Why "Balling with Books"?

Lovers of sports can also be lovers of good books too, especially if they contain stories that they can relate to and hold their attention. If a book can do that, then it will spark conversation that can both help and encourage others. That is what "Balling with Books" is all about! We want to be the avenue designed to encourage all people, no matter what their interests. We also want your thoughts! Contact Cyrus A. Webb at 601.896.5616 or via email at cawebb4@juno.com.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

WED. NOV. 12, 2008: Conversations talks w/author Gary Andrew Poole

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ 6p.m. CST (7p.m. EST/4p.m. PT)
Conversations LIVE!
will talk exclusively to Gary Andrew Poole, author of the book THE GALLOPING GHOST
(Red Grange: An American Legend).
Chosen as one of Conversations Book Club's "25 Best Kept Literary Secrets of 2008" and reading selection of "Ballin' With Books" Club (http://www.ballinwithbooks.com), the book chronicles history that many have forgotten or never even knew. In this interview Poole will talk about what drew him to the story and what we can learn from it today.

To listen to the interview live, simply visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or http://www.conversationsliveradio.com. You can also listen over the studio line at 1.347.426.3645.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Conversations Reviews "Mississippi's Uncovered Glory" by author Jerome Gentry

Conversations Book Club founder Cyrus A. Webb is pleased to announce that this week's book review that appeared in November 1, 2008's Rankin Ledger (Clarion Ledger insert) is of author Jerome Gentry's "Mississippi Uncovered Glory". (see link below)
(Click article to enlarge)
Did you miss Conversations' exclusive interview with Jerome Gentry discussing his book and what he hopes it does for others?
Listen to it here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/13/Author-Jerome-Gentry-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your world. Enjoy BOOKS! http://www.thebestbookclub.info

Author Sherry Hill talks about her new book with Conversations LIVE!

Did you miss our exclusive interview with Author Sherry Hill, author of the book THE MARQUISE HILL STORY: From The Cradle To The Bowl? If so, click this link to hear the entire podcast:
Ms. Hill talks about her beginnings, the importance of education to her and how she passed it on to her son and why she felt like his story needed to be told. During the discussion she also addresses some of why she thinks people of all backgrounds will benefit from the example of her son and will find something in his life that they can apply to their own. Advance copies of the book is NOW AVAILABLE. To get yours today, simply visit https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=50867. To find out more about the book, visit http://www.fromthecradletothebowl.com.
 

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Author Bruce Feldman (Meat Market) talks with Conversations LIVE!

Did you miss Conversations LIVE! Radio's exclusive interview with bestselling author Bruce Feldman? Listen to it here!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/29/Author-Bruce-Feldman-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE
The author talks about his beginnings, what inspired the book and even gives advice to aspiring authors. More information about the author can be found at http://www.brucefeldman.com . Meat Market is a Readers' Choice Selection for the Ballin' With Books Club. To find out more about other books in this club, visit http://www.ballinwithbooks.com .

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

"The Marquise Hill Story" featured in Jackson Advocate Newspaper

Thank you to the staff at the Jackson Advocate Newspaper (October 23-29, 2008) in Mississippi for taking the lead on discussing the upcoming book "The Marquise Hill Story: From The Cradle To The Bowl".
(Click article above to enlarge)
The mother of Marquise Hill, author Sherry Hill, will be a guest on Conversations LIVE! radio on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 6p.m. CST (7p.m. EST/ 4p.m. PT). To hear the show live, you can visit http://www.conversationsliveradio.com or call the studio line at 1.347.426.3645.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bestselling author/Baseball Collector Zack Hample talks with Conversations LIVE!

Did you miss Conversations LIVE!'s interview with bestselling author/baseball fan Zack Hample? Listen to it here!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/15/Zack-Hample-talks-Baseball-and-more-on-Conversations-LIVE

Just one week ago he was sitting across from Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, now he talks about his love of baseball, how his collection began and what he wants you to know about his passion for the written word as well. Want to know what catches stand out to him? Find out that and more in this exclusive interview. His book WATCHING BASEBALL SMARTER was chosen by Conversations Book Club as one of its selections for its "BALLIN' WITH BOOKS" Club.

Read more about it at http://www.ballinwithbooks.com or http://www.zackhample.com.

Author Jerome Gentry talks about his book with Conversations LIVE!

Citizen Broadcasting - Blog Talk Radio

Did you miss our exclusive interview with author Jerome Gentry? Listen to it in its entirety here!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/13/Author-Jerome-Gentry-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE
The author of MISSISSIPPI'S UNCOVERED GLORY tells us what led to the book, why the history he discovered is important and what our listeners can learn from his story. More information about Jerome Gentry and the book can be found at http://wwww.jeromegentry.com . The book MISSISSIPPI'S UNCOVERED GLORY is part of Conversations Book Club's "Ballin' With Books" Club. Additional info can be found at http://www.ballinwithbooks.com . JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/13/Author-Jerome-Gentry-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE
Click on the player or the link below to listen to the Author Jerome Gentry talks with Conversations LIVE! show

BlogTalkRadio Player

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/13/Author-Jerome-Gentry-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE



Powered by BlogTalkRadio
Webware Winner

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Conversations LIVE! speaks with the author of THE EXPRESS: The Ernie Davis Story

Did you miss our interview with Bestselling author Robert Gallagher discussing the book THE EXPRESS: The Ernie Davis Story*? Listen to the podcast here!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/14/Author-of-THE-EXPRESS-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE

He talks about himself, what led him to the story, who Ernie Davis was and how it feels to have something he wrote brought to life in a major motion picture. For more information about the book, visit http://www.ballantinebooks.com. Informaton about the movie can be found at http://www.theexpressmovie.com. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info

* THE EXPRESS was chosen as one of the "Ballin' With Books" Club's selections. http://www.ballinwithbooks.com

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Journey of New England Patriot Marquise Hill told in upcoming book

"The Marquise Hill Story: From the Cradle to the Bowl" by Sherry Hill is the compelling story of the life of New England Patriots lineman Marquise Hill, whose twenty-four year existence was tragically cut short on May 27, 2007 when the unforgiving currants of the Pontchartrain River in Louisiana claimed him forever during a jet-ski accident.  On Tuesday, December 9, 2008 his story will be released worldwide in this touching biography.

"In talking with Ms. Hill, you understand that telling this story is something she had to do," says Cyrus A. Webb, publicist on the project and President of Conversations Book Club and the Ballin' With Books Club. "Whether you are a parent, a young person with a dream or someone who is striving to succeed against all odds, the journey of Marquise Hill will speak to you."  The book will be marketed as part of the Ballin' With Books Literacy Campaign that encourages reading among lovers of sports.

Told by his mother as only she could, this book provides a candid account of a little boy growing up in Louisiana, who from a young age was thrust in the midst of "cutthroat New Orleans"—a street term aptly referring to the unsavory, unethical, criminal or hard-as-nails element which afflicts certain rough neighborhoods within this otherwise uniquely special old world city… perhaps in ways much similar to those found in other urban areas. This earnest account is narrated from the perspective of a grieving mother who walked this journey with her son, giving all of herself as a constant source of guidance and support.
 
Early on, the little boy learned shocking and tough lessons, oftentimes from the least likely sources. These lessons transformed him into a responsible young adult. From the arrest of his older cousin to the events that led to a lawsuit which shook him to the core—the circumstances of which revealed strong undertones of old Alabama in the manner of "Jena 6"—and then, the hurricane which wreaked havoc in the world that he loved with all his heart, he blossomed into a force of nature, determined to grab life by the horns and seize his dream.

As his legacy continues, the loss of this formidable personality continues to impact his loved ones in challenging and painful ways as they negotiate the tricky waters of deception, disloyalty and manipulation. Marquise Hill left no will to dispose of his estate upon his passing, which left the door wide open for the unpleasantness and opportunism that often surface when a considerable sum of money is involved. This book is a tell-all, and aims not only to speak to sports lovers but especially to those who have experienced loss and grief; it is candid and pulls no punches in its sheer honesty and plain exposition of facts and circumstances surrounding the life and death of a young man who had not yet lived to his full potential.

For additional information, visit http://fromthecradletothebowl.blogspot.com. "The Marquise Hill Story: From The Cradle To The Bowl" by Sherry Hill will be released worldwide on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. To schedule interviews, speaking engagements or other booking matters, contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.


____________________________________________________________
Click here to find experienced pros to help with your home improvement project.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Mississippi's Alpha Phi Alpha Endorses Ballin' With Books Reading Program


ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. ®
MISSISSIPPI ALPHA NETWORK
DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICKEY THIGPEN
Phone: 601.573.5963 | Fax: 601.960.1827
 
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
TO:       Cyrus Webb
FROM: Rickey Thigpen
             Alpha Network Executive Director District of Mississippi
DATE:  October 6, 2008
RE:        Ballin' with Books

The Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, District of Mississippi are pleased to support the initiative "Ballin' with Books" (http://www.ballinwithbooks.com).
 
For over one hundred years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated has worked to assure that education and equal human rights are
available to all people. Since 1927, fraternity members within the state of Mississippi have collectively pooled resources to assist
youth from every walk of life. Through Alpha Phi Alpha scholarship and mentoring programs, we have dedicated ourselves to assuring young
people embrace one of our oldest national programs, an initiative that encourages youth to "Go to High School, Go to College".

Alpha Phi Alpha encourages students matriculating through their academic experiences to be 'on top" of their game on and off the
field, court, diamond, lane and course. We encourage students from all walks of life to reinforce education in the classroom by
reading, an academic fundamental.

Congratulations on a lofty project! The Mississippi Alpha Network is proud to endorse this project.
Sincerely,

Rickey L. Thigpen
Executive Director
District of Mississippi/Mississippi Alpha Network
cc: Kelsey Rushing
     Kevin Wilbert

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Bestselling author John Ed Bradley talks with Conversations LIVE!

Citizen Broadcasting - Blog Talk Radio

Missed our exclusive interview with bestselling author John Ed Bradley? Listen to it here!
It was billed by Sports Illustrated as "the best sports book of the year" upon its release in 2007; however IT NEVER RAINS IN TIGER STADIUM by John Ed Bradley is so much more. Taking the reader into some of his most personal moments of triumph and tragedy, his memoir will easily resonate with readers of all genres. In this interview with Conversations LIVE! he talks about this and so much more. Bradley is also a supporter of our Ballin' With Books Reading Initiative. You can find out more about that at http://www.ballinwithbooks.com. For more details about IT NEVER RAINS IN TIGER STADIUM, visit http://www.espnbooks.com .
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/09/John-Ed-Bradley-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE
Click on the player or the link below to listen to the John Ed Bradley talks with Conversations LIVE! show

BlogTalkRadio Player

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2008/10/09/John-Ed-Bradley-talks-with-Conversations-LIVE



Powered by BlogTalkRadio
Webware Winner

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Interview with NBA great Alonzo Mourning kicks off "Ballin' With Books"!

"Ballin' With Books" (http://www.ballinwithbooks.com) is pleased to kick off this new endeavor with an exclusive interview with NBA great/Olympic Gold Medalist Alonzo Mourning! He is the author of RESILIENCE: Faith, Focus, Triumph--- a book that chronicles his highs and lows as well as the life-threatening disease that threatened to silence him forever.

The book will be available at bookstores everywhere on Tuesday, September 30, 2008. Exactly one week later, on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 he will be a guest on Conversations LIVE! at 12p.m. CST to discuss the book and answer your questions!

To listen to the show live, simply visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive at 12p.m. CST. Our online chat room will be open and listen for the call-in number to join the discussion and talk directly with Alonzo before the show ends.

Conversations Book Club and "Ballin' With Books" wishes to thank Random House for helping to make this discussion possible.

JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!