will be signing her book WAY BEYOND PISGAH beginning at 5p.m. Her book chronicles her own fight with racism in the state and what she and others did to combat it.

Admission to both events is free and open to the public. For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

(Sat. Oct. 22, 2011) Award-winning Author Omegia Keeys Visits Mississippi

(Saturday, October 22, 2011) Shadow Play Entertainment, Conversations Book Club and their literary partners are pleased to announce that award-winning author Omegia Keeys will be visit Mississippi on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

"I've had an oportunity to work with Omegia over the past couple of years," says book club President Cyrus Webb. "She's a talented author and a great advocate for literacy." This will be the author's first literary visit to the state.

After serving two terms in the military Omegia went on to apply her strategic planning to the publishing industry for the past five years. She has garnered numerous awards and praise to include the Scribe Award for the National Black Book Festival and ranking in the top 100 books of 2010. She is currently on tour promoting her memoir Rise and Fall of a Track Star and finishing up the sequel entitled Single, Black, and Government Owned. Her titles incldue Passionate Playmates, Seduction.com, Can You Keep a Secret, Unloved, The Baby Girl, and Rise and Fall of a Track Star.

Here is her public schedule for Saturday, October 22, 2011 while in Mississippi:
* 9-10:30a.m. --- Breakfast with Books (Subway Restaurant Crossgates * 112 Service Drive * Brandon, MS)
* 1-3p.m. --- Booksigning @ Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Rd * Pearl, MS)
* 5-6:30p.m. --- Meet & Greet @ Appetizers Restaurant (3000 HWY 80 E * Pearl, MS)

Admission to all events is free, and Omegia will have copies of all of her books avaialble for purchasing. For more information feel free to contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. Additional information can be discovered about Omegia at http://fromthemindofomegia.blogspot.com/.

Conversations Book Club Presents The "Sylvester Stephens Trivia Contest"

Just in time for playwright and bestselling author Sylvester Stephens' return to Mississippi for the JSU Homecoming Booksigning Event on Fri. October 7, 2011, Conversations Book Club is pleased to announce that the author is sponsoring a "Sylvester Stephens Trivia Contest" for those who attend the event at Book-A-Millon (4950 I-55 N * Jackson, MS) that day from 5-7p.m.

It's very simple:

Answer the trivia questions about the author and his books below and qualify for a gift card prize! Three winners will recieve a $50 gift card provided by Stephens. Print the questions, get your answers and prepare to win something special from one of your favorite authors.


Sylvester Stephens Trivia Contest Questions
a. What was the name of Sylvester Stephens' first book?
b. What year was it published?
c. How many novels have Sylvester written and what are their titles?
d. Name the four generations of the Chambers' family in the novel, "OUR TIME HAS COME"?
e. In the novel, "The Office Girls", what was Ms. Virginia's real first name?
f. In the novel, "The Office Girls", what was the name of Michael's lifelong imaginary friend?
g. In the Novel, "The Nature of a Woman", what disorder did the psychologist, Johnny, suffer?
h. In the novel, "The Nature of a Woman", what prestigious award did the old recluse, "Patient Number Five", once win?
i. In the novel, "The Nature of a Man", what was Alicia's former and dream profession?
j. Here are six of the office girls' names, Alicia, Pam, Ms. Virgnia, Valerie, Susan and Wanda what are the names of the remianing office girls?

Remember you have to be present to win! Do your research today, bring your answers join the fun at Books-A-Million.

Bestselling Authors Ashley & JaQuavis Visit To MS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

(Sat. September 24, 2011) Thanks to the members of Books and Beignets Book Club, Savvy Book Club and supporters of Conversations Book Club for making the first visit of New York Times Bestselling authors Ashley and JaQuavis to Mississippi a success.


The special day began with a booksigning/meet & greet at Books-A-Million in Jackson, MS. There fans of the husband & wife duo were able to get their own personal copies of books signed, purchase the books they were missing and chat with two of their favorite authors.






From there the two had dinner at Appetizers Restaurant in Pearl, MS where they discussed their journey with book club president Cyrus Webb and gave some sage advice to up-and-coming author Mississippi Slim.




Thanks goes out to Donna Terrence, Cash Money Content, Books-A-Million Bookstore, Appetizers Restaurant, Sonya Ward of Books and Beignets, Rose Wright of Savvy Book Club and all of those who made the day one for the literary history books.

To find out more about Ashley and JaQuavis visit www.ashleyjaquavis.com.

Mississippi Prepares To Welcome Some Of The Literary Best

Since November 2006 Conversations Book Club has worked with literary partners from across the world to bring the state of Mississippi some of the best authors in the industry and encourage the importance of reading. Over the next couple of weeks the Magnolia State will have two more opportunities.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011 New York Times Bestselling authors Ashley and JaQuavis will be making their first visit to Mississippi in two events that are sure to bring out fans from across the state and beyond.

From 1-4p.m. the Cash Money Content couple will be at Books-A-Million (4950 I-55 N) in Jackson, MS signing copies of their books and meeting readers. Then they will travel with Conversations Book Club to a meet and greet held at Appetizers Restaurant (3000 Hwy 80 E) in Pearl, MS from 5-7p.m. Bring your copies of their books to get them signed and to take your pictures.

And if that wasn't enough bestselling author and Jackson State University Alum Sylvester Stephens will be back in Mississippi on Friday, October 7, 2011 signing copies of his books at Books-A-Million (4950 I-55 N) in Jackson, MS from 5-7p.m. This will be perfect for those Jackson State fans who are in town for the Homecoming weekend.



As always, the events above are free to the public and all reading groups. For more information, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also viait www.thebestbookclub.info.

Conversations Book Club's Online Chapter Returns In Oct. 2011

When Conversations Book Club began in November 2006 it was with three members and a telephone. The co-ed reading group started in Mississippi by Cyrus Webb and founding member Stanley Clark was designed as a place where readers of all backgrounds could come together and discuss books directly with the author present either on a conference call or in person. It quickly grew from there to meetings in Memphis, New Orleans and Montgomery, all following the same pattern.

Cyrus Webb is pleased to announce the return of such book discussion with the re-launch of the online chapter of Conversations Book Club in October. The weekly meetings will be Saturdays @ 7p.m. et(6p.m. ct/4p.m. pt) beginning Sat. October 1, 2011, and will be open to anyone who would like to join the conversation. At the scheduled time interested parties will simply visit www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive to talk with the author via the message board or join the discussion over the phone by calling 347.426.3645. The author of the book will be a part of the discussion the entire hour and answer YOUR QUESTIONS with Webb serving as the moderator.

The first book the reading group will discuss is GEORGIA JUSTICE by author Jackie Carpenter. Below are the books and authors joining this special book club in the upcoming weeks:

10/01 --- "Georgia Justice" by Jackie Carpenter
10/08 --- "Destined To Live, Despite Me" by Yolanda Shanks
10/15 --- "Something Inside Of Me" by Chitoka Webb
10/22 --- "Teenie" by Christopher Grant
10/29 --- "My Daddy The Devil and Me" by Debra Ann Brown-Davis
11/05 --- "The Playful and Powerful Warrior Within You!" by GJ Reynolds
11/12 --- "What A Wonderful World" by Ricki Riccardi
11/19 --- "Incognito" by Michael Sidney Fosberg
11/26 --- "Manufacturing Hysteria" by Jay Feldman
12/17 --- "Louisa" by Richard Emmel

Make plans now to attend these special meetings either online or by phone. It is the hope of Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club that each week will be an opportunity for you not only to get your questions answered but to introduce those who "attend" to new authors and fellow readers.

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

Meda Personality Cyrus Webb Named Top Amazon Reviewer

Out of the tens of thousands of reviews posted by individuals on Amazon.com each day, media personality and Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb has been named one of the popular site's Top 1000 Reviewers.

"This honor is just a testament to how serious I take the sharing of books," says Webb, 36. "I don't just read for myself. I read so that I will be able to share what I am learning and enjoying with others."

Webb has posted over 600 reviews of books and music on www.tinyurl.com/cyruswebbreviews, and people of all walks of life are finding his thoughts both helpful and intrumental in sparking discussions. Amazon.com has also helped Webb in being able to find guests that he can feature on Conversations LIVE Radio, through Conversations Magazine as well as for his book club.

"People notice those that are recognized on Amazon," Webb says. "They reach out to us because our opinions are respected, and they know that others are paying attention to what we have to say."

Webb hopes that he can continue to introduce the world to new books as well as give a different perspective to books that might not normally catch the attention of readers.

For more information about Webb and the work he is doing to promote literacy through Conversations Book Club visit www.thebestbookclub.info. If you would like to contact Cyrus Webb directly you can reach him at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.