Conversations Magazine Introduces It's March/April Issue Featuring Women Changing the World

Conversations Media Group is excited to announce that it's March/April 2014 issue of Conversations Magazine will feature its 25 Women Changing the World.


"There are so many amazing women doing great things," says Cyrus Webb, President of CMG and Editor-In-Chief of the publication. "This is our opportunity to give them some much-needed attention and praise."

The issue, which releases Fri. March 14th, features Leeza Gibbons, Gloria Gaynor, Jackie Collins, Wahida Clark, Iyanla Vanzant, Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Iris Bolling, Francine Weinberg, author Kelly Stone and more.


Order the single issue for only $6.99, shipping included by clicking the button below.

To find out more information about Conversations Magazine visit www.conversationsmag.com.

Devon Franklin: Living A Life Produced By Faith (2014)

by Cyrus Webb

It's been almost two years now since I turned on the television one particular Sunday morning for Super Soul Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network and became engrossed in Oprah's conversation with Devon Franklin. The two were discussing his book Produced by Faith and before the segment was over I was online ordering the book and digesting the tips.

The premise of the conversation on OWN as well as in the book was all about direction and who we chose to take our lead from. What a timely discussion for us to have today as there are so many things that try to control your life and monopolize your time. In the book Produced by Faith Franklin discusses the importance of looking at your life as a movie with our Heavenly Father being the greatest Director of all. Will we choose to listen or will we allow our egos to keep us from heeding the direction He gives?

This was a conversation I knew I wanted to have with Franklin, but I knew because of his schedule it might be almost impossible.

Thankfully I was wrong.

We were able to connect and the discussion that followed was not just inspiring but what I knew others needed to hear.

When I asked Devon about the response to the book and the way it was connecting with the hearts and minds of the world, Devon told me this:  "It's been powerful. By being vocal about who I am and owning who God created me to be has contributed to my success in entertainment and guided me as I chart my own course in this business. I've learned and been able to share that when you put God first everything else will fall into place."

In the book we are able to see how Devon got to this place of not just being fearless in his faith but how it has been rewarded. "Part of it came out of necessity," he told me when referring to the courage he was able to display. "When something doesn't feel right it's very hard for me to do it." When it came to assignments that made him unhappy and unfulfilled he says he recognized where the feeling was coming from. "I wasn't being my true self and operating in the confidence that God had given me."

So what Devon do to get on track? He did a self-examination. "Out of necessity I had to figure out how can I begin to start to like who I really am," he says. "Every time I tried to do my job as someone else it didn't work. I realized I had to do it the way I was built to do it. There is a danger when we feel like we have to emulate how someone else operates. You can't be successful if you are just emulating someone else. You have to find your own way of doing something."

How do we know that Devon's perspective of his life and his dedication to his faith have worked? Consider the facts. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Production for Columbia Tristar Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, making him one of the youngest individuals in that position in the industry. He recently oversaw the remakes Sparkle, starring the late Whitney Houston in her last on screen role, and The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

Since the release of Produced By Faith Franklin has been more out-front, sharing what has worked for him. "Knowing that I'm created for a purpose.in these moments when I'm coming from behind the scenes I bring with me the knowledge I have taken in," he says. When looking at the success of his entertainment career and even the attention the book has gotten he keeps things in their proper perspective.

"All these things that are happening to me or not about me," Devon says. "It's really about God's time and God's will and knowing there are people that need to be reached." By keeping his eye on the bigger picture, he has managed to keep his focus. "When you get lost you lose sight of what originally motivated you in the first place," he explained. "It's always keeping purpose number 1. It's about reaching people and being a servant. Long as I can keep that front and center it continually helps me in making decisions. All of us have to make decisions that are rooted in purpose and what God wants you to do."

One of Devon's quotes is this: "To get where you want to go, you’ve first got to become the person God wants you to be.” This takes effort but it is definitely worth the work involved.

When it comes to his book and his message Devon says that his hope and prayer is that as you're looking at your life as a movie and God as the director it will give perspective. This means that we won't think the bad time we are going through are all there is to life. "The danger is that we think the scene we are in is permanent when in fact it is temporary," he says. "In that permanent perception we make decisions that can alter the direction of our story. All of us have practical things we can do to move from one scene in our lives to the next. We just have to trust that God knows our story from beginning to end."

For more information about Devon Franklin's book Produced by Faith and the work he is doing to help you live the life that is meant to be yours, visit www.producedbyfaith.com. You can also stay in contact with Devon on Twitter at www.twitter.com/devonfranklin.

Jackie Collins: Taking Readers on a 'Power Trip' with New Release

by Cyrus Webb

She is one of the most beloved and talked about authors over the past 20 years, and there is no sign of her slowing down any time soon. With over 500 million copies of her books sold to date, Jackie Collins has become synonymous with engaging stories, sizzling story lines and characters that are talked about long after readers finish her books. 

I discovered her myself while in High School, and for the past 2 decades I have been one of those eager fans that have devoured everything she has published. As I was preparing earlier this year for our anniversary issue of the magazine I knew that I wanted Ms. Collins to be involved. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I got a reply to my email to Ann-Marie of Get Red PR about setting up the interview--  and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. 

Her new book, The Power Trip, was published on Tues. February 12th and instantly joined her others in becoming a runaway bestseller. Ever gracious and open about her literary journey, during our conversation Jackie Collins shared not just her own experiences but gave some great advice for those who are looking for the key to living life with purpose and passion. 

JACKIE ON HER FANS:

"I have the greatest fans, the greatest readers. I'm on Twitter (@JackieJCollins), and they talk with me about the characters and the books they love. It has been great interacting with them. 

JACKIE ON THE KEY TO HER SUCCESS:
"I think I write for everybody. All ages, all colors, all sexual orientations. There's something for everyone in all of my books. I am a true storyteller. That was the gift I was given, to tell stories. My main thrust has always been to write strong women, strong positive women. I think my readers love the women I create. Success (for me) is hearing back from the fans, hearing back from people who love my characters."

JACKIE ON THE REALIZATION (AND FULFILLMENT) OF THE GIFT:
"I think I realized it when I was a kid. I started writing in school and selling my stories to my school mates. I knew then I had a gift of making up a story. I read so much then, spent my leisure time reading books."

"I was expelled from school at 15. At that point you're kind of in limbo, wondering what you're going to do with your life. I wanted to be a writer. My parents said you can't be a writer, you need to go to college. You need to get degrees. When someone says to me you can't do something that's when I say to myself 'Oh yes I can.' I decided to follow the dream, and the dream was to write books. Turns out, people don’t buy books because you went to college. The Power Trip is my 29th book. I'm really proud of what I've accomplished."

JACKIE ON WRITING AND THE POWER TRIP:
"I write what I want to write. I don't plan my books.  I sit down with the characters and they take me on this wild trip. When I was writing The Power Trip I had the best time with the characters. There are so many diverse groups."

One of the issues that Jackie's book The Power Trip mentions is how issues of race still rear their head regardless of how much a person achieves. "My brother is married to a beautiful black woman," she told me. "I understand racial tensions that can take place. If I can write about it and change people's minds I am very happy to do that."

JACKIE ON PUBLISHING:
Her decision to "self-publish" some of her most popular books as kindle reads made news around the world, birthing over 120,000 stories about the decision. When asked about it, this is what Jackie shared about the move and the response from her fans. "All my books are on e-books in other countries, but a lot were not in America. I decided to do it myself, starting with Bitch, The Love Killers and Chances (Since then both Lucky and Lady Boss have been added to the list). I have gotten amazing reactions from my fans. They love it, and for me the experience has been very freeing."

I shared with Jackie that though I know people like the immediacy of e-books, I still love the physical copies. She mirrored my sentiment. "I want to have a book in my hand," she told me. "I have a Kindle and iPad, but I don't like reading that way. It is the new thing. I think real book lovers will still buy books, but some like the convenience of having them on Kindle which is why I am making them available to them."

JACKIE ON PURSUING THE DREAM:
"I have a particular message for women. Whether it's making cupcakes, writing books, singing or writing songs, you have got to have something for yourself, something that's yours. Everybody's got to have a passion in life. that's what makes life so exciting."

Jackie Collins will forever remain one of those authors whose work withstands the test of time. Why? Because everything she writes comes from the heart.

Collins new book CONFESSIONS OF A WILD CHILD is due out in early 2014. Stay in touch with Jackie and her upcoming projects on her website www.jackiecollins.com. She also has a Facebook fan page and can be found on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jackiejcollins. The Power Trip is available at bookstores and online retailers everywhere.

GLENDA HUNTER: Revealing An Unspeakable Secret

by Cyrus Webb

It was through a mutual friend that I met Glenda Hunter in late 2011, and we have been friends ever since.

Glenda is one of those individuals who has been able to use her life to not only help other people but show what it means to celebrate the gift that life is. This, however, has not been an easy road for her. At a young age she had her innocence taken away from the very man who should have been there to protect her: her father. As a result of the abuse she suffered, Glenda developed alters or multiple personalities that would become a part of her life not just through childhood but adulthood as well. With courage and conviction she has shared her story in two books: AN UNSPEAKABLE SECRET and MOMMY TWINKLE EYES. Her goal? To let others know what is possible for them, regardless of their circumstances.

It has been my pleasure to see the amazing results of Glenda sharing her story with the world. I was privileged enough to be her first radio interview and to host her first book-signing. When I was thinking about  those who I had met that celebrated the gift of life and would be great examples for all of us I knew that she would have to be apart of this issue.

In describing how the abuse began, Glenda says this in her book AN UNSPEAKABLE SECRET: "Fear was always gripping my body because I was never sure what was going to happen. When he became mad, he was like a monster out of control... Dad was quick to tell me how bad I was. No longer was I his special girl.. Somehow I had become an awful person who couldn't do anything right. I wasn't sure what had changed to make me this kind of a person."

(Hunter seen above with husband and supporters of her first booksigning at the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, MS)

That can be painful to read, let alone believe of yourself. Glenda explained how she has been able to now break her silence and share her story. "I felt like other people probably struggled with the same thing that I had struggled with," she told me. "I had looked for books to help me get better and that's why I wrote mine so I could get my story out there and help others."

A large part of the healing she has experienced today has come from seeking help. Glenda told me that she didn't begin to really understand that she wasn't alone in what she had experienced and felt until therapy. "It was then that I realized a number of people have suffered from that (meaning abuse)." Coupled with dealing with the abuse, however, was the Multiple Personality Disorder. Not finding anyone who was talking about it the way she had experienced gave Glenda courage to move forward with sharing her own experiences. "I found the courage because I wanted someone to write a book from their point of view to say this is what it's like to be multiple. I'm putting it out there for people to say here's the story, and I hope it will be beneficial to you."

That is exactly what it is doing. "It has helped people to open up to me," Glenda shares. "Some have never shared with anyone before. The fact is that (the abuse) affects them in their lives many years after." The communication about it is helping others to understand what the person has gone through and is going through.

Faith is such an important factor to Glenda Hunter's survival as well. When you are abused and mistreated it is easy to feel as though you don't matter. She experienced those very feelings about herself.

That is not the person she is today.

(Hunter seen here with fellow authors <l-r> Jerome Cooper, Darlene Collier, Dr. Vershern Edwards and Jason Usry at the Conversations Summer Book Fair held this year in Pearl, MS)

"Getting through the therapy and working through the issues has helped," she says. "When you are degraded in numerous ways you carry that with you until you can work through that to say 'I am worth something'." She has also come to a revelation about herself and all of us. "God has made us all very special," she says. "He has made us all unique. We all have a place and a purpose. I want other to know that they have worth outside of what has happened to them."

Glenda's third book WHO ME? WORTHWHILE? YES, YOU! shares how we can begin to look at ourselves and our circumstances differently. She admits it's not easy and might take time, but it is definitely possible and worth it. "You might ask 'How can God love me with all of this in my background?' The wonderful thing is that He does. He loves you as equally as He does anyone else."

In sharing a part of herself, Glenda Hunter is giving us all something to reflect on when we look at our lives. What does she want everyone who has suffered in silence with the abuse to know? "I want them to know they are worthwhile," she says. "Even though you have had to hold that secret in or been a victim you don't have to stay a victim. You can be a victor. I want them to look within themselves and say I do love who I am. I am important."

Glenda's three books AN UNSPEAKABLE SECRET, MOMMY TWINKLE EYES and WHO ME? WORTHWHILE? YES, YOU! are all available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble online. You can stay in contact with Glenda on Facebook under "Glenda L. Hunter".

[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. 

BRET LOCKETT: More Than Just A Player

by Cyrus Webb


Though many people have gotten to know Bret Lockett as a member of the NFL's New York Jets it would be a definite mistake to think of him as just another jock.

At a young age he has shown himself to be not only dedicated on the field but in every facet of life. Before I interviewed him on the radio show Conversations LIVE I have to admit that I knew very little about Lockett and the work he had done. I quickly realized, however, that he was an individual that was making moves that would soon affect the world.

Case in point: Shortly before our conversation Bret Lockett and Mobli Founder/CEO Moshe Hogeg signed a partnership agreement in which Lockett joined the company's advisory board. Forbes Magazine recently reported that Mobli, a social photo and video-sharing app, had over 2 million of its 3 million users sign up in the last several months. Celebrity investors of Mobli include Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Maguire and Lance Armstrong.

When he is not promoting the Mobli brand, Bret is focusing on his own which includes work as a model, recording artist and activist for causes that matter to him as well as his own Looking Forward Foundation.

With so much going on I asked Bret if he really got a chance to just sit back and reflect on all of the exciting ventures that he's involved in. "I don't really have the time to think about it," he answered. "I just keep it moving. It's one of those things where you keep knocking down each hurdle and jumping over the next one. There have been a lot of things I have done that I'm proud of. There are also a lot more that I want to do."

As someone who believes that all greatness has a beginning, I asked the entrepreneur if he could remember when he knew that moment for him. "I just did what I thought came natural and what was organic for me," he responded. "I think everybody has been bred with something great. Look at individuals like Michael Jordan and Kobi Bryant. When the opportunity presents itself they are able to achieve that. Each step in my life has been a building block. I just stacked them until I got to where I wanted to be...and I am still doing that."

A great deal of his determination also comes from his upbringing. "My parents have always told me to respect yourself, always believe in yourself and never quit. My mom told me that 'Whatever you start you need to finish.' I learned all of this at a young age, and it just stuck with me."

There is little doubt that football was a real passion for Lockett, but I was surprised to find out that it was not the only sport that caught his eye. "I played all of them," he told me. "Soccer, baseball, basketball...you name it, and I played it. My whole family is football fans. Football was the one that stood out to me and that I excelled in the most. My only goal in college was to play in the NFL. I had no aspirations past that at the time. I wanted to be the best football player I could be."

With the success in football Bret Lockett became a household name. His picture was being shot at events as well as red carpets, and he developed a fanbase that includes thousands on the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. "I really can't believe that I am where I am sometimes," he confesses. "When I do sit back and think about my life it seems amazing that people know me and recognize my name. I am blessed and honored to have the opportunity to do something positive for myself and others."

Even an injury couldn't keep this driven individual down. It was during that setback that he was able to explore another passion: music. "I have always been into music ever since I was young," Lockett told me. "The problem was that I never had the time to pursue it. In the last 2 years after my injury I told myself that rather than sit there and do nothing I decided to pursue it." Like with everything else he does, he told me that when it comes to music he does what is in his heart.

Despite being a part of the celebrity world, Bret has done his best to remain true to the values instilled in him early in life. "It's one of those things where you have to remember where you came from," he says. "When you are driven and making moves you have to remember what your core values are. I have been able to remember that."

Giving back is something that he takes seriously, whether he is lending time and his resources to causes like PETA or talking about the dangers of bullying with Bullyville. To really make sure that he is paying it forward for the next generation, Bret started the Get It All Campaign. "When you help other people that is more important than your getting something on my behalf," he told me "I've always given back. Being able to have a platform to share a message for the youth and teenagers is what drives me. We are all people at the end of the day. We all have different roles to play but we are all equal. We need to bring everyone up."

There are so many lessons to learn from this conversation with Bret. One is that you can't judge a book by its cover. He also shows that you have to realize your strong points and continue to work on them as you progress in life. His closing words for you, our audience, were this: "You can't give anything to anyone unless you have worked on yourself and tried to be the best that you can be inside and out."

Stay in contact with Bret Lockett and the work he is doing on Twitter at www.twitter.com/getitallcamp and
www.twitter.com/bretlockett26 . You can also visit his website at www.bretlockett.com.

Aubrey O'Day: Peeling Back the Layers with BETWEEN TWO EVILS

by Cyrus Webb

In spite of the difficulties and challenges they face some people just seemed destined for greatness. Aubrey O'Day is one of those people.

You have gotten to know her from the hit MTV show Making the Band and the chart-topping group Danity Kane, but she is also a star on Broadway and her own reality show (All About Aubrey) as well as a contestant on the hit show Celebrity Apprentice. No matter what she does it would appear that Ms. O'Day is living her life out loud and enjoying the benefits of doing so.

During the month of August 2013 she not only released her debut solo project Between Two Evils but confirmed the return of Danity Kane, both to the excitement of her fans. I caught up with her after the album went number one just on pre-sales to talk about music and inspiration. What followed was a motivational conversation that individuals of all walks of life can benefit from.

"I never underestimate my fans," Aubrey said to me when discussing her #1 album. "They're pretty amazing. I have a group called the Aubtourage who are always there at a moment's notice. They have become my lifeline. She added. "It's been great to see how much they reward everything that I'm a part of. I've been on tv and on stage but I've been gone from music for so long... To have the album go number one is a feeling I can't explain."

The project BETWEEN TWO EVILS is a personal reflection of the artist and her journey through hurt. "It came from a painful breakup that left me in a low place," Aubrey explains. "Nothing was getting me through it except the studio. I got to a place where I could say something honest. I hope this really becomes a mechanism for people to heal themselves as it was for me."

The honesty in which Aubrey writes is not new, and it is obviously part of the appeal she has with her fans. They like her realness. "I have always had a pretty distinct, fearless voice," she told me. "I'm someone you either love or love to hate. I've never been an in-between person. Sometimes I get to a place where I have regrets and think if I wasn't so opinionated I'd have more support across the board, but that wouldn't be me. I am who I am. As I have gotten older I've become more proud of that and less willing to make excuses for it."

Listening to her explain the way she sees herself I asked Aubrey about what she sees as her purpose in life. The answer was surprising for me. "I think that over being a singer, actress or tv personality the one thing that I have always wanted to be is a person that touches as many lives as I can before I die. The only way you can do that is by being honest."

Honesty is at the core of not just Aubrey's album but her daily walk as well. "Whenever you are honest to who you are you always win in life," she told me. "Whether it's the way you thought or something more brilliant than what you expected. Having your own authentic voice is key."

With stand-out tracks like LOVE ME WHEN YOU LEAVE, HURTS SO GOOD and LET ME LAY, Between Two Evils is sure to resonate on some level with all that hear it. Aubrey told me that there are two things they want her fans to get from the album. "First I want anybody that is in that low place to know they can get out of it. They need to know that there are people that are examples of that. I also want to know that all the bad nights I had weren't in vain. There was a purpose behind all of them. Secondly I want my fans to have new respect for me as a music artist."

She describes Between Two Evils as "lyrically brilliant music" that is her ministry, defining her soul. As Aubrey O'Day says all life's triumphs come from struggles. If you can go through the struggle and grow stronger because of it there is nothing that will be impossible.

Stay in touch with all things Aubrey on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AubreyODay and on her website www.aubreyoday.com.