[REVISITED] Conversations' 25 Summer Reads of 2013

Conversations Book Club is excited to announce its picks for Summer reads in 2013. The list, compiled by Conversations Media Group President Cyrus Webb, is a combination of titles by authors who were both established as well as rising literary stars.

Topping the list of Summer Reads this year is "The Power Trip" by Jackie Collins. As one of Webb's favorite authors it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to interview her for this special anniversary issue of the magazine. The rest of the list is comprised of amazing talent as well. "I read so many great books each year it was difficult to put this list together," says Webb. "The 25 that were finally chosen, though, I believe showcases something for everyone."

Webb began Conversations Book Club in November 2006 as a co-ed reading group for individuals of all walks of life and backgrounds. Since then chapters have created around the South as well as online, uniting readers around the power of books.

It is Webb's hope that this list will give you many hours of enjoyment throughout the Summer.

Conversations' 25 Summer Reads of 2013

1. "The Power Trip" by Jackie Collins (St. Martin's Press)
2. "A Killer's Grace" by Ronald Chapman (Seeing True Press)
3. "Darkness Before Dawn" by Ace Collins (Abingdon Press)
4. "Secrets from the Past" by Barbara Taylor Bradford (St. Martin's Press)
5. "Politics. Escorts. Blackmail." by Pynk (Grand Central Publishing) 
6. "The Laws of Gravity" by Liz Rosenberg" (Amazon Publishing)
7. "The House That Love Built" by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)
8. The Aloha Trilogy by Stephen A. Enna and Dennis J. Wootten (Authorhouse)
9. "Crescendo" by Deborah J. Ledford (Second Wind Publishing)
10. "What She Wants" by Sheila Roberts (Harlequin/Mira)
11. "The Comfort of Lies" by Randy Susan Meyers (Atria Books)
12. "The Devil's Game" by Shawn 'Jihad' Trump (W. Clark Publishing)
13. "Why Can't I Be You" by Allie Larkin (Penguin)
14. "Revenge Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger (Simon & Schuster)
15. "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books)
16. Loves Me Not, Vol. I & II by Kenny L.Mitchell (FreedomInk)
17. "My Private Hell" by Melissa Cobb (Vicious Ink Publications)
18. "Fifty Two Shades of Blue-ish" by Karen S. Exkorn (Orange Press)
19. "The Tides of Memory" by Sidney Sheldon/ Tilly Bagshawe (William Morrow)
20. "Fly Betty" by Treasure Blue (Cash Money Content)
21. "Tommy the Quarterback" by Donald Greco (publisher unnamed)
22. "Hollywood Forever" by Christopher Herz (Amazon Publishing)
23. "The Gospel According To Prissy" by Barbara Casey (Strategic Media Books)
24. "When Memories Fade" by Tyora Moody (Urban Christian/Kensington)
25. "Vengeance Is Now" by Scott D. Roberts (3L Publishing)

To stay in touch with updates from Conversations Book Club visit www.conversationsbookclub.com. 

7 Cookbooks Every Home Should Have In 2013

If there is one thing Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb loves more than a great book it is a great meal. Over the past decade he has found great joy in the kitchen, and as in other areas of his life books have been a part of making something delicious and easy for his family and friends.

Gearing up for the end of the year Webb decided to share 7 Cookbooks Every Home Should Have in 2013, and he hopes you will add them to your shelves and their meals to your palette soon!

1. "The Lazy Gourmet"" by Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin (Viva Editions)
2. "Mr. Date Night" by Cary Farley (3L Publishing)
3. "The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook" by Pat and Gina Neely (Alfred A. Knopf)
4. "A Reader's Cookbook" by Judith Choate (Red Rock Press)
5. "The Modern Gentleman: Cooking & Entertaining with Sean Kanan" by Sean Kanan (Dunham Books)
6. "One Bowl" by Stephanie Bostic (CreateSpace)
7. "The Good, The Bad, The Cookbook" by Mario J. Porreca and Kirk Kolich (Langdon Street Press)

For more great books and ideas to feed your love of life visit http://www.conversationsbookclub.com/.

Cyrus Webb Presents Conversations Book Club's Top 100 Books of 2012

It is without question one of Conversations Media Group's most exciting events: revealing the titles that make up its Top Books of the year. For 2012 Cyrus Webb, President of Conversations Book Club and Editor-In-Chief of Conversations Magazine found it to be an increasingly difficult task.

"There were so many great books that came out this year it was almost impossible to narrow it down," he says. In the end he found his top fiction and non-fiction titles that he believes best represent not only what he loves about books but the world as well. Once again there are established authors as well as rising stars that are featured, keeping in step with Webb's desire to feature talent wherever it might come from.

What are the requirements for making Conversations Book Club's Top Books list? They are very simple. First books that make the list must be reviewed in print form. (No e-books are considered.) Secondly Webb would have had to have read the title by Nov. 1st of the previous year and by Nov. 1st of the current year for consideration.

Without any further ado here are Conversations Book Club's Top 100 Books of 2012:


Fiction (Listed in no particular order)

1. "Fractured" by Karin Slaughter (Bantam Dell)
2. "Watch Me Die" by Erica Spindler (St. Martin's)
3. "Into the Darkness" by V. C. Andrews (Simon and Schuster)
4. "Married in the Nick of Nine" by Alretha Thomas Diverse Arts Collective)
5. "Tony's Tiffany" by John Mobley (FreedomInk)
6. "Shades of Orange with Many Greens: Visions of Paul Cezanne" by by Walter E. Thompson
7. "Who?" by Tiona Brown (DaSaint Ent.)
8. "I Do Solemnly Swear" by D.M. Annechino (Thomas & Mercer)
9. "Devil's Gate" by F. J. Lennon (Simon and Schuster)
10. Yield" by Bryan K. Johnson (Bedside Books)
11. "Tilt" by Ellen Hopkins (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
12. "The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls" by Julie Schumacher (Delacorte Press)
13. "Darling Nikki" by E. V. Adams (Strebor Books/Simon and Schuster)
14. "Bitten" by Dan O'Brien (unknown)
15. "The Stalker Chronicles" by Electa Rome Parks (Urban Renaissnce)
16. "The Choice" by Robert Whitlow (Thomas Nelson)
17. "Flying Solo" by Jeanette Vaughan (Age View Press)
18. "The Lost Daughter" by Lucy Ferriss (Penguin)
19. "The Aloha Trilogy" by Stephen A. Enna & Dennis J. Wootten (Authorhouse)
20. "An Echo Through the Snow" by Andrea Thalasinos (Forge)
21. "Q Awakening" by G. M. Lawrence (Variance Publishing)
22. "Kill Shot" by Vince Flynn (Atria Books)
23. "Love in a Carry-On Bag" by Sadeqa Johnson (12th Street Press)
24. "The Floater" by Sheryl Sorrentino (unknown)
25. "Suzy's Case" by Andy Siegel (Scribner/Simon and Schuster)
26. "The Cutting Season" by Attica Locke (Dennis Lehane Books/Harper Collins)
27. "Alligater Lake" by Lynne Bryant (New American Library/Penguin)
28. "How Angels Die" by David-Michael Harding (Q & CY Book)
29. "One Dead Doctor" by Tony Lindsay (Pen Knife Press)
30. "The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln" by Stephen L. Carter (Alfred A. Knopf)
31. "Twisted Seduction" by N'Tyse (Strebor/Simon and Schuster)
32. "Last Chance Texaco" by Joe Lee (Dogwood Press)
33. "Bone Shadows" by Christopher Valen (Conquill Press)
34. "Drawing Breath" by Laurie Boris (unknown)
35. "Trickster's Point" by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster)
36. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" by M. T. Pope/Tina Brooks McKinney/Brenda Hampton/Terry E. Hill (Urban Renaissance)
37. "Beauty to Die For" by Kim Alexis & Mindy Starns Clark (B & H Books)
38. "Coming Home" by Stacy Hawkins Adams (Zonderman)
39. "Cheeseland" by Randy Richardson (Eckhartz Press)
40. "Twelve Months" by Steven Manchester (The Story Plant)
41. "Damage Control" by John Gilstrap (Pinnacle/ Kensington Books)
42. "The Last Refuge" by Ben Coes (St. Martin's Press)
43. "Payback Ain't Enough" by Wahida Clark (Cash Money Content)
44. "A Fistful of Collars" by Spencer Quinn (Atria/ Simon and Schuster)
45. "Citycide" by Gary Hardwick (HardBooks Publishing)
46. "Better Than Chocolate" by Sheila Roberts (Harlequin/Mira)
47. "The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D." by Nichole Bernier (Crown/Random house)
48. "Deadrise" by Robert Blake Whitehill (Calaveras Media)
49. "Friends Forever" by Danielle Steel (Delacorte Press/Random House)
50. "The Heat of the Night" by Pynk/Niyah Moore/Lorraine Elzia/Ebonee Monique/Lalaina Knowles/Elissa Gabrielle (Peace In The Storm Publishing) 

Non-Fiction Titles (Listed in no particular order)

1. "The Obama Question" by Gary Dorrien (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers)
2. "By Faith, Not By Sight" by Scott MacIntyre (Thomas Nelson)
3. "Side-Yard Superhero" by Rick D. Niece (Five Star Publications)
4. "Charlie" by Barbara Lampert (Langdon Street Press)
5. "Dear Marcus" by Jerry McGill (Spiegel & Grau (Random House)
6. "Self-Made Myth" by Brian Miller and Mike Lapham (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
7. "Fearless" by Maimah S. Karmo (Brown Books Publshing Group)
8. "Lefty: An American Odysssey" by Vernona Gomez and Lawrence Goldstone (Ballantine Books)
9. "Soul Rape" by Heyward Bruce Ewart (Loving Healing Press)
10. "Crossing the Tracks" by Dolphus Weary (Kregel Publications)
11. "Redemption" by Bryan Clay (Thomas Nelson)
12. "Confessions of a Microfinance Heretic" by Hugh Sinclair (Berrett-Koehler)
13. "Uncle Yah Yah: 21st Century Man of Wisdom, Part 2 " by Al Dickens (Wahida Clark Presents Publishing)
14. "At the Feet of Jesus" by Joanna Weaver (Water Brook)
15. "Dramas of a Bald Head Queen" by Nina C. Brewton (Write Right Publications)
16. "Creating Time" by Marney K. Makridakis (New World Library)
17. "Single Black, and Government Owned" by Omegia Keeys )Passionate Writer Publishing) 
18. "Fastest Man in the World" by Tony Volpentest (Bettie Youngs Books)
19. "Boxing with God" by Robert Coons (USIAA)
20. "Slow Democracy" by Susan Clark and Woden Teachout (Chelsea Green Publishing)
21. "7 Secrets of a Phenomenal L.I.F.E." by Howard Partridge (Sound Wisdom)
22. "The Shyster's Daughter" by Paula Priamos (Etruscan Press)
23. "Unbinding the Heart" by Agapi Stassinopoulos (Hay House)
24. "King Peggy" by Peggilene Bartels and Eleanor Herman (Doubleday/Random House)
25. "Against Wind & Tide" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Pantheon Books)
26. "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham (Random House)
27. "Marilyn" by Lois Banner (Bloomsbury)
28. "Fraternity" by Diane Brady (Spiegel and Grau)
29. "Everyday Meditation" by Tobin Blake (NewWorld Library)
30. "Journey into Thought" by Sidney Andrews (iUniverse)
31. "Tough Truths" by Deirdre Maloney (Business Solutions Press)
32. "Life & Love: Through My Eyes" by Ramona Jones (FreedomInk)
33. "Growing Up Ziglar" by Julie Ziglar Norman (Guideposts)
34. "The Sacred Thread" by Adrienne Arieff (Crown Publishers)
35. "A Dark Journey to a Light Future" by Tommie Mabry (WestBow Press)
36. "Embraced by God" by Babbie Mason (Abingdon Press)
37. "Beginning with the End" by Mary R. Morgan (Vantage Point)
38. "Get Off Your Attitude" by Ryan C. Lowe (Sound Wisdom)
39. "Identity" by Stedman Graham (FT Press)
40. "No Problem!" by E M Hanley (Livre)
41. "It's Your Life: Live Big" by Josh Hinds (Sound Wisdom)
42. "24/6" by Matthew Sleeth (Tyndale House Publishers)
43. "Cyber Bullying No More" by Holli Kenley (Loving Healing Press)
44. "I Ain't Trying 2 Hear It" by Melvin White (Authorhouse)
45. "Leaning Into Sharp Points" by Stan Goldberg (New World Library)
46. "You Can Buy Happiness(and It's Cheap" by Tammy Strobel (New World Library)
47. "Rocky Spirit" by Felice Cantatore (iUniverse)
48. "The 12 Principles to Wellness" by Eleanor R. (Balboa Press)
49. "Today: A Book of Daily Affirmations" by Christopher LaKeith Price (Estrus Publishing)
50. "Live To Give" by Austin Gutwein (Thomas Nelson)

Interested in having your title considered for 2013? Contact Cyrus Webb directly at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. Follow Cyrus Webb on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cyruswebb and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cyruswebb. 

To check out previous lists by Conversations Book Club or to stay abreast of upcoming literary events, visit www.conversationsbookclub.com. Keep inspired. Keep focused. Keep the Conversations going! 

Conversations Book Club Announces Its 2013 Book Club Selections

Conversations Media Group is excited to announce its choices for book club selections during 2013.

"Since I began Conversations Book Club in November 2006 it has always been my goal to unite readers literally around the world around books," says Cyrus Webb, Founder of Conversations Book Club and the President of Conversations Media Group, home of Conversations LIVE Radio show and Editor-In-Chief of Conversations Magazine. "Since its start we have hosted over 100 author events and held meetings in MS, AL, LA, TN---all with the goal of uniting men and women around the written word."

Though a fan of all books, Webb decided to choose 12 non-fiction titles for 2013's book club discussions, all in line with Conversations' theme for 2013: Living Life as a Thank You, based on the book by the same name by author Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons.

Here is the complete listing for 2013 & discussion dates:
Jan. (01/17) --- "Today" by Christopher LaKeith Price
Feb. (02/21) --- "Journey Into Thought" by Sidney Andrews
March (03/21) -- "Not Just A Hearer But A Doer" by Yolanda Shanks
April (04/18) --- "Drunken Angel" by Alan Kaufman
May (05/16) --- "An Unspeakable Secret" by Glenda L. Hunter
June (06/20) --- "Side-Yard Superhero" by Dr. Rick D. Niece
July (07/18) --- "Empowered to Uproot the Seed of Abuse" by Karen D. Doughty
Aug. (08/22) --- "Find the Upside of the Down Times" by Dr. Rob Pennington
Sept. (09/19) --- "Blessings in Disguise" by Gary R. Ryan
Oct. (10/17) "Fearless" by Maimah S. Karmo
Nov. (11/21) "Learning to Live" by Darrick Bronson
Dec. (12/19) "Where Am I Going?" by Michelle Cromer

To add a special dimension to each month's selection, Cyrus Webb has arranged a monthly online interactive conversation about each book that will be held every 3rd Thursday @ 8p.m. et (7p.m. ct/5p.m. pt) on Conversations LIVE Radio Show (www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive). Almost each month the author of the book will join the show live as readers discuss the book using Facebook (at www.facebook.com/cyruswebb) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cyruswebb and the hashtag #conversationsbookclub). The show's chatroom will also be open to take questions in real-time. There will also be profiles of each book club selection in the monthly issues of Conversations Magazine.  "All of this will only enhance the experience of the book discussion," says Webb.

To stay abreast of all of the exciting updates with Conversations Book Club in 2013 visit www.conversationsbookclub.com. Any questions can be directed to Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

Rankin Co. Celebates Ntl Reading Month With Three Special Events

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb is pleased to announce that the reading group will be hosting three special literary events to celebrate National Reading Month in March 2012.

 

The first is a booksigning for author E. V. Adams on Saturday, March 17th at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS) beginning at 1p.m. Adams' book DARLING NIKKI was just released in Feb. 2012 by Strebor Books and it will be her first event in Rankin County to introduce it.

 

Then on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Conversations Book Club will welcome bestselling author Lucy Ferriss to Rankin County to discuss her new book THE LOST DAUGHTER. This will also take place at the Pearl Public Library from 12-1:30p.m. Copies of the book are available at bookstores now. Make sure you bring your copy by for the author to personalize.

Finally on Saturday, March 24, 2012 Conversations Book Club wil host a first of its kind book fair at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS) beginning at 1p.m.

This event will feature eight of Mississippi's literary rising stars, each of whom will be discussing their journeys as writers, signing their books and meeting the public. "This is an opportunity for the state of Mississippi to not only support our own but meet new authors as well," says Webb, 36. He has hosted over 100 booksignings in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee, each with the purpose of getting authors noticed and letting the readers know about books they may not have heard of. Webb adds: "Conversations Book Club is excited to bring this group of authors together for the first time, and I know those who attend the book fair will be glad they met them as well."

The featured authors for the book fair are Darlene Collier (Married To Sin), Jerome Cooper (A Dual Blessing: Body and Success), Dr. Vershern Edwards (I Don't Want Okra), Joseph Henderson ( I Don't Want To Die All Alone), Glenda L. Hunter (An Unspeakable Secret, Mommy Twinkle Eyes and Worthwhile? Who Me? Yes, You!), Dr. Greg Little (Rise Above), Jennifer Luckett (Caught In The Middle) and Jason Lee Usry (Markside).

Admission to three of these special events is free, however, each author will have copies of their books available for purchasing. For more information contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. You can also visit www.conversationsbookclub.com.

Three Literary Voices Come Together To Promote Reading In Mississippi

(Saturday, November 20, 2010) Mississippi may be seen as having one of the highest illiteracy rates in the country, but that is being chipped away each and every day by organizations like Conversations Book Club.

Under the leadership of Founder/President Cyrus Webb, Conversations Book Club began in Jackson, MS with only three members at the Medgar Evers Library in November 2006 but is now undesputedly the largest co-ed book club in the country with chapters in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and meetings in Tennessee. Now four years young, Conversations is continuing its mission of providing something for everyone.


On Saturday, November 20th, Webb hosted authors Joseph Henderson (I DON'T WANT TO DIE ALL ALONE), Diane Hassan (ANGELS AMONG US...EVEN IN IRAQ) and Tommie Watkins, Jr. (LIVING OUT LOUD) in events for the National Day of Reading in the cities of Jackson and Pearl in Mississippi.

The day began with "Breakfast with Books" where patrons at the Medgar Evers Library in Jackson, MS were treated with refreshments and an opportunity to socialize with the authors.
Stanley Clark, President of For The People Productions, joined the event as well. Being one of the founding members of Conversations, he shared his appreciation for the authors coming together to promote reading.


At the end of the event, author Diane Hassan donated a copy of her book to the library, presenting it to librarian Shirley Simmons.


The next stop was the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, MS. There authors Hassan and Watkins shared information about their books and talked about their individual experiences.


There Hassan donated a book as well, presenting it to the supervisor on duty.


Finally it was on to Appetizers Restaurant in Pearl, MS where the authors talked about their day and shared their plans for the new year.


To date Conversations Book Club has scheduled events for 93 authors since it began in November 2006, with many more already planned for the upcoming months. To stay in touch with Cyrus Webb and the Conversations literary movement, visit www.thebestbookclub.info or contact Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.214.0286.

If you are interested in more information about the authors, you can find it below:

Joseph Henderson --- http://www.joseph-henderson.com
Dr. Diane Hassan --- http://angelsamonguseveniniraq.blogspot.com
Tommie Watkins, Jr. --- http://www.twgllc.biz