MARY'S MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE

                                  THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT

I want you to think about your life up to 11:59 pm last night. What was weighing heavy on your heart? Was it your finances, health challenges, difficult relationships, employment issues, politics, the economy, marital difficulties; what was weighing you down?

Now, reflect on your life at this very moment, close your eyes and reflect on your life. Who are you angry with or whom did you have a rift with. Is there unfinished business with your spouse, your child, your parents, a friend, a sibling, a neighbor, co-workers or are you simply in conflict with yourself.

 What are your regrets: Failing to address your goals, not exploring your passions, failing to set aside time for family or friends. Perhaps, regrets due to wasted years abusing drugs, sex and alcohol; or years wasted being abusive towards others.

Perhaps, you regret not investing time in cultivating Love, Joy and Peace within your life. Many regret not putting value into developing a healthy relationship with GOD.

For many it is so very easy to say, “Live each day as though it where your last.” How many times have we encouraged, instructed or pleaded with others to treasure each and every moment. And for many such as myself, it has been told to us by individuals on their death bed.

Now let’s play it forward. It’s Monday morning and you are notified that this will be your last week here on earth. Your stay has come to an end because others are being born to leave their mark and create their legacy. Did you forget that your journey was simply a short visit? What would you do…What are you going to do?

-          What would be weighing on your heart?

-          Who would be weighing on your heart and what words will you convey to them?

-          What anger would you continue to harbor?

-          What anger would you release?

-          Who would you make peace with?

Oh the places you would journey too and the people you would make time to see. I’m sure that you would make a pack with yourself to treasure and embrace that week. Perhaps, wishing deep within your soul there was more time. I’m certain that you would live that week with few regrets but most importantly, you would let go of every stressor and negative thought and cling to LOVE. Within that moment you would align with LOVE and you would treasure all that is dear to you; while wishing you had “more time” to make things right.

If you awoke this morning, you have been granted just that; additional time. What are you going to do with your additional time? If you do nothing else…embrace it, celebrate it and cling to it. And treasure not only this day but live each and every day as though it were your last.

Love, Peace and Endless Joy,                                                                                                                                                                                   

Mary E. Gilder

Mary E. Gilder is the author of the award winning novel, “A Misrepresentation of Myself.” Mary can be contacted at: meg@maryegilder.com or bookclubs.maryegilder@yahoo.com. Also, visit her website at: maryegilder.com

BOOK REVIEW: "Death Will Extend your Vacation" by Elizabeth Zelvin

CONVERSATIONS BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Liz Zelvin Brings Her Characters To Life In DEATH WILL EXTEND YOUR VACATION

This was my first book in Elizabeth Zelvin's DEATH Series to read, but it was one that definitely makes me want to know more about the characters readers get a chance to meet.

Zelvin gives us individuals who have learned to address their personal demons and now are in a position to not only help others but use their abilities to solve a crime or two in the process.

Bruce Kohler and his friends find themselves in the middle of a mysterious set of circumstances while in the Hamptons, and it falls on them to figure out not only what is going on but who is not exactly what they appear to be.

There are so many layers to this book that will draw readers of various genres in. There is the mystery that I mentioned, and those who like a little suspense and drama will appreciate that. There is also the complexities of not just Kohler and his friends Barbara and Jimmy but those they meet in the group house that will keep your attention. They are imperfect individuals trying to make the most of life, not always being able to succeed.

DEATH WILL EXTEND YOUR VACATION comes to life for the reader because of the way the author is able to draw you in with the storyline and the characters. Once you start reading it you will definitely be hooked, and what more could a reader want from a book!

Find out more about Zelvin and her other work at www.elizabethzelvin.com.

BOOK REVIEW: LETTERS TO A MIXED RACE SON by Frank E. Robinson, Jr.

In a world that continues to grapple with notions of race, a loving father writes a series of letters that speak into the life of his biracial son. In the book’s foreword, Bishop Charles Blake introduces us to Frank Robinson and these Letters To a Mixed Race Son.

In 1984, Frank Robinson was a young minister serving in southern Alabama, when word got out that he was engaged. It would be an interracial marriage, which quickly became a local controversy, both scandalous and dangerous. This marriage was announced not long after a lynching in one of the neighboring areas. For safety, their first child was born across the state line. Frank began to understand that if he did not survive, his wife would be left a widow and his son without a father. With this in mind, he began to write letters that would survive in a book. He intended to say the things a father should say and to equip his son to live a meaningful life. Further, even when this son was so young, the letters were written as to a man, so that when the boy became a man, he could have this book. This father writes about identity, character and the timeless responsibility of men and fathers. He speaks of courage as one faces life, hardship and injustice. He tells his son of perseverance, humility and faith, of how to deal with disappointment, criticism, and so much more. These letters were written over years and through seasons of difficulty. The author reminds his son to never forget what struggle is like.

This book tells of a unique and interesting journey. The mixed race son has grown up, is now married, a new father and a military officer, who serves his country during a time of war. In 2011, about twenty five years after the project started, Frank Robinson gave the hand written original book of letters to his son, who has already begun to write letters to his own child. The author has read a few of these letters to some scarred and damaged people. He found the words he wrote to his own son, were medicating to the sons and daughters of others. Further, these letters may help the reader to see the world a little differently and possibly to find a better self. This work is heartfelt, moving and refreshing, ultimately a rich, deep and encouraging piece of literature.

LETTERS TO A MIXED RACE SON is available on Amazon.com.


CONVERSATIONS BOOK CLUB REVIEW: Through Frank Robinson, Jr.'s LETTERS TO A MIXED RACE SON We Better Understand Our Own Place In The World 

There are so many things in the world that seem to separate us. For many race is the one thing that makes us different, but in Frank E. Robinson, Jr.'s book LETTERS TO A MIXED RACE SON we are able to glean the importance of who we are instead of what we look like.

In a series of letters to his son that span over a decade, we are able to read how the father shares not only his thoughts about his son but the lessons he has learned along the way. Robinson's faith leads us to remind his son of the importance of being authentic and true to himself and respecting all life. There are personal areas of the book where we see how the father deal with challenges in his home, but writes that he tries his best to shield his son from the worries that sometime cloud the household. We are also able to see how the father is able to share God's word with his son in a way that is practical and not preachy or condemning.

One of my favorite lessons comes in a letter dated July 18, 1990. Robinson writes this: "A good name...is worth protecting. I am what God has called me to be. I am who He has made me to be and I have what He has given to me. My definition involves Him. Another person's labeling of you or me may or may not be accurate. So what? I know who I am."

That is something all of us can take away from this heartwarming account. It is the heart and all that comes from it that matters. That is what we should focus on, and in the end that is what will sustain us through the difficulties that we face.

No matter where you're from or what you look like, Frank Robinson, Jr.'s LETTERS TO A MIXED RACE SON helps us better understand our own place in the world---and we are better off because of it.

New Issue of Conversations Features Kenny Lattimore, Towanda Braxton, More

Conversations Media Group is pleased to announce that the new issue of Conversations Magazine is available and features individuals who are showcasing their talents and sharing valuable tips on a successful life.

"It's exciting to be able to share these amazing stories," says Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief of Conversations Magazine. "Each individual has something to share that I believe will not only inspire us in our own lives but showcase what is possible for all of us."

The August/September issue features interviews with recording artists Kenny Lattimore, Zeek, Camero (BET's Reed Between The Lines) and Towanda Braxton (Braxton Family Values), actors Jacqueline Fleming (Contraband and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Leif Gantvoort (Desperate Housewives and The Amazing Spiderman) and more.

The issue can be purchased now for $6.99, shipping included at www.conversationsmag.com or at the button below.

BOOKS ARE SEXY: Author Mateo Tabatabai

by Cyrus Webb


Some might take a look at this photo of Denmark's own Mateo Tabatabai and automatically make assumptions about who he is or what he does. I would venture to say that most would be wrong.


Some ladies might be attracted to what he looks like more than what he does, but I can tell you that Mateo has written probably one of the most powerful books on embracing your inner greatness that I have read this year. THE MIND-MADE PRISON helps us to see the importance of not just thinking outside the box, but escaping the box altogether. 


Thanks to modern technology I was able to catch up with Mateo to discuss what led him to write the book, what he hopes readers take away from it and what being sexy means to him.


***


Mateo, thanks for taking the time to speak with our readers here at Conversations. I want to talk with you about your book THE MIND-MADE PRISON in a moment, but I want to begin by your outlook on life. It seems like to me at a time when some have given up on the future, you have remained optimistic. What do you attribute that optimism to? Has it always been easy for you to look at what we call "the bright side"?

This is a great question. I definitely haven't always been optimistic about life or the opportunities that it presents. As a matter of fact I used to be quite negative and could always find something that wasn't good enough as it was. I remember going on a vacation when I was 17 years old and all I could do was find problems about the place, and I even tried paying extra money so that I could return back home a week earlier than originally planned. Looking back on this experience now, I know that there was nothing wrong with the place I had travelled to and the real problem was my mindset and general outlook on life. 

I attribute my outlook on life on a lot of different factors, but the main reason behind my optimism is that I have fully realized that negativity doesn't help anything at all. I am very aware of my thoughts and emotions and simply will not accept any whining, complaining or negativity from my mind. I see existence itself as the greatest blessing and feel that being ungrateful (no matter how good or bad your life situation might be) is a slap in the face of my Creator. 

What has it been like for you to share not only your outlook with the world but see how it is making a difference in the lives of others as well?

Well, it has been one of the greatest feelings ever. I have worked with people for the last 6 years and it is an absolute pleasure to help someone overcome a challenge that used to seem insurmountable. However, I am very aware of the fact that helping people starts with helping yourself. We have enough preachers who want to shove their beliefs into your life and give you the "truth" and what we really need are more people who strive to create peace in the world through the practice of self-peace. If I am arrogant, ego based, unable to feel empathy, angry, fearful and so on, there is no way that I can help others and this drives me to work on improving myself every single day of my life. 

The book THE MIND-MADE PRISON is really fascinating to me because it helps me to appreciate how much we play a direct role in our own success and failure. Talk with us about what led you to write the book, and what you hope readers will take away from it?

I finally wrote the book because my friends and social circle kept telling me that this information needed to get out there. I knew that the information shared in the Mind-Made Prison was very potent because it had already helped the lives of hundreds of people I had worked with. Therefore it seemed like the natural solution to share this information with a larger audience, help more people and even be able to make an additional income from doing what I love the most. I hope people go away with a clear understanding of the step by step system on how they can completely change their life, thoughts and emotions after reading the book. 

Like with any prison, there is a way out. Sometimes we just have to wake up to the fact that we have the key already. How has that knowledge helped you in overcoming fear and living your life with purpose?

It has been absolutely invaluable, but I also understand that a happy and fulfilled life is not a destination but rather something that you strive for in every second of your life. You can always feel more bliss, peace and fulfillment and therefore it is important to keep letting go of energy wasters life fear, low self-esteem, lying etc. 

Your feature, Mateo, is under our BOOKS ARE SEXY column. We are also using this issue of the magazine to talk about the sexiness that comes with confidence, intelligence and self-love. What is sexy to you?

Sexy to me is being able to put yourself out there and let the world see 100% of who you truly are. There is nothing more attractive than someone who is willing to put themselves on the line and shine as a star, with no regard to fear, insecurities etc. This is easier said than done and in order to be able to do this, you first need to go inside and figure out who you really are. 

Thanks again for this time. How can our readers find out more information about you and get their copy of the book?

It is my pleasure! Readers who are interested in more information can simply go to amazon.com and search for my book title "The Mind-Made Prison". You can also add me on facebook "Mateo Tabatabai". 

PROFILE: Authors Anthony Barrow and Tracey "Big Tray Deee" Davis

by Cyrus Webb

California natives Anthony Barrow and Tracey "Big Tray Deee" Davis could have just been two individuals sitting in prison feeling sorry for themselves, but that was not their way. Driven by unending passion and a determination to be heard, the two have partnered together to pen a gritty yet explosive urban thriller called STREETZ GON CRY.

Published by LeNoir Publications, the book not only shares the literary skills of these two men but a story that is definitely resonating with readers and getting people to take notice.

Through the publisher I was able to send an email interview to both Barrow and Big Tray Deee about the literary experience for them, what they hope you as readers get from the book and what being published authors mean for them and what they might do in the future.

Thank you Anthony and Tracey for allowing readers of Conversations Magazine to learn more about you and your new book STREETZ GON CRY. Let's go back. What originally led you to begin writing?

A. B.: What lead me to writing was a simple challenge I endured by creating a story that is West Coast based; which lead to a passion and a desire to fill a void in the urban genre by writing novels with a West Coast feel. After I read many novels that were based on the East Coast, I felt compelled to write as an outlet by expressing realistic issues that represents the West Coast in the form of fiction.

T. D.: I began penning my autobiography when I was about four years into my present incarceration. I soon realize that I had not yet accomplished enough of my long-term goals, so I backed up from that project. I’ve certainly read enough books and have a decent enough command of the English language to believe that I have the ability to write professionally. In my younger teenage years, I enjoyed Donald Goines, Harold Robbins and Sidney Sheldon, among other authors. Eventually, Robert Ludlum became my favorite author, as espionage was my preferred genre. Which is ironic because many of the foreign locations and landmarks written of in those stories, I wound up visiting on world tours that I attended with Snoop Dogg back in the mid 1990’s, such as London, Germany and Switzerland.

Most stories that I have read have an agenda right from the beginning, be it fiction or non-fiction. What did you want readers to take away from STREETZ GON CRY?

A. B.: True, most stories do have agendas right from the beginning and this is why I feel Streetz Gon’ Cry is unique, because my co-author and myself chose to express the characters agendas first; from Johnté’s wanting to play professional ball to S-Mack’s desire of power and wealth. We did this in order to show how one could get thrown off their path at any given moment. The storyline was created through a course of events that’s relevant today in real life, while sustaining a fictional plot that we used to entertain our readers. My aim for the reader to take from Streetz Gon’ Cry is that everything in life has a price that can’t always be brought with money; rather it be negative or positive.

T. D.: That life in Los Angeles, known widely as both The City of Angels as well as the Capital of Gang-Bangin’ has its own style, its own vibe and its own modus operandi. There are certain ways about us that outsiders consider to be crazy, or at the very least extreme. However, those of us who are products of the lifestyle and the adherents of the rules and regulations which govern us, in what is basically still the Wild West, view what we do as normal, routine and par for the course. The common American, African-American included, has no social comprehension of the chasm created amidst a people by mere colors and words (i.e. “cuz” and “Blood”). The wrong hue or wrong vocal address in the wrong environment could be the cause of someone, or several someone’s lying dead in the street. Regardless whether it makes any sense to you or anyone else or not, such activities and mind states do exist amongst our particular subculture. Yet, instead of perpetuating the stereotypical separation and enmity of Crips vs. Bloods, Mr. Barrow and I chose to expose the reality that two sets within the same fraction could also possess that same sense and degree of opposition. So, pardon the grandiloquent, yet actually just in fact roundabout manner in my answering your question, but I hoped that readers would enjoy “Streetz Gon’ Cry” as a jewel that reflect a few of the many prisms that makes Black life so interesting, attractive (Whether for reasons positive or negative) and marketable.

One of the things that struck me about the novel was that loyalty could sometimes be misplaced. Is that something you have experienced personally, and what do you hope especially young readers take away from that lesson?

T. D.: I pray that we are fortunate enough to attract a young readership. For the more experienced and mature reader “Streetz Gon’ Cry” will likely be found interesting, entertaining and hopefully well written. For the youth, it can enlighten them to the perils of engaging in the criminal lifestyle, allow them to consider the possible consequences of pledging allegiance to a gang or encourage them to pursue the opportunity that Johnté had in school, if they possess any particular athletic ability, and to not become sidetracked by the allure of the streets or from the influence of someone they look up to. Include a family member. That is also one of the pitfalls of loyalty; misplaced or otherwise. That being our proclivity to invest so much of ourselves, time and attention-wise, to supporting many individuals who don’t respect, but definitely appreciate as well as benefit from what we individually bring to the table. You know that term we use, “buster” or “busta” when we speak of those we perceive to be in violation of the unwritten G-code? Well, I think perfect example is someone, especially a man, who leeches off the strength of someone else and pretends that it’s their own. Have I experienced it personally? Umm, let me think about that one… (laughs)

A. B. : Yes I have experienced misplaced loyalty and what I hope young readers take away from that lesson is to let their loyalty be earned, not given. And let your loyalty be based on loyalty and let your bond be based on a bond and not to confuse the two; and to always be loyal to yourself first.

Your book proves that words can have an impact. What would you want others to think of when they hear your name mentioned in the literary world?

T. D.: Although it seems to be an innate reaction to resent an individual who transaction from one field into another and has equal success, if I could receive the same or even similar accolades from both my peers (other authors) and readers alike as I do within the music industry, that would be gigantic to and for me. Allahu Akbar, (God is the Greatest). Honestly, if when my name is mentioned the congratulators say “Big Tray Deee does his damn thang,” then I’m good.

A. B. : What I would want readers to think of when my name is mentioned in the literary world is that they are appreciated and that my gratitude is expressed by my giving them the best book I can write by putting time and thought in my novel and that after reading a book written by me you’ll finish it with something to take with you. My goal as an author is to contribute to the urban genre with literature that’s not only for entertainment but also thought provoking and to grasp substance, giving understanding in the world where I originate from.

Everyone has their own idea of what success is. Have you thought about what success would look like for you as an author? 

T. D.: Of course I have! A distinguished, curved tobacco pipe dangling from the left corner of my mouth and a snifter of brandy-flavored fruit juice. (I don’t drink) in front of me leaning in my favorite recliner, scratching my golden retriever, “Muffy”, behind her ears. Seriously though, if I could put out one good book every year that received a fair degree of critical acclaim, and one day have author become equal to rap artist when my name gets mentioned, I would regard that as being a success. Indeed.

A. B.: Success to me as an author is me being acknowledged as an author with mu consistency to continue to keep giving my readers new material.

I finished the book with the thought that it shows that all of our actions have consequences but not always futures that have hope. Would you agree with that, and if there is a bigger lesson to be learned, what would you say it is? 

T. D.: I agree. That is a very accurate assessment and break down. Like you stated, all of our actions have consequences attached to them. It is the same as saying every action causes a reaction. On the other interpretation you posed of futures not having hope, yes, on one hand one’s lifestyle choice can certainly lower their expectation of a trouble-free and extended age future but regardless of that even there is always hope in life. That right there might be the biggest lesson.

A.B.: I disagree, because I believe all futures have hope, but it’s up to the individual to determine is the future they desire worth manifesting. If not, to have the courage and strength to switch paths. I feel the biggest lesson to be learned is that you don’t have to settle nor expect what’s given. Circumstances and obstacles are only permanent if you accept them. Maintain your lesson and learn from them.

When it comes to writing, any advice you would like to share with aspiring writers based on your own experiences?

A. B.: Yes, get your story on paper out your mind, write and rewrite, until you story is told how you vision it.

T. D.: Please don’t undertake writing like everybody and they mama have all tried their hand at rapping! This is a craft that requires imagination, ingenuity and a demand on one’s time. Be committed to giving it your all if you decide to pursue it. If you are not a good speller, you may be able to get by if you have a good editor. If you’re a horrible speller, find help immediately because you’re too damned old to be spelling like the dumbest kid in school. Always write about something that you have a respectable degree of knowledge about. If the most you’ve sold is a five dollar bag of weed, your story about flying in kilos of cocaine from Columbia and partying on 65 ft. yachts in Floridian waters probably won’t be detailed enough to be convincing.

Thank you for your time guys. How can our readers stay in contact with you and keep up with what's coming up next? 
T.D.:  You’re welcome. And thank you for the shine. You might catch me sneaking on Twitter at  @BigTrayDeee or you can look up Ave Money Publishing on Twitter at @AveMoneyLLC or visit my website at www.AveMoney-Publishing.com. Stay watching for our next novel, “Los Angeles Tymez, coming very soon. That will be followed by a solo offering by both myself and Mr. Anthony Barrow. I wish you and all of your readers peach and prosperity. Also, be listening for the bangin’ rap single, “Streetz Gon’ Cry”, featuring artist (and fellow co-author of “Los Angeles Tymez”) J Dee, of Ice Cube’s legendary group, Da Lench Mob, which has already been recorded, mixed and mastered. 

A. B.: Readers can stay connected by following me on Twitter at @BarrowAnthony and @AveMoneyLLC. Also visit online @ www.AveMoney-Publishing.com. Also be on the look out for Los Angeles Tymez – Urban Tales, the new novel by me and my co-author Big Tray Deee.


Get your copy of STREETZ GON CRY at www.lenoirpublications.com and at Amazon.com.

Conversations' Top Summer Reads For All Ages

Conversations Media Group and Conversations Book Club are pleased to announce its choices for "20 Summer Reads For Kids and Teens" for 2012. Hand-picked by book club President Cyrus Webb, these are books that offer something for readers of all ages and are perfect to be read alone or with your friends.

1. "The Berlin Boxing Club" by Robert Sharenow (Harper Teens)
2. "The Sons of Liberty: Death and Taxes" by Alexander Lagos & Joseph Lagos (Random House)
3. "The Chip" by George Jack (Langdon Street Press)
4. "Growing Pains" by K. P. Smith (Doin It Publishing)
5. "The Echoes Inside" by Christopher Gaddis (unknown)
6. "Out of Sight, Out of  Time" by Ally Carter (Disney * Hyperion Books)
7. "BRAGN: Be Real and Great Now" by Zenaida Roy-Almario (BRAGN)
8. "Teenie" by Christopher Grant (Random House)
9. "Of Mouse and Magic" by Allan R. Gall (Two Harbors Press)
10. "Teen Girls Need L.O.V.E." by S. Dodson (Mahogney Ink Publications)
11. "Birds Can Fly and So Can I" by Noa Nimrodi (Grassroots Publishing Group)
12. "Kingdom Keepers: Shell Game" by Ridley Pearson (Disney * Hyperion Books)
13. "L. A. Summer" by Sheryl Mallory-Johnson (Wanasoma Books)
14. "Manuel's Murals" by Jeaninne Escallier-Kato (3L Publishing)
15. "Trouble In Troublesome Creek" by Nancy Kelly Allen (Red Rock Press) 
16. "Hunka Chunka Monkey Shapes Up" by Sam E. Bromley (Jabberwocky Books)
17. "Stuck" by Rhonda Martin (Jabberwocky Books)
18. "The Honey Bunch Kids" by Chental-Song Bembry (Xlibris)
19. "Adventures of Rusty & Ginger Fox" by Tim Ostermeyer (Synergy Books)
20. "The ABC Field Guide to Faeries" by Susanne Alexander-Heaton ( unknown)

For more information about Conversations Book Club's commitment to encouraging reading among individuals of all ages make sure to visit www.conversationsbookclub.com. CONVERSATIONS: Feeding your love of life!

Mary's Motivational Message: Celebrating Father's Day Every Day

The month of June is a beautiful month because it is during this month we set aside time to honor DAD.   

I do believe that with fatherhood comes an opportunity to be exposed to millions of valuable life lessons, life challenges and teachings that provide insight. I would like to set aside a moment to share a few examples that have inspired me throughout the years.

Example 1: The reality of Dads and who they are:

So often we hear and read about the men who are not being good providers or good role models for their children and families. We have all heard the reports of those men who have walked away from their families and have just detached from their responsibilities. Well, trust me when I state that the painting is not a true reflection of the entire portraits depth.  The reality is that those Dad’s who do step up outweigh those who don’t. The majority of fathers are proudly standing on the frontline each and every day for their families, while being the constant protector.

-          They are working extremely hard to ensure that shelter is provided and warm food is on the table.

-          They are inspiring their daughters, encouraging their sons while being emotionally supportive of their wife or significant other.

-          So many of you beautiful DADS make various sacrifices so that your families will have what it is they need to thrive.

My mom once shared with me how my maternal grandfather, who was a proud City Employee,  so often to prolong the purchasing of new work boots, would wrap his torn work boots with duck tap because he felt that the money would be better utilized within the family home.

-          So many Dads are the constant protector. Many times when we think they’re reading the news paper or guarding the remote control, numerous DADS are actually thinking about, “is my wife ok, our my children alright, will the bills be paid this month, are there enough groceries in the cupboards, is everyone ok, am I doing all that I need to do. Am I being the husband and provider GOD has ordered me to be.

-          Not the minority but the majority of men love, cherish and adore their children beyond what we could ever imagine.

Example 2: Pertains to never giving up on your relationship with your children:

Two years ago, a dad was sharing with me, his frustration with his daughter.  Years prior there had been words pertaining to him being absent from her life during her adolescent years. And as a result, they had not spoken in some time. Whatever advice or suggestions I provided, he remained hopeless and bitter. How many of you DADS are filling a void because there is a rift with your child? How many know a DAD who is facing various challenges with their child and is consumed with guilt?  Well, I’m here to say that:

-          It’s never too late to transform your relationship with your child

-          There are some things you can give up on but never give up on cultivating a positive relationship with your child

-          God has the power  with blink of an eye lid to  bring about a healing and deeper understanding

-          Fight for renewal in your relationship with your child and remember that through GOD all things are possible

Example 3: Pertains to Having No Regrets:

For many of us Fathers Day opens up wounds that are trying so desperately to heal. Many of you like myself, had to say good-by to our DAD much too soon. At least you feel that it was too soon. Two years ago my father went in for an outpatient surgery and passed away on the operating table. We had shared a conversation the day before laughing, sharing stories; just having a great time. His last words to me were, “sweetie, Daddy will talk to you tomorrow” but that opportunity never came. I find it difficult searching for father’s day cards and not purchasing one for my dad. I miss my dad so much. I’m so thrilled that whatever we needed to address we did. He knew how I felt and I knew his heart as it pertained to me.

The message to you this Fathers Day morning is this:

 Life is so very short and because we are only here for moment, you don’t have a life time to re event your child and children you don’t have a life time to re invent your DAD. All you have is this moment. Enjoy your DAD, love your DAD, and cherish your DAD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

When was the last time you said Dad I love you, Dad I appreciate you or thank you Dad just because. Well, no better time than today, to get some pep in your step and spoil your daddy.  And as you journey towards Father’s Day, spread the love around, as you are out and about extend a happy Father’s Day to the various Dads that you come into contact with.

And to all of you Dads out there standing on the front line 24/7 for your families, we see you, we honor you, we love you and we want you to know, that even though we set aside this day to treat you like a king and shower you with love, within our hearts we know and acknowledge that Father’s Day is actually every day.

*Mary E. Gilder is the author of the award winning novel, “A Misrepresentation of Myself.” Mary can be contacted at meg@maryegilder.com or bookclubs.maryegilder@yahoo.com. Also, visit her website at: maryegilder.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Teri Broadstreet: Listening When Children Cry

by Cyrus Webb


When we are faced with difficulties in life we have the choice of either letting it define us or learning how to use the experience in making the future better. Teri Broadstreet has chosen to do the latter, and it is paying off in a major way.


I had the opportunity to speak with Teri recently on Conversations LIVE, and I knew after the discussion that she was someone who had to be featured in this issue. 


The founder of the organization When Children Cry, she has taken her experiences as a survivor of abuse and neglect and used it to create a network that provides advocacy, education and support to others. "My Quest is to give each disturbed and wounded child the chance to become the best they can be," she says. And that is exactly what When Children Cry is doing.


So many of us know what needs to be done, but either feel it is not within our power to do it or have become apathetic to the issue, believing that it doesn't affect us. Teri knows differently. She recognizes that any child that is being abuse or neglected will have an affect on the rest of society and the world. Because of this, she is using online resources like Facebook and Twitter among other avenues to bring people together and mobilize them to make a difference wherever they might be.


On her Facebook page she writes this: "Our mission is to help advance unlimited educational resources by Advocating Abuse/Neglect Protection & Prevention of our most vulnerable, helping the Exploited and Missing by providing resources - bring the missing home, helping to eradicate Human Trafficking, helping the damaged & broken children/people living with disabilities, developmental, and mental health anomalies, and the challenges of their families. We are rallying everyone across the globe: our communities, government, labor forces, businesses, faith groups, non-profits, entertainers, musicians, and just ordinary citizens. They cannot do this for themselves. We must help our children!"

Teri Broadstreet is showing all of us what is possible in our lives. We can overcome the adversity of our past and move forward, making sure that what we experienced doesn't happen to others. No matter what has plagued us we can all move from being victim to survivors together, and make a difference no matter where we are.

For more information about the work that Teri is doing visit www.whenchildrencry.com. You can also find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/whenchildrencry.

Conversations Salutes V. C. Andrews

by Cyrus Webb

Anyone who has known me over the past 20 years is quite familiar with my fascination with V. C. Andrews.

I was in junior high school when I was first introduced to her novel FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, and since that time I have been a fan of the dark Gothic tales that seems to always reveal more of myself to me through each book. V. C. Andrews was truly ahead of her time in so many respects: discussing sensitive and even taboo issues like incest, abortion and the very challenges that plague all families that are sometimes swept under the rug. What kept me coming back to her was not just the ability to tell a great story. She was also able to get you into the characters, feeling and experiencing everything they did along the journey.

June 6th of this year she would have been eighty-nine years old. At the time of her death in 1986, V. C. Andrews had over twenty four-million books in print and her estate was worth more than eight million dollars. But her story and that of her characters didn't end there. Even death could not stop her impact on the reading community, as it continues to this very day. Already in 2012 there has been the release of INTO THE DARKNESS, another book that keeps not only the franchise alive but the memory of the woman who started it all.

Perhaps her writing career was cut short, but her impact on the literary world will never die. Therefore, from now until the time her novels stop making its readers gasp, laugh, and/or cry, she will always remain unforgettable in the eyes of her fans.

After her passing another bestselling author has been responsible for crafting tales inspired by V. C. Andrews' genius. His name is Andrew Neiderman, the name best known to movie-goers as the author of the book that inspired the dark tale THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

By the writing of this article, I have interviewed this incredible author almost a half dozen times for Conversations LIVE Radio, and each time it is like catching up with an old friend. He has always been kind, generous with his time as well as humbled by all that he has accomplished. In all Neiderman has published over 100 books. His is a remarkable career, showing his staying power in an industry that has changed dramatically since he first entered the literary scene.

I want to share a part of my most recent conversation with Neiderman here. We talk about his own career and how he came to be the one to carry on the V. C. Andrews franchise. Enjoy!

Andrew, thank you for taking out the time to talk again with Conversations. You have provided a literary voice for years to different generations through your books. What do you feel accounts for your longevity and your appeal with readers?
I have always believed that the key to a good reader is the development of characters. Characters drive your stories. In my case I always begin with a what if question. For example, in NIGHT HOWL, I asked the question what if scientists were transplanting human brain cells into animals to see if they could improved intelligence and they did so with a German shepherd and that German shepherd got free and into population? The What if is there but now we need a character to drive the story and in this case, I chose a naturalist, a woodsman who is hired to track the dog and discovers quickly that it is a changed animal. He's angry science has created this creature, but he is likewise intrigued so he continues the pursuit. Stories, character and some edge or angle that will interest the reader is why I think my stories work well.

If you were asked, how would you define your style?
I began as a poet first so I always think about metaphor and love to write in a style that enables the reader to visualize, even if it is about feelings and thoughts. I am keen on the story moving along so I try to keep everything in the novel somehow related or key to the characters and the plot... no drifting... I always spend time on people, characters so the reader can see, hear the speaker. Worse thing is to overwrite.


One of the things that stands out to me about your career is how you have been able to appeal not just to those who read your books, but also those who watch your stories that are adapted into television movies and features films. Do you think it is important to your success to use every medium at your disposal?
In my particular case I taught film study for 20 years and I'm aware of the importance of visualization. My books lend themselves to other medium because of that and in today's competitive market, it is very good to have the opportunity to drive not only publication but sales with your variety of approaches. Nothing illustrates that as well as my novel, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. The movie opened thousands of readers to my books.

When did you know that it was going to be a writing career that gave you the satisfaction in life that you wanted?
I was actually telling stories in Kindergarten. I knew early on that writing was for me. I loved the written word and I have taken on every possible writing assignment to be involved with it. I have written speeches for candidates, advertising copy, historical information, one-act plays, poems and short stories. I published my first poem when I was in the 8th grade and never looked back. To me, writing is who I am and not what I do.

Was your family receptive of your decisions in the beginning? Tell us about the beginning stages of your writing career.
I had a very supportive family. I grew up with my maternal grandmother from Hungary living with us and she spent hours and hours telling me stories about the Old Country and gypsies and the like. I had an aunt who typed up all my written works for me and I had parents that were very encouraging. My father was a great storyteller as well. I attended Hunter college in the Bronx first and wrote for their literary magazine and then transferred to the State University of New York in Albany and became the editor of the literary magazine. While there, I established, with another student, an underground paper for poetry and short, short stories as well. I then went into teaching and published my first novel in 1971, SISTERS (Stein and Day, Pocketbooks, Inc) and I was off to a writing career that now has 86 published novels and books and one collection of one-act plays attributed to it, as well as two made screenplays.

I think we all have defining moments in our lives where we see that the path we are on is going to work or not. When did you see things lining up the way you wanted them to professionally?
My career began with SISTERS, but it wasn't until the publication of PIN that I knew I was headed for bigger things. PIN was a major best selling thriller for Pocketbooks and eventually a feature film. That began my pursuit with more ambition and vigor. It resulted in a multi-book contract and then eventually, another with Putnam-Berkley.


Has there been a time, Andrew, when you look at the other books that are coming out in your genre and feel the need to compete in order to stay relevant? How have you remained true to who you are as an author?
You don't compete in the sense of an athlete, but you keep up with what is selling and you study what it is that makes other authors and their works successful. You can't change who you are, but you grow and develop and hone your skill and talent along the way. A major author with whom I had lunch one day told me he was jealous of me because one of my novels had become a studio blockbuster... The Devil's Advocate, which cost 67 million to make. He had never a major budget movie, but he was making ten times what I was. Still, that shows how people envy the guy next door and sometimes lose the way doing so. Write true stories, only stories that you have a passion to write, and you'll succeed, for yourself at least.

I think most people over the past decade or so have really gotten to know you as the ghostwriter behind the legendary V. C. Andrews novels that were published after her death. How did that opportunity come about and were you concerned how it would affect the titles that came under your own name?
I had the same agent and editor at the time and stepped in when Virginia was unable to finish the novel she was doing. It is so different from my own style and stories that I had no worries about it disturbing what I was doing.

How did you prepare yourself for such a challenge as finishing work that had been read by so many and was so different from your own writing style?
I taught writing for 23 years and I was able to emulate another style because of that and my writing skills. I also made it a research paper in the sense that I studied and studied the other style. I enjoy all kinds of writing and love the challenge.

Looking at the phenomenon that is V. C. Andrews, what do you think is the attraction to her titles after all of these years?
Many, many writers have tried to imitate V.C. Andrews. They have not succeeded because there is a magic formula. V.C. Andrews captures the hearts of young people especially because the works address their needs, thoughts and fantasies. But the style and the stories are characterized by elements of so many genres it's difficult to copy. It's like trying to cook your grandmother's special stuffed cabbage. She had the same ingredients but mixed them in her own special way that no one else had or has and so it remains one of a kind. It's this mixture, this addressing real issues and problems and putting them in the V.C. Characters and settings that makes it lasting.

Since it was discovered that you were the writer that the family of V. C. Andrews was working closely with, what has been some of the reactions?
Most have been very positive and supportive because they want the stories to continue and love the style. There are a great many envious people who want you to fail. That comes with any endeavor, but for the most part, everyone is supportive.

Can you give our readers some advice when it comes to following their dreams and finding their path in life?
When I was a teacher, I directed school plays and after a particularly successful one, a student came up to me and asked me if she should be an actress. I said, "NO," and she nearly cried. "Why not?" she asked. "Because you asked the wrong question," I told her. "What is the right question?" she asked. "The right question," I said, "is Mr. Neiderman, I want to be an actress. What do I do next?" The point is so many people have talent but not the determination or the perseverance. You cannot reach your goals without it and that's why I often say, "It's 40 percent talent and 60 percent perseverance. Prepare for rejection and defeat but if it's in you to succeed, you will. Simple as that.

Thank you again for this unique opportunity, Andrew. How can our readers keep up with your activities that are coming up?
You are more than welcome, Cyrus. They can visit http://www.neiderman.com/.

(Column) "Tough Love" with Meg Collins

Remember the days when your parents brought you up and,"Leave it to Beaver," was on the television which was black and white in the kitchen? Tough lessons and tough love is what I will be discussing with you today.

Many of us grew up with one parent and not two parents; it makes settling down with the right man or woman quite a challenge, especially in 2012. Higher standards and raising the bar time for many of us who are still single today. Why? I am going to help you solve that problem today and explain to you what I have learned after several years of dating and being single, and hence, why I remain single today. I grew up with a Mother who was both parents, and saw my Father once a year, if I was lucky. Hence, I lacked that Father figure role model that I needed in my life; I made poor choices in dating and marriage. I picked the emotionally unavailable men because that is all I knew and saw around my life. I remember waiting for a Christmas card from my Father the day before Christmas because he always sent the card by Fed Ex mail; he was always running behind, yet I loved the messages and letters he would write in those cards so much. It was not about the check that came with it at all. Well, for a little while when I was younger, it was I suppose, however, I got to a point in my life where I phoned my Dad and said, "Dad, rather than receive your checks, I would rather see you." It happened for a while and then went back and forth to once a year visits.

When my Father was 76 years old, he came to me to apologize to me. He said, "I am so sorry. I have missed so many years with you. I regret it; all that time that I missed in your life." I told him,"Dad, I forgive you and we have today." For the next four years of his life, we were pen pals. I would ask him questions and he would respond to me in his letters, and if he was behind in writing me back, he called me to say, "I know, I know, Meg. I owe you a letter and it will be out to you this week." He finally understood what I meant that one day when I was a young girl; all I wanted was his time, not his money. My Father coded at 80 years old when I was at the foot of his bed. He waited for everyone to be okay and then, he passed onto heaven. I can also remember that I would send him religious books. I was not trying to be preachy, however he was getting older and I was not sure if he was saved or not at that point in his life. His response to my books was, "Well, Meg, if you think that by my reading these books that it will keep me out of hell, I will read them, okay?"

We had an interesting relationship as Daughter and Father, however, because he was rarely around and I spent so much of my life screaming inside, :See me, talk to me, visit me, hug me, hear me, listen to me, love me," I found myself in a spiral of not so healthy relationships. I am telling you this story so that if you are in the spiral of negative relationships that I was trapped in for several years, you will too, see the flags and work on trying to find a way back to what is healthy, what is Christian, and what to look for in a man of quality and love. I went back to my family of origin. I traced back all the relationships in my family, number of marriages, number of divorces, number of alcoholics, number of co-dependant's, and then I was beginning to have a few answers to work with in my archaeological dig of my own past time.

Then I was challenged. I had to list all my relationships up to 40 years old. I had to chart how they were, if they were healthy or unhealthy and why; this took me 3 months to complete and was quite a project for me to be given, right? I was able to figure out that a bulk of my relationships were unhealthy, so then I needed to make a list of the qualities I wanted in a partner. I listed ten and kept them in my wallet. I got to a point later in my life where I felt like I needed to have a questionnaire prior to a first date; I trashed that one to be honest with you. If you ask me today what I am looking for in a man it is: someone who goes to church, shows up at events, someone I can see once a week, a man who is close to his Mother because how he treats his Mother is a direct reflection of how he will treat me, honesty, and a man that has a plan for what he wants out of his life.

Let us go back a bit to the last remark-a plan for what he wants for his life, not mine. You define what you want out of your own life and mesh your life with someone else's and lift one another up in the process of any adversity.This is important because no one in the world can make you happy; that is your job. If you are not happy with your own self, you probably do not belong in a relationship at all at this time. First, find out who you are, and then and only then, if you had an absent parent in your life, try what I did and see if it works. I cannot offer a money back guarantee for this one, folks, however I can tell you that I am choosing much healthier men in my life now.

I was blessed with the best Mother in the world, and my Father, he loved me as best as he knew how to in his life. My message is pretty clear this month to accept and forgive people for their faults and move forward in finding out what you want for you in your life and in your relationships with other people in your life. We all have a shelf life and our expiration date is unknown. Today my friends, make every day count and celebrate the people in your life with their faults and all, as none of us are perfect; only God is perfect. Lower your expectations so that the Berlin wall that you may have up may be chipped away slowly; your heart deserves to be loved by another, so take a leap of faith with me and explore the very being of your soul this month. 

Be well and of good spirits, my friends!

Sincerely,

Meg Collins

Columnist, Radio Show Host, Editor, Ghostwriter, Poet, and Author
Contact Meg directly at beachermeg@gmail.com.

Greg Jacobs: Reminding Us That Spoken Word Can Be LOUDER THAN A BOMB

by Cyrus Webb 


Before I was on the radio, before I hosted a local television show in Mississippi and before there was a magazine, I wrote poetry. It was my way of expressing myself, sharing commentary on the world around me and even getting to the heart of who I was and the person I was becoming. Because of my own affinity for the written and spoken word I was extremely excited when I heard about the documentary LOUDER THAN A BOMB. Here was a movie that was giving airtime to something that has the ability to literally change the world---and it is doing just that.


Produced by Emmy-winning SISKEL/JACOBS Productions, this is a project that has already swept the film festivals and is now available on dvd for the world to enjoy and learn from. After watching the documentary on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, I knew I wanted to talk with someone associated with the project for the radio show and the magazine. Imagine my surprise when co-founder Greg Jacobs responded to my email and agreed to an interview. 

Greg, first of all thank you for taking out the time to talk with me about Louder Than A Bomb. It's now available on dvd. How does it feel to have reached this point?
Jon (Siskel) and I have been with the film for about two years. Alot of times we would go to film festivals and people would ask about when the film was coming out on dvd. Now it's out. We're thrilled that it's now accessible to everyone.


So tell us how this all came about. Where did the idea come from?
Alot of times with documentaries you come to the subject as an accident. This was no exception. I was driving past a famous club called The Metro" and saw a line of kids of all types lined up around the block. I looked on the marque to see what was playing, and it read LOUDER THAN A BOMB. To see teens on a Saturday night there to listen to poetry for fun was not something I did growing up. I thought to myself there must be something there. The whole thing started from that point.

Jon and you had experienced success prior to LOUDER THAN A BOMB. Did you have any expectations going in? 
I think there were two things that we understood. One was that this is a competition that happens every year, so we knew we would need to start following kids at the beginning of the school year. Through the process we started to see the kids and understood that there poetry was so powerful that you would learn about their lives from their poetry. You would also learn about their poetry from their lives. There would be that back and forth. If we could just let them do their thing and watch it unfold, it would make it a great film.

Well it is definitely a great film, Greg. I have watched it twice myself. When it went on to sweep the film festivals and get the accolades from critics and supporters alike did it seem like a mission accomplished for you? 
You know the funny thing is it almost seemed like a mission beginning. It has been gratifying to get the response. People really connected with the film in an emotional way. We knew that if we didn't do something with this it would be a loss opportunity.  The response to the film sparked the outreach elements, using the film to make a difference in the world.  We have been creating a social networking hub for young poets so that we can take the community that has been created and make it nationwide and even global. I guess that you can say that we ended the first half of the game thrilled with how we were playing. Now we're in the second half.

We hear a lot how projects like this affect those who watch them, Greg. I'm curious how did LOUDER THAN A BOMB affect Jon and you?
We were changed in so many ways. One of the biggest was that we took inspiration from them (the students). They are creatively energetic. They wrote in McDonalds, in their homes...wherever they went they wrote. They loved the community that was created through sharing. Seeing that makes you look at your life in a different way and change the way we approach things. We knew that they were great storytellers, and we didn't want to mess up their story. Our goal was to make a film that did justice to their stories. They forced us to be better filmmakers. What I've seen people take a way is a sense that the arts are actually essential. Spoken word is a way they can express themselves and speak out. Hopefully the film will refocus people's minds on the arts for kids, and come to understand others as people. If you can reach them or listen to them you won't ignore them.

Thank you again, Greg, for sharing with us. Congratulations on the film. Attention readers: LOUDER THAN A BOMB is available for purchasing from online retailers and you can find out more information about the project by visiting www.louderthanabombfilm.com.<p>