Conversations Book Club's 25 Summer Reads, 2012

(This post will  appear as an article in the July/August issue of Conversations Magazine. See www.conversationsmag.com for details and to order your copy.)

by Cyrus Webb

It is no secret that reading is one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I have been a fan of books for as long as I can remember, a passion that was fed by my family and continued in my adult years. It was because of this passion that I founded Conversations Book Club in November 2006. I wanted a place where men and women alike could come together and discuss books, sharing lessons and a form of entertainment that can be found no where else. Since then I have had the privilege of hosting book discussions in my home state of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee: all of them have been focused on titles that I personally loved and wanted to share.

With Summer here it is once again time for me to not only reveal my picks for the season but share with you probably one of the best collection of books I've had the privilege of reading. I literally devour hundreds of books a year, and that insatiable appetite makes these kind of lists extremely difficult, however, I think I have done right by you as readers with my choices. As with all of my lists, you will find books by established authors as well as those who are rising stars in the industry. It is my hope that you will find the pleasure in them that I did, and share them with others that will surely enjoy them as well.

Without further ado, here are this year's Summer picks...

Conversations Book Club's Non-Fiction Summer Reads, 2012  (In no particular order)

1. "Dear Marcus" by Jerry McGill (Spiegel & Grau/Random House)
2. "Find The Upside of the Down Times" by Dr. Rob Pennington (Resource International)
3. "Chicken Soup For The Soul: Find Your Happiness" (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing)
4. "Single, Black, and Government Owned" by O. Keeys (Passionate Writer Publishing)
5. "Creating Time" by Marney K. Makridakis (New World Library)
6. "This Is How" by Augusten Burroughs (St. Martin's Press)
7. "Drunken Angel" by Alan Kaufman (Viva Editions)

Conversations Book Club's Fiction Summer Reads, 2012 (In no particular order)

1. "Watch Me Die" by Erica Spindler (St. Martin's Paperbacks)
2. "The Collectibles" by James J. Kaufman (Downstream Publishing)
3. "Payback Ain't Enough" by Wahida Clark (Cash Money Content)
4. "The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D." by Nichole Bernier (Crown/Random House)
5. "One Dead Doctor" by Tony Lindsay (Penknife Press)
6. "The Lost Daughter" by Lucy Ferriss (Berkley Publishing/Penguin)
7. "Aloha"/"Adios!" by Stephen A. Enna & Dennis J. Wootten (Authorhouse)
8. "Sea Change" by Karen White (New American Library/Penguin)
9. "Tony's Tiffany" by John Mobley (Freedom Ink)
10. "Just Tryin' To Be Loved" by J'son M. Lee (Foresight Publishing)
11. "California Girl Chronicles: Brea & the City of Plastic" by Michelle Gamble Risley (3L Publishing)
12. "The Safehouse" by T. Thomas Ackerman (Outskirts Press)
13. "Married in the Nick of Nine" by Alretha Thomas (Diverse Arts Collective)
14. "The Hum and the Shiver" by Alex Bledsoe (Tor)
15. "When Rain Falls" by Tyora Moody (Urban Christian/Kensington)
16. "By The Light of the Silvery Moon" by Tricia Goyer (Barbour Publishing)
17. "Coming Home" by Stacy Hawkins Adams (Zondervan)
18. "Alligator Lake" by Lynne Bryant (New American Library/Penguin)

Want to share your thoughts about some of the titles I've picked this year? Feel free to do so online at www.conversationsbookclub.com or www.conversationsmag.com or you can drop me an email at cawebb4@juno.com. Have a great summer! 

(Sat. June 30th) Pearl, MS Home of Conversations Summer Book Fair 2012

Conversations Media Group is pleased to announce that Conversations Summer Book Fair will be held Saturday, June 30, 2012 at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road * Pearl, MS) from 1-3p.m.

"This summer's event is special because we are bringing together a group of authors that are sure to attract readers of all genres and interests," says Cyrus Webb, President of Conversations Book Club. "This is sure to make it one of the best literary events of the summer in Mississippi."

Participating authors are E. V. Adams (Darling Nikki), Darlene Collier (Married To Sin), Roszalia Ellen (A Crushed Rose), Glenda L. Hunter (An Unspeakable Secret, Mommy Twinkle Eyes and Worthwhile? Who Me? Yes, You!), Lt. Garry Jones (Straight Out Of Hell 1 & 2 and I Wasn't Raised To Play By Their Rules) and Omegia Keeys (Passionate Playmates, Unloved, Single Black and Government Owned and The Not So Common Sense Guide For Authors). 

Book lovers across the state are invited to come out and enjoy this event. Admission to the event is free, and light refreshments will be provided by Conversations Book Club. For more information about the event contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.  CONVERSATIONS: Feeding Your Love Of Life! http://www.conversationsbookclub.com/

Conversations' "20 Summer Reads For Kids and Teens" of 2012

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!

NYT Bestselling author Wahida Clark's Visit to MS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

It was one of the most anticipated literary events for readers of urban fiction in Mississippi: the return of New York Times Bestselling author Wahida Clark to the Magnolia State. The morning of May 15th she began what was to be a full day of activities, promoting her newest bestseller PAYBACK AIN'T ENOUGH.

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb had the honor of not only hosting the day's events but traveling across Brandon, Ridgeland and Jackson with the Queen of Thug Love Fiction as she met with fans, signed books and shared some of the highlights of her literary journey.

The day began at Subway Restaurant in Brandon, MS where Clark was able to sit down with readers and talk about the road that has lead her to where she is today, what she is looking forward to and even giving advice for what it takes to make it in the business. Among those in attendance was Mississippi author Darlene Collier.

From there it was on to Books & Beignets in Ridgeland, MS where Ms. Clark signed the store's stock of her books, getting them ready for readers who might have missed her during the day.

After a short break the next stop was Medgar Evers Library in Jackson, MS where Wahida was able to meet the staff and the fans that came out to get their books signed, take pictures and chat with their favorite author. It was at this stop that Stanley Clark, co-founder of Conversations Book Club, and author Mr. Mean Mug were able to spend some time with her as well. Mean Mug had drove in that day from Dallas just to meet and support her during the day's events. "It's a blessing just to be here," he told Webb. "Wahida Clark is a legend."

The final stop of the day was at Books-A-Million in Jackson, MS. It was there that book club members and just avid readers were able to purchase signed copies of Wahida's books but get their own copies personalized while they discussed the new book and the series.

For more information about Wahida Clark's growing brand and the authors she is publishing as well visit www.wclarkpublishing.com. You can also find her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wahidaclark and on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wahida-Clarks-Readers-Club/114022775316019?sk=info.