MS State Flag Forum: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Shadow Play Entertainment, Conversations Book Club and its literary partners have just two words to say about their latest forum regarding the Mississippi State Flag: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

A big thank you goes out to the panelists (Zane Bell, Dudley Sykes, Eddie Wright, Kia Stokes and Deanna Tisdale) for a job well done. Thank you to the Jackson Advocate Newspaper, The Clarion Ledger and the Pearl Public Library for helping get the word out, and to the dozens who came to be a part of the discussion. The conversation was thoughtful, all sides were well represented, and a common thread emerged: the need for the state to come together and recognize what unites us as well as what makes us unique.

What will be discussed in November? We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 the town-hall style discussion at the Pearl Public Library (Pearl, MS) will be "RACIAL PRIDE: A Thin Line Between Love & Hate?". We hope to see you there. For details, continue to visit http://www.thebestbookclub.info.

Author Kia Stokes sells out JSU Bookstore, expands to new stores

Author Kia Stokes sold out JSU Bookstore's (Jackson, MS) 30 plus copies of her book UNBOUND in less than two hours on Thursday, October 23, 2008--- surprising the management and exciting booklovers by her presence.

In what was her first official booksigning since the book was released earlier in the month, Kia greeted visitors to the store, talked about her book and signed copies for patrons.






Missed Kia's visit or don't have your copy of the book? JSU Bookstore's stock has been replenished and can now be found at Milestone Christian Bookstore (Pearl, MS) and the Family Christian Bookstores in Jackson, MS and Ridgeland, MS.
Visit Kia online at http://www.kiastokes.com. For more information or to schedule meetings and interviews contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

JUST IN: Conversations Reveals Its "Top 100 of 2008"

What a year 2008 has been! Through the Conversations brand (book club, television broadcast, radio broadcast, magazine, website) there has been hundreds of books read, hundreds of authors interviewed, tons of discussions about the music and books coming into the market as well as an appreciation for the role that music and sports play in the minds of those we want to get addicted to reading. Out of it all, we have had to narrow it down to fit our "Top 100 of 2008" ---but with a twist. Since we have added music to our equation, we decided to break down our list this way: The Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008, The Top 25 Musical Supporters of Literacy of 2008 and The Top 50 Fiction Titles of 2008.  Since Conversations Book Club and its literary partners are committed to a universal look at the arts, there is a wide variety of genres and ethnicities on our list. One thing you can be sure of is that there is truly something for readers of all literary tastes.

 

Conversations' Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008

http://readingmylips.blogspot.com/2008/10/conversations-presents-its-top-25-non.html

 

Conversations' Top 25 Musical Performers of 2008

http://readingmylips.blogspot.com/2008/10/conversations-presents-its-top-25.html

 

Conversations' Top 50 Fiction Titles of 2008

http://readingmylips.blogspot.com/2008/10/conversations-presents-its-top-50.html

 

Enjoy our selections, and remember to share them with your family and friends. This is one addiction that is worth passing around.

 

Cyrus A. Webb, President

Conversations Book Club

http://www.thebestbookclub.info http://www.hiphopandbooks.com http://www.ballinwithbooks.com

Conversations Presents Its "Top 25 Musical Supporters of 2008"

Conversations Book Club welcomed several recording artists into its fold during 2008 to aid with its "Hiphop and Books" Literacy Campaign. "Hiphop and Books" was created to use recording artists in encouraging music fans not to forget the importance of reading and staying in school. Here we recognize our "Top 25 Musical Supporters of 2008". (Arranged in no particular order)

 

1. C-Murder
2. Sean Simmonds
3. Omega Red
4. Mika Means and the ladies of The Girls Club
5. Donna Summers
6. The Patrick Smith Band
7. Big G
8. Jacki-O
9. Ondrea Nicole
10. Jack Squad
11. C. O. D. All-Stars
12. Playa Connected
13. Status Quo
14. Josh Gates
15. Jon Boy
16. Dj Down South
17. The Dream Team Stars
18. C. James
19. Babs Bunny
20. Mike Jones
21. Eddie Wright
22. Duane Scott
23. Kidd Russell
24. Shawdy Jizzle
25. K. Lipsey

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

 

 

Conversations Presents its "Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008"

Conversations Book Club is pleased to announce its "Top 25 Non-Fiction Titles of 2008". There are so many true-life accounts on the market right now, however, these are the ones that we feel should be on your bookshelves and centerpieces in your discussions.

(Listed in no particular order)

 

1. "Resilience" by Alonzo Mourning
2. "Look Me In The Eye" by John Elder Robison
3. "Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration" by Marcia Ann Gillespie, Rosa Johnson Butler and Richard A. Long
4. "Mississippi's Uncovered Glory" by Jerome Gentry
5. "Rollin' With Dre" by Bruce Williams
6. "Rewriting The Script" by Arlether Wilson
7. "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story" by Robert Gallagher
8. "From Pieces To Weight" by 50 Cent
9. "Prince Among Slaves" by Terry Alford
10. "Hard Times & Great Blessings" by Kenneth F. Worth
11. "War of the Bloods In My Veins" by Jiwe
12. "Shattered Reality" by Kimberly Cheryl
13. "It Never Rains In Tiger Stadium" by John Ed Bradley
14. "No Place Safe" by Kim Reid
15. "How To Wow" by Frances Cole Jones
16. "Laying Down My Burdens" by Brenda L. Thomas
17. "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop
18. "How To Get Out of Debt" by Harrine Freeman
19. "The Day I Stopped Being Pretty" by Rodney Lofton
20. "Hiding In Hiphop" by Terrance Dean
21. "Do Travel Writers Go To Hill" by Thomas Kohnstamm
22. "I Don't Want To Die All Alone" by Joseph Henderson
23. "The Enemy Between My Legs" by Stephanie L. Jones
24. "Teach With Your Heart" by Erin Gruwell
25. "Zoom Power" by Monica Carter Tagore

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

Conversations Presents its "Top 50 Fiction Titles of 2008"

Conversations Book Club is pleased to announce its "Top 50 Fiction Titles of 2008". There are so many books that have come into the market during 2007 and 2008, however, these are the ones that we feel should be on your bookshelves.

(Listed in no particular order)

 

1. "Possession" by Da'Neen Hale
2. "The Street Life Series 2: Is It Passion or Revenge?" by Kevin M. Weeks
3. "Brothers" by James Fredericks
4. "Mpire Series: In Search of the Lost" by T. L. James
5. "Running From Mercy" by Terra Little
6. "Every Secret Crime" by Doug M. Cummings
7. "Grown & Gangsta" by Jacki-O
8. "Murder on the Down Low" by Pamela Samuels-Young
9. "Children of Abraham" by R. L. Martin
10. "Sweet Dreams" by Nikkea Smithers
11. "Pieces of the Hole" by Tony Lindsay
12. "Daughter Denied" by Alretha Thomas
13. "A Rich Man's Baby" by Daaimah S. Poole
14. "Unbound" by Kia Stokes
15. "My Son's Wife" by Shelia E. Lipsey
16. "When Destinies Meet" by V. L. Green
17. "Yellow Moon" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
18. "My Soul Cries Out" by Sherri L. Lewis
19. "Scota's Curse" by Dudley Sykes
20. "Hot Mahogany" by Stuart Woods
21. "Faces of Fear" by John Saul
22. "Too Little, Too Late" by Victoria Christopher Murray
23. "Always and Forever" by Gretchen Craig
24. "Ex-Terminator" by Suzetta Perkins
25. "Electric Honey" by Sam Love
26. "Gettin' Caught Up Wit Nina" by P. Elaine Archie
27. "Keyshia & Clyde" by Treasure E. Blue
28. "Dare" by Abiola Abrams
29. "Final Fling" by Torrian Ferguson & Brian W. Smith
30. "Journey To Love" by Peter Gebeshian
31. "Pulpit Confessions" by Peron Long
32. "Stackin' Paper" by Joy King & Joe Joe
33. "Just Too Good To Be True" by E. Lynn Harris
34. "Divorcing The Devil" by Dwan Abrams
35. "Still Dirty" by Vickie Stringer
36. "Sandrine's Letter To Tomorrow" by Dedra Johnson
37. "Of Blood and Sorry" by Valerie Wilson Wesley
38. "The Messiah" by Lee Hayes
39. "Unfaithful" by Devin Scott
40. "The Prayer Chest" by August Gold & Joel Fotinos
41. "Unholy Birth" by Andrew Neiderman
42. "Searchable Whereabouts" by Tinisha Nicole Johnson
43. "My Secrets, Your Lies" by N'Tyse
44. "Memories Vision" by Ken Coleman
45. "Love Don't Live Here No More" by Snoop Dogg
46. "Deadly Sins, Deadly Secrets" by Sylvia Dickey Smith
47. "She Had It Coming" by Mary Monroe
48. "Love Tornado" by Mable John
49. "The Ties That Bind" by Electa Rome Parks
50. "Palace Council" by Stephen L. Carter

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

Author John Floyd Word Search---Try It Out!

Author John Floyd Word Search

I E N S R L P M P B Y B T S E E F D R A O N D A M M T L A N Y A O P B R I H M N S A I Y T D O O I L B O A U I M G N U N P U R L R O R R S N G Y S N Y N K R A I F A Y D N M R E O D S A C E W A S B L W P S C I L D M I S O N S S I O R D S O I I I U R P T I A T O E O S R R P S E O B N W O E S I B C S N O S A S N P F S D S N A O I A O D D S R O O C L I A W R I C S N W R R Y R L H B P A I I O I I E N D Y R I O W D E A P I M L N N R Y P I K C E A A E O I O N O B R B T P R R I I E R P R S I N N O R I O A M D A H W B D Y A L A S A I Y A Y C I C A D A S E B M S R A A Y E O R S R R R M F E I N I E S V O A S O T E F S P F R O B L A I N F L S I S N R S S D O S R P A M D D B I H R L N I S K O L A E Y E O B O L T D R R I L L M B L P C E O E I G E S U E S B D L E U E D U N S I I E T N W T P A Y E O L N C B S I I R H R O A L O R I O T A E H Y L R S E M O L E N R T E D S D N U O N T Y L N E G R R B S R S Y R R E E N B O O T N R G G P S A I C I E I H I L R R I P A L O O N E E M O T S P A A I N N T M F E K V A R A W O E L T O N R O U A O T A B A D S O O T R B T O R V U S Y Y B U P R E Y I N S P M I Y M R W Y L S D D E O A I T T E R A I D A A A O O M M I B F S A L W L I L R N L B N H U R O I F F I R T S T A D V V N P M E E T M O O L I H R N E P O R R

DogwoodPress mystery adventure humor western Mississippi fantasy romance sciencefiction RainbowsEnd Midnight Borders BooksAMillion PearlLibrary FlowoodLibrary BrandonLibrary

Bestselling author Kevin M. Weeks talks with Conversations LIVE!

Did you miss our exclusive interview with Bestselling author Kevin M. Weeks? If so, listen to it here! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/19/Author-Kevin-Weeks-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE He talks about the beginnings of his writing career, how he has handled the success of the series, what can we expect next from his main character, Teco Jackson, and the youth series that will continue his unique brand. Week's second book in the series, "Is It Passion or Revenge?" was chosen by Conversations Book Club as one of its top books of 2008. Visit http://www.thestreetlifeseries.com to find out why. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/19/Author-Kevin-Weeks-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE

Click on the player or the link below to listen to the Bestselling author Kevin Weeks talks with Conversations LIVE! show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/19/Author-Kevin-Weeks-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE

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Domestic Violence Survivor Betty Ware tells her story to Conversations

Conversations is committed to sharing stories with the world that will empower and inspire its readers. While the country recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want to recount the experience of one survivor of abuse: Betty Ware. In September 2008, she contact Conversations Book Club Founder Cyrus A. Webb from Texas after reading his review of the memoir "I Don't Want To Die All Alone" by Joseph Henderson. The review gave her the opportunity to then tell her story. Conversations is glad to now share it with you.
"I am 68 years old. I have been married twice.The first time was when I was 17 I got married to get out of the children's home that I was raised in along with five siblings. The man I married would not work. All he wanted to do was hunt and fish. So I worked very hard and had three sons and raised them all by myself. After they were grown and out on their own I left their father and started my life over and alone.

"So now we come to my second mariage.I met this man while I was bartending, and he swept me off my feet. At this time I was 48, and he was 35. The age difference did not seem to be a problem. I moved in with him and for a few months everything was great. Then I found out that he was doing all kinds of drugs, some very bad stuff. When I confronted him about this he said he would give it all up if I would stay with him and help him. Well I stayed, but he would not give it up. Sometime's it looked like he was trying. In 1994 he ask me to marry him. I thought he was doing better. So I said 'I Do'. That was my biggest mistake.

"After we were married he got fired from his job for doing drugs. Then I had to work to support us. For a while I did drugs with him, just to get along better. Then I almost died, the drugs caused me to have a mental breakdown. By the GRACE OF GOD I am still here. Now I have a lot of health problems including a back injury that was caused by trying to help him pick us stuff that was to heavy for me to lift. So I can't work anymore. I have to live on social security of $589 per month. At this time he was working but spending most of his money on drugs and his 2 motorcycles.

"We started arguing about how the bills were going to get paid and one thing lead to another. He told me to get out, that this was his house,and he was going to kill me and bury me and no one would even miss me. That was July 17, 2007. The police report (see below) that was done afterwards tells you more of the story. Now we are divorced and a crooked judge and a slick lawyer saw to it that he didn't have to give me anything. We had $67.000 in martial property. He got everything except for my car and the furniture. Thats what I took when I left.


(Click to enlarge)
"As for my domestic violence case, the attorney in justice court dismissed my case because he said the DA's office lost all my paper work. It is all just a big circle of lies. To me it is all about who you are and how much money you got and if you can afford a slick, back stabbing lawyer. I am safe for now. I want to tell my story to whoever it might help: At the very first sign of abuse: Get Out, tell someone, call someone, just GO before they kill you. Don't depend on the LAW To help you. The police are great, but if I have to judge by my case, the court's will not help you."
We hope that Betty's account will encourage more survivors to come forth and tell their story. Abuse is something that none of us should tolerate, no matter who it comes from. Just know that you are not alone.

CBC Extra: Word Search for Book Lovers

 

Author Search (Be careful! Spaces DO count! J Have fun!)

U O J Y E I N N E R E N N O N R R A E D H D N E E E D E R T N   S A N U E E O F H C L E A N G I A O N H S T O N J   K R N A D R D R Y R X E R I B A S R D O E A N H   S E E H A E A   L A E E A E C   A D P M   O E E   O J E N E I E A X A T R   I E   R     L J D L O L A S C   G U R   E C N T S L N B I S T E F L A U T M I D     O R D H N A N N D R E E L D   I R I H I S S A C C N   E D P N P L A X G T S O O G   L L   K L A N H S N D J A U E N L L L Y R T S I I D R N E E Y P J   D D M A T D N L L C U T   R G R A A X   E E O C R R R E T O Y O R N N L N H A E Y B A T L Y E R D E E A E N O R R A R H R R I F E   N R R O   A X D D D L     O S Y Y C E E R A R A D N I J L I T N I L L M H Y E A N H N C E N     E   H U E G D A E U A A T   I   R E S   D S N L R E S G E D S X N A M S R G   Y C   E M G O R G J C   T T C I E W S   S O L O N S P N U R O E E C I N L H D D L E   A E N E R A E A E R K N D A E L H D N N I A R N I Y   N S R M R D D H A I R B A O A T M D   D H R P N N N B A K N E E T N A R N J R D R S B N O O R E N A D J E K R Y D M L N N   A M A   E A J L J D N C     R E A B S U E A E G E O I K L E L G A R L D A N L S A M N A N C E   N I O E A A N L S A A S A O M I E R E G   S D B   K   N C S R M R D K A S F J L E   J   T T I E Y U O R

John Saul L A Banks Brandon Massey Gloria Mallette Francis Ray Gretchen Craig K Elliott C Murder Roy Glenn Sidi Dejon Joy AndrewNeiderman John Shirley Craig Alexander Caleb Alexander Che Parker Fon James Darden North Joe Lee