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.

Listen to Conversations LIVE!'s interview with Tray Chaney here

Did you miss C. A. Webb's exclusive interview with Actor/Author/Recording artist Tray Chaney on Conversations LIVE! Radio? If so, listen to the podcast here:  http://tobtr.com/s/518431

Best known for his role as Poot on HBO's The Wire, Chaney talks about his first taste of fame at the age of 8, how his family has encouraged his career, exactly how he balances his life and work and what is involved in building the Tray Chaney brand. During the interview you hear two of his singles: "Baby Let's Go" and "Dilema" as well as hear him talk about his autobiography The Truth You Can't BeTray and why he supports The Write Stuff Literacy Campaign.

Missed other interviews on Conversations LIVE! Radio? Visit http://www.conversationsliveradio.com to download them for FREE.

Tray Chaney of HBO's The Wire on Conversations LIVE! Today

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009

Actor/Author/Recording artist Tray Chaney, best known for his role on HBO's The Wire will give an exclusive interview to Cyrus A. Webb of Conversations LIVE! Radio on Friday, May 8, 2009 at 7p.m. CST (8p.m. EST)

During this special primetime interview, Chaney will talk about his first taste of fame at the age of 8, how his family has encouraged his career, exactly how he balances his life and work and what is involved in building the Tray Chaney brand. He will also be dubuting his single Delima featuring Jazz of Dru Hill as well as talking about his autobiography and why he supports The Write Stuff Literacy Campaign.

This is an interview you don't want to miss. To listen live, simply visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or call the switchboard at 1.347.426.3645.

Conversations Book Club Reveals Its "Top 20 Summer Reads 2009"

It is one of the most powerful lists that Conversations Book Club puts together each year. The books that make the list are from authors and genre that book club President Cyrus A. Webb have personally read and has put his stamp of approval upon. Now as the first issue in 2009 of Conversations Magazine prepares to be released, the book club is pleased to unveil those who make up the "Top 20 Summer Reads" of 2009!

(Click on the graphic above to enlarge)

Listed in no particular order, here are the books and their authors who Conversations Book Club and its 10 chapters feel should be on your "Must Have" list as you make your summer plans. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!

To see the titles and authors, click this link:

http://authorswelove.blogspot.com/2009/05/conversations-presents-its-top-20.html