Mon. July 13th: Conversations Welcomes Sheryl Mallory-Johnson & Billy Hallowell

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009 --- Hosted by Cyrus A. Webb, Conversations LIVE! Radio begins the new week with two exciting guests:

12p.m. CST (1p.m. EST/10a.m. PT) --- Author Sheryl Mallory-Johnson

7p.m. CST (8p.m.EST/ 5p.m. PT) --- Billy Hallowell, Journalist/Political Commentator
To listen to the interviews live, visit www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or listen via the switchboard at 1.347.426.3645 at showtime.

Missed the live interview or others by Webb? Visit http://www.conversationsliveradio.com.

Mon. June 15, 2009: Bestselling author John Saul on Conversations LIVE !

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2009 @ 12P.M. CST (1p.m. EST/10a.m. PT)
Shadow Play Entertainment is excited to announce that International Bestselling author John Saul will be on Conversations LIVE! Radio today to discuss his amazing career as well as his new projects.

Chosen as Conversations Book Club's Author Of The Year 2008-2009, Saul will share his beginnings as an author, the release of his book FACES OF FEAR in paperback (July 2009) and his new novel coming out later this year.

To listen to the interview live, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive. Have a question for the author you want answered? We will be taking calls as well!

(Tues. June 9, 2009) International Bestselling author Andrew Neiderman on Conversations LIVE! Radio

On Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 12p.m. CST (1p.m. EST/10a.m. PT), Conversations LIVE! Radio welcomes back a literary powerhouse: International Bestselling author Andrew Neiderman.

In this special extended edition of Conversations, Cyrus A. Webb talks to the author about his incredible career, ghostwriting for the V. C. Andrews franchise and what advice he gives to upcoming authors and those trying to remain relevant among the competition.

Neiderman's book THE MAGIC BULLET has been chosen as one of Conversations' Top 20 Summer Reads of the year.

To listen live, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or listen via the switchboard at 1.347.426.3645.

Part One of For The People's Interview w/Cyrus A. Webb

The King of Conversations Celebrates Six Years of Success
By Stanley Clark with Herschel Dixon

(NOTE: This is Part One in a three-part series of our interview with For The People Productions' Chief of Staff and Conversations founder Cyrus A. Webb about the creation of his omnimedia organization and his reflection from the past six years. In what is by far his most revealing interview to date, he addresses his beginnings in the spotlight, some of the challenges and controversies he has overcome and what is next in his growing organization.)

On Monday, June 1, 2009 Mississippi native Cyrus A. Webb aka C. A. Webb marked six years since he had packaged his love of thoughtful discussions into what would become known as The Conversations Brand. What began in 2003 as a radio show called Conversations with C. A. Webb talking with the movers and shakers in his home state has expanded into a national platform where people in the all areas of the arts and entertainment world can be united with their fans and supporters through a radio and television show, magazine, forums and book clubs—lots of book clubs. Under Webb, Conversations has been talked and written about in regional newspapers and magazines such as The Clarion Ledger, The Record, Mckinney Courier, Hype Magazine, and Times Picayune and in national outlets such as The Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, MTV, VH1, USA Today and more.

Since its inception, literally hundreds of guests have talked with the host and his audience and tens of thousands have tuned in to the conversations. By 2008, Webb's Conversations Book Club was considered one of the leading literary reading groups, boasting 10 chapters in five states covering all genres, cultural backgrounds and interests. To date the book club has arguably hosted more authors than any other in the country. In 2008, Webb was honored to have his radio show, Conversations LIVE! Radio (formerly "Conversations with C. A. Webb), be considered the "It" place for some of the biggest names on television, getting exclusive interviews that were not found anywhere else!

"I knew that God had blessed me with gifts," says Webb,33. "I just wasn't sure to what extent those gifts would be utilized." Before 2003 Webb was mainly known as a spoken word and visual artist as well as someone who shared his talent with the youth, but from an early age those around him knew there was more to come. "I go back and read some of the articles where those I've worked with talk about me and it seems almost surreal," he says. "Who would have known that my mission to be heard would lead to this?"

Read Part One of the interview here: http://forthepeopleproductions.blogspot.com/2009/06/king-of-conversations-celebrates-six.html

Beginning June '09. Parties Nationwide To Promote Reading

Recently ABC News announced online that stated over 30% of Americans 16 and up are not reading at their suggested level. With all the talk of change in the United States, one thing that is not improving or getting the attention it deserves is the importance of reading and the seemingly never-ending problem of illiteracy. To combat this dangerous trend,Shadow Play Entertainment, Conversations Book Club and those associated with The Write Stuff literacy campaign will be hosting reading parties across the country. The theme for these events is "JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get Hooked on Books".

Hosted by Cyrus A. Webb, President of Conversations Book Club, host of Conversations LIVE! Radio and Executive Producer of The Write Stuff Reality Show, each party is designed to allow book lovers to come together for networking, to meet authors from the area as well as to discuss how they can work together to promote reading. Beginning June 1, 2009 the northern leg of the tour begins (see below).

Monday, June 1, 2009--- Philadelphia PA *** Join us at the Comfort Inn Philadelphia Airport * 53 Industrial Hwy * Philadelphia, PA 19029 from 5-9p.m. The event will include networking, open mic and a discussion on what we can do to help encourage reading among others. Special guests include Adele of Adele's Literacy Library. Admission free, but bring the donation of a book to help our cause!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009---Flint, MI *** Join us at the Comfort Inn Airport * 2361 Austlin Parkway * Flint, MI 48507 from 5-9p.m. Flint's own Mark Eller, author of TRAITOR, will have a booksigning beginning at 6p.m. This will be followed by a discussion on what we can do to help encourage reading among others. Admission free, but bring the donation of a book to help our cause!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 ---Chicago, IL *** Join us at the Comfort Inn * 4005 Gabrielle Lane * Chicago/Aurora,IL 60504 from 5-9p.m. Special guests include Nikki Shallwani from MTV's 50 CENT: The Money & The Power. Enjoy networking, an open mic event as well as a discussion on what we can do to help encourage reading among others. Admission free, but bring the donation of a book to help our cause!

Thursday, June 4, 2009--- Indianapolis, IN *** Join us at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center * 2930 Waterfront Parkway West Drive * Indianapolis, IN 46214 from 5-9p.m. The event will include networking, an open mic event as well as a discussion on what we can do to encourage reading among others. Admission free, but bring the donation of a book to help our cause!

Friday, June 5, 2009 --- Louisville, KY *** Join us at the Comfort Suites Airport * 6535 Paramont Park Dr. * Louisville, KY 40213 from 5-9p.m. The event will include networking, an open mic event as well as a discussion on what we can do to encourage reading among others. Admission free, but bring the donation of a book to help our cause!

(To see when we will be in each city visit this link: http://thewritestufftv.webs.com/twsreadingparties.htm )Each is free and open to the public, however, those who attend are asked to bring a new or gently used book as a donation that will go to either the Read Across America Project, CityKids Foundation, the Common Ground Foundation, Everybody wins, Adele's Literary Library, Reading Tree or a library in need within that particular city.

   These events are sponsored in part by For The People Productions, Hype Magazine, NuSouth Magazine, Industry Standard Magazine, Poetic Monthly and Crunk Magazine. 

To find out more about the reading parties or other parts of the literary campaign,  visit http://www.thewritestufftv.com. For more information about the project and how you can get involved, contact Herschel Dixon at 1.502.994.7852 or Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com.

Tray Chaney of HBO's The Wire named National Spokesperson for The Writ e Stuff

Shadow Play Entertainment and its literary sponsors are proud to announce that Actor/Author/Recording Artist Tray Chaney has been named one of the national celebrity spokespersons for The Write Stuff Literacy Campaign.

"Tray is just the type of individual we need to be part of the face of our movement," says Cyrus A. Webb*, President of Shadow Play Entertainment, host of Conversations LIVE! Radio and Founder of The Write Stuff Literacy Campaign. "He has been living proof of the importance of education and reading, and the success he has enjoyed goes to show what is possible with hard work." Chaney joins Derrick Hargrove and Nikki Shallwani from MTV's 50 Cent: The Money & The Power in supporting the cause of reading.

Tray Chaney has been building his brand since the age of eight, having appeared on Showtime At The Apollo, written the autobiography The Truth You Can't BeTray and starred as Poot in the hit HBO series The Wire. Currently he is working on several projects including his debut album featuring the single Delima with Jazz from Dru Hill.

The Write Stuff Literacy Campaign is a national project geared at bringing awareness to not only reading but areas where extra help is needed in The United States. As part of his relationship with The Write Stuff, Chaney will be one of the most visible aspects of the project's message.

To find our more information about The Write Stuff or Tray Chaney visit http://www.thewritestufftv.com or contact Herschel Dixon at 1.502.994.7852.

* Webb interviewed Tray Chaney for Conversations Magazine as well as Conversations LIVE! Radio. To read the print edition, click here: http://thewritestufftvofficialblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/mulit-media-personality-tray-chaney.html . The radio edition of the Tray Chaney interview is here: http://tinyurl.com/dnzezp .

Fri. May 15, 2009: Join us for "The Business of Books"

 On Friday, May 15, 2009 Conversations LIVE! Radio presents one of its most celebrated monthly segements: "The Business of Books"!
Authors Paul Hutchins, Kimberly Cheryl, Dr. Diane Hassan and Nesta A. Aharoni talk about their beginnings as writers, the challenges and rewards as well as their advice to aspiring writers who want to take the leap into print.

This discussion can be heard live beginning at 7p.m. CST (8p.m. EST/5p.m. PT) by visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or listening via the switchboard at 1.347.426.3645.