Conversations Book Club

Conversations Book Club's Top 25 Summer Reads of 2026 for Adults

2026-07-10T19:58:25.845-07:00

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb is excited to share his Top 25 Summer Reads of 2026 for adults. These books have been read by Webb personally, and he feels they are just the kind of books that will keep you turning the page and wanted to share with others.

Conversations' Top 25 Summer Reads of 2026 (listed in no particular order)

NON-FICTION TITLES

Joan by Joan Lunden (Lasega Books)
Arsenio by Arsenio Hall (Black Privilege Publishing)
Unread by Oliver James (Union Square)
Start with Yourself by Emma Grede (Avid Reader Press)
Remember the Times by Teddy Riley (Gallery Books)
The History We Carry by Margaret Whitford (She Writes Press)
Faith Over Fear by Michael Leach (Harper One)
Phases by Brandy (Hanover Square Press)
Never Too Late by Marla Gibbs (Amistad)
Think It by Sarah Centrella (Post Hill Press)
My 70s Love Story: 50 Plus Years Later by Dr. Velma Bagby (Dr. Velma Bagby)
La Lucci by Susan Lucci (Black Stone Publishing)
You Can't Keep a Good Elf Down by Janne Swearengen (Dragon Breath Press)
Alabaster Heart by Fe Davis (Listen Linda Publishing)
Twice the Vows, Twice the Grace by Gregory Napier and Carolyn Napier (Married with a Purpose)

FICTION TITLES

You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh (Amazon Publishing)
It Started with a Whisper by Rob Shuter (Post Hill Press)
The Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Key (Harper)
Another Havana Hangover by Randy Richardson (Randy Richardson)
Massawa by Pam Webber (She Writes Press)
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
Recipe for Joy by Monica Comas (Lake Union)
We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda (Poisoned Pen Press)
Payback by Elizabeth Rose Quinn (Thomas & Mercer)
With love from Harlem by Reshonda Tate (William Morrow)

[To You, From Me] Celebrating Books and the Authors Who Write Them

2025-12-25T16:42:00.000-08:00

I look forward to the Books You Need to Read edition of Conversations Magazine, mainly because if it wasn't for my own love of books and reading, I wouldn't have the life I enjoy today. Words helped to save my life, giving me a voice and thoughts that brought me back from some dark places. They helped me to realize the power of other's stories, and that was the reason I started hosting radio shows and doing this publication.

As we say goodbye to 2025, I am excited to share with you another amazing group of authors and the books they have given the world. Either through the interviews or the book recommendations, I think you'll find something that will not just meet you where you are. You'll see titles and storylines that you'll want to share with others.

So glad to have Harold Phifer, Barbara Worton and Tony Lindsay featured in this issue. All of them have written books that have spoken to me personally, and their individuals paths to publishing and writing will surely inspire others.

I am also glad I have the honor of chatting with Suzetta Perkins, a prolific author who this year celebrated her 20th book. There are also reviews of stellar books I read this year and my Top Books of 2025, too.

This issue is all about celebrating books and the authors who write them. It is my hope that it will give you titles to add to your own reading list, and maybe even share with others books you were touched by this year.

I would love to hear from you about what interview or book suggestion resonated the most with you.

Until next time, happy reading!

Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief

Conversations Magazine

[AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT] Take Ten with author Barbara Worton

2025-12-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

Barbara, congratulations on the new book CHATTERBOX. You’re no stranger to writing, but what makes this book different for you as the author?

Thank you, Cyrus, for this interview. It’s always a pleasure to share thoughts about writing with you and your Conversations audience.

You’re right, Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life is very different than my children’s book and my first collection of short stories. The stories in this book are deeply personal to my experience and, at the same time, touch points for the people who read them. I’m a child of the 1950s, half-Italian American, a native of New York and its suburbs, a bit of an outsider and a kid who wanted to be heard. In the moments, memories, observations, wonderings and cultural references I share from my childhood to the present day, I aim to connect people to their own experiences and the joy, doubt, amazement, loss, empathy, love, hopes, complexity of being human. People who have read or heard me read from Chatterbox say they see themselves in the stories, they shine a light on their memories and feelings.

It’s a pleasure to read the stories and reflections you share in the book. How did the writing of it start?

Memories and stories are always swirling around in my head. I write everyday about things that pop into my head to get them down on paper and hopefully understand them. A few years’ back, I was working with my friend Rochelle Udell on her memoir The Adventures of The Baker’s Daughter. She shared stories about her life. Those triggered memories for me which I shared with her. After her memoir was finished and published online, we created a weekly blog, and started sharing stories about all kinds of things. I wrote for the blog and the stories that I always write just for the heck of it every day, and the Chatterbox collection of stories came together.

I love how things like songs or movies make appearances in your musings. Have you always felt a connection to music and movies when it comes to your life and events you’ve experienced?

My life could be a musical. Seriously. Both my parents had good singing voices and loved music. I was in the school chorus and church choir and played the violin very badly. My brother Frank is an absolute musical genius. He started playing guitar at about age eight, I think, went on to play many other instruments, tour with a number of bands and composes music. My sister Laura had a great voice too. We used to sing together while we did the dishes after dinner. I think singing and playing music gave us the opportunity to say things we couldn’t actually speak out loud.

We didn’t have a lot growing up, but we had an enormous record collection in our house. There was always music playing. Someone was always singing. At family events, everyone sang—with my brother accompanying on guitar—and when we were in our teens and my brother was in a band, all the kids met at our house to rehearse in our finished basement or backyard. It was loud. My husband, Geoff, before he went to work in publishing, was a professional musician and has a breathtaking singing voice. And beyond that music defined my generation. Music was taught in schools. The radio, Ed Sullivan and other variety shows brought music into our homes. Chuck Berry, Elvis, Motown, The Beatles and English Invasion, Blues, R&B were the soundtrack of our lives. Going to concerts and clubs to hear bands and dance is what we did on a Saturday night.

And movies—Saturday afternoons was when the moms in my neighborhood deep-cleaned their houses. All of us kids were shuffled off to the local movie theater for the matinee show. Later in life, many of my friends were film students, so spending lots of time in dark movie theaters or making movies was what I did.

One of the powerful things you discuss is something a lot of people can relate to: the feeling of missing out on an opportunity. What was that like for you to think about when it came to sharing your stories and the things you wished you could have done or said?

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. Haven’t we all? I also see a lot of things very differently now than I did when I was younger. Family dynamics are complicated, and it took me a long time to understand a lot that didn’t make sense to me earlier in life. Fortunately, I did have some time to get to know my dad and mom better toward the end of their lives, but there was so much I still wish I had said and done with them. I see stories as a way to fess up about what I wish had gone better, say thank you to people I might not have said thank you to enough and share the best of the people I love with others so that they will in some small way live forever.

An interesting connection I found, Barbara, with your first book I read TOO TALL ALICE and CHATTERBOX is the idea of finding where you belong. How has writing helped you find your place in the world?

I’ve always been a bit of an outsider, never one of the cool kids at any age, a little too sensitive for my own good and a serious chatterbox. Growing up when I did, most girls were tracked into being a teacher, secretary or nurse. None of that appealed to me. Words were my passion, and I started writing stories very young. “Brenda Starr: Girl Reporter” was my favorite newspaper comic strip—I had my mother mail them to me at summer camp so I didn’t miss anything while I was away.—and that got me thinking I wanted to be a writer. I finished my first two years of college, got a job as a secretary, hated it, quit and enrolled in college again and studied to be a writer. My secretarial skills did get me a job at Kelly Girl right out of school and that landed me a temp job at a publishing company which turned into a full-time job, and I have been writing in one capacity or another ever since. With writing, I got to put all the things some people thought were annoying about me—sensitivity, over-analysis, talking too much, asking too many questions—to good use. So, yes, I did find my place thanks to words and stories. Did I ever feel like one of the cool kids after that? Nope. Never.

Was there a story in the book that was more difficult than others to share?

There are three, in fact: “In Another Man’s Shoes,” “I’m Afraid to Say” and “Hell Loop.” They are about my father and that I didn’t get to take him to France or say goodbye to him at the end of his life. I’ll leave it there. I think the stories say it all.

I can’t talk about writing without bringing up the readers. Have you gotten used to the reality of the fans of your work that you’ve gathered over the years?

Fans? Me? That’s an idea I can’t get my head around at all. I am still amazed when people tell me they like my stories and know my name before I introduce myself. Yes, it makes me happy that people like what I write, and I love when they share stories that were sparked by what I wrote. Connecting people to what we have in common is one of my goals with my books and stories. So, a little secret: A number of wonderful people wrote endorsements or blurbs for Chatterbox. I cried every time I read one of them and said to Geoff, “I can’t believe it. People understand what I’m trying to say. They get me.”

CHATTERBOX has both nostalgic and revelatory vibes for me as a reader. Was that your hope? What did you hope readers would glean from not just the look at yourself but even at the events that have shaped them?

Empathy is something sorely lacking in our world right now. Stories—fiction and non-fiction—help us to learn empathy. That’s what I hope Chatterbox—well, all three of my books—will do. Walking a mile in one of my stories, I’m hoping, will bring readers closer to their own stories and the realization that we are not so different from each other. Personal stories, I have seen time and again, connect all of us to the universal. There is a revelatory moment or of self-reflection for every reader when a little light goes off and they think, “Oh, wow, that’s just like me, I’ve felt that, I never knew other people had the same experience.”

If my stories open a reader’s heart or mind to someone or something they’ve not known or maybe even liked before or erase a bias or tear down a wall to understanding or lead them to think about their own past, present and future, I’ve done my job as a writer. And, of course, I hope my stories make people smile. There’s a lot of funny stuff in Chatterbox.

Barbara, any advice you have for aspiring authors out there when it comes to writing that book they have talked about or thought about?

Write. Write. Write. Read. Read. Read. Watch, listen to and observe everything around you: the sounds of the street, your house, conversations—your own and those you hear when you’re not supposed to be listening. Catalog all of it. Writing is about observing and reporting on the human condition and experience. And dig deep into yourself. Facing your truths, all of them, is where the best stories start. Let yourself wander and wonder. Don’t edit anything, get the words down and then figure out what you’re trying to say. And remember, you have a story to tell, and it is worth sharing. Oh, and take courses and engage with other writers. I have grown so much as a creative person through continuous learning and being in the company of other talented people—and that’s also very life-affirming.

I am so proud of you, Barbara, and happy we had this time together. How can our readers stay connected with you?

My website is where you can find all kinds of information about me and my work, www.barbaraworton.com. I do a regular email newsletter “Barbara Is Chatterbox,” and if you’d like to get that, please drop me a line at barbara@barbaraworton.com. And you can find me on Instagram @barbaraischatterbox.

Thank you again, Cyrus, for this opportunity. You always getting me talking! And thank you to everyone who has read this piece. Peace, love and happiness to all of you.

[AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT] Tony Lindsay: Using Words to Entertain and Touch the Heart

2025-12-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Web

Tony Lindsay is one of those authors that can literally write anything. I've had the privilege to read a variety of titles by him as well as engaging non-fiction work that he has shared in the pages of Conversations Magazine.

In 2025 he gave us another great mystery/thriller called WHAT IF I DON'T. It takes readers on a wild ride that draws you into the character's lives and have you wondering what will happen next. We discuss his literary path and more.

Tony, it is great to catch up with you as we are celebrating 19 years of the magazine and your new book WHAT IF I DON’T. What has it been like to reflect on your extraordinary writing career?

Reflecting can be bittersweet; the obstacles / hurdles standout, but so do the accomplishments – simply getting published proved to be a major feat, and the people I meet on the journey was a strong positive. It was and is good to have help, and it was and is good to be of help to others, so when I reflect, my mind recalls the friends I met that made this career possible.

When did you discover your gift of storytelling?

My mother says I have been telling good stories since I learned to talk, but I was in elementary school when I noticed that the stories I wrote held the attention of other kids, and it wasn’t until high school did I discover that holding other’s attention was a talent.

You’ve been able to give readers so many different types of reads, each one with its own heart and message. Is that what keeps it fun for you?

Yes, writing in different genres is fun, and it allows me exposure to different readers; I can reach mystery readers, street lit readers, and those who enjoy thrillers, vampire stories, and espionage tales. Yes, writing tales with varied parameters and structures is indeed fun.

Tell us about WHAT IF I DON’T. How did the story initially come to you?

WHAT IF I DON’T came to be because I wanted to write something different. I wanted to write a story with more than one protagonist, and I also wanted to comment on the need for community mental health facilities, and I wanted to show a family working together for a common goal, and I wanted to play a bit with the word family because there are so many examples and definitions of the word. The family in WHAT IF I DON’T grows, helps, and supports which is what a family should do. The story came out of my own growth as a writer; it came from trying something new.

As a reader there are so many layers to this new story, but the main one is what would you do to protect yourself and others. Is that one of the things you’re hearing from readers?

Yes, protection is a strong theme within the story, and readers have reflected on it in terms of strength, commenting on characters being strong enough to protect themselves and others. Readers are also commenting on unexpected plot twists both large and small. And surprisingly, the love and emotion in the story has drawn repeated comments on the romantic relationships in the tale. Readers were seriously invested in the characters, and the plot twists have sparked some “polarized” responses. I am loving all the comments.

Tony, the publishing world has changed so much since you first appeared on the scene. What do you attribute your staying power to at this point?

I love to create a story; I enjoy providing a reader with a story that holds their attention. I believe readers know I enjoy the craft, and they continue to read me due to this dedication. They read me expecting a good story.

Social media is one of the things that has become integral in pretty much every career, but especially for authors. How do you navigate that and not let it become overwhelming as you’re making time for writing?

I am not as astute as I should be in regard to social media; however, there are others who are. I buy services to reach my target audience. I am guilty of concentrating more on the “social” part of those media services, but I do market on them, and I am aware of the necessity.

I know the new book WHAT IF I DON’T is just out, but is there anything else we should be on the lookout for?

I am working on the next novel. I like the title a lot, so I will keep to myself until the story is released. There are some upcoming events that will be posted on the social media outlets.

Any advice you want to share for aspiring writers when it comes to sharing their stories and gifts with the world?

Read, keep writing, meet your readers, and remember your story is unique.

Thanks again for all you do, Tony. It’s an honor to call you a friend. How can our readers stay connected with you?

I feel the same, friend. Continued success. Readers can email at writinging.night@gmail.com, and I am on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X – just search my name.

[Author Spotlight] Suzetta Perkins: Building Worlds and Connecting Readers with Every New Release

2025-12-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Webb

It's been amazing watching the journey of bestselling author Suzetta Perkins. I first got a chance to interview her in 2008 with her book EX-Terminator. Since then I have seen her garner a fanbase of readers around the world, win awards and in 2024 we were both honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for our work in the community.

As 2025 was coming to a close, Suzetta released her 20th book, One L-Hyde Place. In this conversation we discuss the road to where she is today, the new book and advice for everyone pursuing their goals and dreams.

Suzetta, it’s been great following your career over the years. What has it been like to look at the books you have written and the lives you have touched through them?

I’m still in wonder about my accomplishments on this literary journey considering I was afraid to step out on faith in the beginning. However, it has been a pure pleasure and rewarding to write stories that I’m proud of, not only leaving something for posterity, but how readers have endeared themselves to my work and have been loyal followers, often sharing how a particular story impacted them.

I have interviewed you before, but we met for the first time in person in 2024. During the Chosen Pen Awards we were both honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards. Do you still have those pinch-me moments when it comes to your literary career and the impact you’ve had on communities?

Yes, and I don’t take anything for granted. Writing is my passion. I only hoped that readers would enjoy what I’ve written, and to those I’ve helped along the way, it was pure joy. To receive and be honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award was humbling.

This year we connected around your book LOVING MYSELF (Reese’s Story). What has it been like for you to connect with different ages through the books and characters?

I have to begin this answer with a review I received online. A reader wrote, she wished her sixteen-year-old self had read this book. That said it all to me. The dialogue at several book club meetings I attended to discuss this book was deep, as different ones shared personal experiences that either involved them or a loved one. With all my character Reese endured, many agreed with how she was able to overcome and begin healing, while others felt with the odds stacked against her, it was too soon for her to achieve what she did. It elicited deeper conversations, which were valuable. While I was writing this story, I was a mentor to two young teens as they wrote their stories about self-esteem, colorism, texturism as it applied to black and brown girls. Our discussions led them to read my work and asking for a follow-up.

So many writers have come and gone since you entered the literary world. What do you think has been the key to your success?

Reading and writing are my first loves. As I expressed earlier, I have a passion for this. Whether I’m published or not, I’ll always write.

You are also instrumental in helping others along their literary journey. Why has that been important to you?

Giving back is cliché, however, I recall how being in a writer’s group and gaining wisdom from author friends helped guide my work. Being asked to mentor aspiring authors in Chosen Pen, a group established by Dr. Norma McLauchlin, just opened up an avenue that I hadn’t anticipated. It also led me to establish a Life Group— Literary Ink through my church, guiding individuals who have a desire to write a book but didn’t know how to get started, and seeing them to the finish line—editing and publishing. Three members have published, and I’m so proud of their accomplishments. There’s nothing like authors helping authors.

Outside of writing, you have a genuine love of life. Part of that includes traveling. How has seeing the world helped you in the worlds that you create?

There’s nothing like seeing a character travel around the world, giving a reader a worldwide view of places they may wish to travel, especially people of color. I can’t tell you how many readers tell me they want to travel to a particular place I’ve portrayed in a story. It’s been humbling attending several book club meetings where I’ve walked into Paris or Italy, scenes that grew out of the stories I wrote about, making guests feel as if they were really there.

You are ending 2025 with the announcement of a new book. Tell us about it.

My 20th book. Wow. One L-Hyde Place is about a minister’s fall from grace. Ordained as one of God’s messengers, Maxwell Washington breaks a cardinal rule. He has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. A newly ordained minister of a small congregation in Mississippi, he has eyes on a larger prize—a mega church that will bring in bigger tithes. However, the sky, a pivotal character throughout the story, gives you a glimpse into Maxwell’s fall from grace almost as soon as the story opens.

What advice would you give others about the importance of pursuing their goals and dreams?

For those pursuing a goal and/or dream, my advice is to keep your eyes on the prize. If what you’re pursuing is your true desire, don’t allow anyone to dissuade you from accomplishing and reaching your goal. Sometimes dreams are deferred, pushed to the sideline for a minute, but don’t give up. You can only reach your goal if you believe it’s yours.

Thanks again, Suzetta, for your friendship and support over the years. How can our readers stay connected with you?

Cyrus, thank you for giving me the opportunity over the years to showcase my work. You are a prenominal interviewer/influencer, and I congratulate you on all of your accomplishments. Readers can connect with as follows:

Website: suzettaperkins.com

FB/Meta: Suzetta Perkins

X: Authorsue

IG: suzettaperkins

TikTok: Authorsue

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] POWER OF THE ZIP by Jill Kamp Aaronson is less about what you SAY and more about who you ARE

2025-12-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the saying ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS---and in the newest addition to Jill Kamp Aaronson's POWER OF THE ZIP books, I found that to be the central theme.

POWER OF THE ZIP: Stop Talking- Start Listening shows the reader not just the importance of what we say. It dives into the power of sometimes not saying anything and just allowing how we respond be the answer to the situation. I love that the book reminds us that there is no blueprint to EVERY scenario we face, but there are things we can do to make sure that we not only let people feel heard but SEEN, too.

Though Jill is known for what she has been able to share in the workplace, this book really is a guide for all aspects of life, showcasing the importance of making POWER OF THE ZIP a lifestyle choice rather than something we attempt to turn on and off. Whether we're talking about dealing with friends, family or those we work with, the important thing is to treat each individual as the unique person they are so they know you are not just listening but hearing them.

Filled with great examples from her own life and even some Biblical references that will hit home for some readers, POWER OF THE ZIP: Stop Talking-Start Listening gives you guidelines to not just make what you say more impactful. It will make your LIFE more impactful as well.

Get your copy on Amazon.

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby

2025-12-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like recognizing and acknowledging your own value and worth.

We live in a world where not everyone will see the gift and treasure that we are, but that doesn't mean we should ever dim our light so others can't see the light we carry.

In HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS Dr. Velma Bagby shows how at different points in her life there were those who didn't see her worth or value. She was then presented with a choice: Would she be the person her parents had told her that she was or would she dim that light so others would not be offended?

We're able to see how Dr. Velma embraced her gifts and her talents and the doors that opened for her in the process. The book also reminds us that regardless of our age, we all need the reminder to hold our heads up, walking confidently in our calling.

In the back of the book we are able to get activities that the reader can do alone or with others, but we also get the assurance that if we walk in our worthiness and embrace who we are great things can come our way. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS is a testament that who you are matters. You just have to walk in your own authenticity and know that everything will work out.

Get HOLD YOUR HEAD UP, PRINCESS on Amazon.

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Beauty Beyond the Tears : Finding Strength After Loss by Kate Thurman

2025-12-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Having known Kate Thurman for a while now, I was so proud of her sharing a deeply personal part of her journey with the world in this book---and I think we are all better because of it.

Beauty Beyond the Tears: Finding Strength After Loss is not just about trying to find understanding and hope when tragedy strikes. It's about being honest about where you are, what you feel and knowing that through it all God is there. Even when it doesn't feel like it.

Kate and her husband Chris' experience is theirs, but it is also that of so many. That is why I am glad the world can read it and see themselves and find the peace they have been looking for. It's not an easy road. It's not something that will change overnight, but BEAUTY BEYOND THE TEARS shows there IS HOPE. There IS HEALING. And through everything that we go through in life this book reminds us not to lose faith. You can find not only strength after loss. You can rediscover yourself and your purpose, too.

Get your copy on Amazon.

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] POST OAK: Quanah Parker, The Comanche, and the Mission by Tina Siemens

2025-12-25T05:58:00.000-08:00

With books like SEMINOLE and THE LITTLE SANDALS THAT COULD, author and historian Tina Siemens has shared not just her love of history but her family's example of perseverance, even in difficult times.

With her latest book POST OAK: Quanah Parker, The Comanche, and the Mission we're able to go back in time to a period of war, mistrust and the actions of individuals that would reverberate for decades to come.

POST OAK is the story of how tragedy came to the Parker family, and in the midst of that the journey of vengeance, survival and understanding. I love how Tina is able to make us think of life for the Indians and the settlers, and the decisions they made that would affect not just their lives but those to come.

Tina also shows that the price of war and retribution is not just to human life. It has to do with the land and all that live on it, man and beast.

A story that can be difficult at times to understand but is important to read, POST OAK stands out as a book about not giving up hope and fighting for what you believe is right, no matter the costs.

Get your copy on Amazon.

[CYRUS WEBB REVIEWS] Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell

2025-12-25T05:56:00.000-08:00

When it comes to writing fiction that brings you in and makes you feel a part of the story, few can do it like Colette R. Harrell. As she begins her new series LOVING DIFFERENT she kicks it off with characters that are flawed, relatable and in many ways everything you HOPE you would be in trying circumstances.

CHASING DIFFERENT brings us into the worlds of Deacon Everette and Nia Lewis: two individuals who don's seem as though they would be "right" together but the circumstances they are thrust into show that they couldn't be more compatible. In the middle of literally racing against time and running for their lives, the two main characters must learn to trust each other and themselves if they want to survive.

Along the way they are guided by the words and actions of other trusted individuals that help to steer them as they not just try to expose The Council---but let others see the dangers of power when it is used against those it's meant to protect.

As I have come to expect for Colette, this book takes many twists and turns. For some it will be seen as a romance. To others it will be a thriller. Still others will see it as an indictment of the world we find ourselves currently living in. For me it's a Colette R. Harrell book, and that means to expect the unexpected and then some.

CHASING DIFFERENT is not just about embracing all that you are. It's about uniting together so that our differences and strengths can work together for good.

Get your copy of CHASING DIFFERENT on Amazon.

[AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT] Author Harold Phifer aka Dean Conan

2025-12-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Webb

I was first introduced to Harold Phifer through his book Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at a Beach Bar. It allowed readers to see how he dealt with challenges in life and made it on the other side. In 2025 he expanded his library, sharing not just the non-fiction book MY BULLY, MY AUNT AND HER FINAL GIFT but the fictional title FOOL ME THRIVE through his pen name Dean Conan. Through it out, Harold is able to share his love of sharing stories and finding readers around the world.

Harold, it’s great to have you as one of our features for Conversations’ Books You Need to Read Edition. When did you realize that writing was something you wanted to do?

My life was highly unusual but underneath it all I wanted to tell others about it. So, day after day I would envision how I would deliver my journey. The more I talked to myself about my situation the more I began to feel I could put together real and imagine concepts together.

You have been able to share aspects of your life and life lessons through your work. What has it been like to see readers connect with you through your experiences?
It’s been amazing! Even though I felt I had something that would touch others, I wasn’t sure it would connect with those that couldn’t relate. But readers love a good book and took to the way I relayed my history.

You have had the privilege of traveling around the world. How has that changed your perspective of what it possible in life?

My travels made me realized I wasn’t poor compared to others in undeveloped countries. It made me complain even less. Eventually, it left me with only one gripe versus others who was less fortunate. That being my mom schizophrenia. After all things being said, it pointed to 'Harold just gets over it!'

Outside of the books you write under your name, you are able to also create characters under your penname Dean Conan. What led to this decision?

It’s a good hard escape! It’s a chance to be creative and venture into a world I was never a part of. So, in a sense, life and dating may not be how I projected it for my character Charlie Mo; but it’s fun to build that world and those dynamics around The Fools Gold Chronicles.

Your characters are also going through life, trying to figure things out. Do you think that is what has made them so entertaining and relatable?

For sure! Charlie Mo lost everything (family, money), and even his Loverboy mojo. A lot of people in real life are struggling to put together success, love, and family.

Social media is one of the ways you are able to connect with readers and the world. How has that helped you to expand your reach?

With social media, I get to be in a so many places, lots of threads, and constant conversations that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Mind you, I try to instruct my subscribers, followers, and the audience to constantly “Like and Share” my content because they are helping to reach readers, communities, organizations, and book clubs at a level I could never afford.

What should we expect next from either Dean Conan or you?

Under Dean Conan, I’m hoping to drop the trilogy to “The Fool’s Gold Chronicles.” As for Harold Phifer, I do have another personal story to release. Then, I’m hoping to do my first fiction under Harold Phifer.

Any advice you would like to share, Harold, for those looking to start their own writing career?

Just start writing and keeping notes. Amazing when you sleep, stories and scenarios will flow through your head. As soon as you’re awake, jot down the things you remember. That itch will come. It may take a ton of drafts and a long time in months and years to formulate your story, but eventually you will get there. Remember to always believe in yourself and don’t let the criticism get you down.

Thanks for your time and congratulations again on your success. How can our readers stay connected with you?

Thank you as well! First, I hope all listeners will Like and Share my content as it appears in your social media. Next, my website: RiseAndRead.com. While on my website, make sure to subscribe or just reach out and make contact. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or leave suggestions.

My social media: (Facebook and Instagram): HaroldPhifer2024

Twitter (X): @hephifer

Tik Tok: @hephifer6

YouTube: Harold Phifer

[AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT] C. I. Jerez, author of AT THE ISLAND'S EDGE

2025-12-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Webb

C. I., it is a pleasure to have you join us for Conversations Magazine’s #BooksYouNeedtoRead issue. Congratulations on the response to AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE. What has it been like for you to see the way readers are responding to the story?

I want to describe this experience in a way that doesn’t lean on a cliché, but I can’t seem to get past ‘a dream come true.’ Writing a book that pulled out some of my deepest emotions and parts of my soul in a way that felt artistic and engaging for readers has been something I’ve closed my eyes and dreamed about since I was a very young girl. I’ve spent years tormented by stories that I was too afraid to tell because I wasn’t sure I could be trusted to tell them correctly. I’m so glad I got over that!

I also feel very blessed to be releasing a book during a time in our history when an author can connect with readers all over the world very easily, and they can share pictures of the book and their experiences reading it with only a few clicks.

Connecting with my readers and hearing about how my book has touched their hearts and opened up new worlds for them has been one of the most beautiful experiences. You write the book, and you hope and pray readers will connect to the story. When it actually does…Well, for me, it’s a moment to look up at the sky and simply say, “Thank you.”

· Did you always know that storytelling in some form was something you wanted to do?

Oh yes. I would read books by Judy Blume, R.L. Stein, Francine Pascal, and more when I was in the second, third, and fourth grade, and I was fully immersed in the idea that I was practicing and studying for the day I would grow up and write them myself. I have always believed I was born to be a writer. I also knew I would lean toward fiction. I’ve read and enjoyed non-fiction, but, for me, there’s no greater joy than getting lost in the artistry, magic, and creativity of a story.

· The book AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE has so many layers, with fights on a battlefield and figuratively as well. How did the story come about?

After reading The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni, I was inspired to write something with a strong message. I’ve always dreamed of writing books that would transcend generations with powerful messages of humanity. Not a tall order or anything (laughing). When I dream, I tend to dream big, and after reading Dugoni’s novel, I was inspired to do something that would leave readers with the same feeling I had after closing his book, and I knew there would be a precocious and intelligent little boy at the heart of my first book. I’ve proudly raised three beautiful daughters, so the mystery of raising a little boy still fascinates me, and writing would allow me to explore that relationship.

As I began to develop my character, 9-year-old Matteo “Teó” Salvador, I realized the story was actually about his mom, Lina, who served in the Army.

One morning, after a week or so of thinking about Teó, I woke up with an idea. What if his mom, Lina, an Army medic and a self-proclaimed saver of lives, was forced to take a life on the battlefield, and the combatant she confronted was a young man who reminded her deeply of her son back home? Immediately, I understood the complexities of her identity as a mother, a soldier, and how the cultural aspects of being a Latina would all plague her in different ways. I knew what it was to be a young mother in uniform during this tenuous time in our nation’s history, which empowered this idea that I could create Lina’s journey with the depth and intimacy it deserved.

Everything flowed from there.

Lina is such a relatable character. We’re able to see her struggles as well as her quest to do better and be better. Do you see parts of yourself in her?

I do! Lina is a dreamer, and she’s proven to herself that she can be fearless in pursuit of her dreams. She also loves her child deeply and sacrificially. Those are two areas where I connected with her the most. I will admit that I chose very distinct and different flaws for her than the ones I battle in myself because I didn’t want her to be me, and as a debut author, that’s a very real risk. By making Lina different enough, I was able to get to know her as her own person and didn’t just sit down to write a character who thinks, acts, and feels the way I do. It was an enlightening experience to create that distance and see how, through it, I gained a profound and genuine understanding of her as well.

Truth is also a big part of this book. Living with the truth and realizing what has been kept from you. Lina experiences this with her own mother. Did you know this was going to be a big part of the story when you started writing it?

No, not at all. When I wrote the scene where Lina discovers her family has been hiding something from her “for her own good,” I had no idea the story was going to go in the direction it did. Looking back, I know undoubtedly that it was organic and true to the story, so I’m glad that when the idea flowed fresh from my mind onto the page, I didn’t fight it.

I think writers who write their books or, in my case, parts of their books, by the seat of their pants (a.k.a. “pantsers”) experience an internal affirmation, at times, that what has just uncovered itself was meant to be there all along. We simply didn’t know it yet.

This subplot in Lina’s story was that kind of case. Writing this book, in fact, introduced me to many magical moments like that, where I understood that as a writer, our responsibility when writing our first draft is to be spiritually and creatively open. It’s only in the openness that the story will easily flow through your fingers, just as it was meant to be all along.

You’ve talked online, C.I., about the writing and publishing journey. What keeps you inspired, even through the challenges?

Some days I call it inspired, other days I call it tormented [Laughing], but it’s the important stories swirling around in my head that I want to share with the world. I’m very lucky to have lived such an eclectic and interesting experience so far.

I’ve traveled and lived in so many different parts of the U.S. and abroad. My family background is a diverse mix of cultures, blending Irish, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, made more unique after being raised on the Mexican border. I’ve worked in many different industries, in different places, in many different roles. I believe all of this has been with a purpose. I’ve had a direct eye view of so many unique people and their experiences that my brain’s idea bucket is filled with characters, topics, and stories that I’m dying to share with the world.

I am a true student of humanity and the human experience. I love to discover people, and the way I process their journey and experiences is through story. Writing is part of my existence, who I am, and I’m happiest when I’m behind the keyboard bringing a new story to life. I think there’s a reason God made me this way and allowed me the journey I’ve been on. Writing is where I fulfill my end of the deal in this agreement called life.

Speaking of social media, that is one of the ways you’re able to connect to your readers. What has that experience been like for you?

Overwhelming, most days, because I’m not sure if I’m doing it right.

I’m a strong Type-A personality, and I want to master everything I dedicate a concerted effort to. So, I often remind myself that I’m not trying to be a social media influencer; I want to be an author. This means I need to spend my time and energy accordingly on the efforts that have my heart, like writing books! I don’t dive in and study how to make beautiful reels or drive virality. My goal is to be present and available for my readers, using social media to connect with them, let them know what's coming next, and hopefully inspire new readers to join me on the journey. I really like social media as a tool for connection in ways that actors, musicians, and authors couldn’t connect before. I just ask for grace when the story cuts off mid-sentence, or the book title looks backwards. I’m still learning!

Any advice you have for aspiring writers that you want to share?

I have three pieces of advice that I think changed the tide for me and put me on a path to publishing:

1. Read at least three or four good craft-related novels. I recommend Sol Stein, Tiffany Yates Martin, and Lisa Cron’s books on craft.

2. Join a writer’s group where most of the writers have professional experience and LISTEN to their feedback. Even if you don’t take it, learn from it. Be open and pay attention to their first reactions to your book, and don’t take it personally. This is where we learn.

3. Lastly, read your work out loud and record yourself. Then play it back and listen to it. Different parts of your brain engage each time, and you will connect with the flow. Don’t do this until you’ve finished your first draft and let it sit, without touching it, for at least two to three weeks.

Thanks again for your time, C.I. How can our readers stay connected with you?

I’ve surprised myself at how engaged I’ve become on social media! You’ll find me on Facebook as C.I. Jerez, on Instagram, and on Threads as @c.i._jerez. And on TikTok at CIJerez. And I love when readers connect with me on my website. I do have a monthly newsletter I send out at www.cijerezbooks.com .

[AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT] Babs Walters, author of FACING THE JAGUAR

2025-12-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Webb

To share your truth with the world can be scary, but for Babs Walters it became part of the healing process. Her book FACING THE JAGUAR is a book I got a chance to read in 2025, and our conversation about it was not just powerful but empowering.

In this chat we discuss the book, opening up and embracing her truth and what she hopes readers take away from it.

· Babs, congratulations on your book FACING THE JAGUAR. I had a chance to discuss it with you before the release. How does it feel to be able to finally share it with the world?

Both scary and wonderful. Writing about your life, putting it onto paper is a completely different experience than reading the words of your life in front of witnesses or hearing people’s reactions when they read it for themselves. Then too, a memoir is a very personal way to share. It is not a story from one’s imagination. It is our truth as we remember it. But the wonderful part is the reaction from early readers or people attending talks I’ve given. I’m finding the world is ready to share their own family secrets.

· You’re able to chronicle your journey as a survivor and someone who has been able to thrive through abuse. What is it like to show other people what is possible when it comes to difficult and painful situations?

My early childhood and young adulthood was like growing up in a war zone. Therapists called what I have PTSD, similar to what returning combat soldiers have. The only way for me to make sense out of what happened was to give meaning and purpose to it. Using what I learned to help others step out of the darkness and heal from the weight of the shame and guilt. If I can do that, it will not have been for nothing.

· Was it an easy decision to share your story? What helped you to do so?

It was easy to tell myself that someday I would write a book. But actually healing enough to write the present version of it was complicated. Several of my family members are not happy about me airing our little secret. Some of the people who will recognize themselves in my story will disagree because they remember events differently. And even though I have changed names and details to protect them, the story is an expose, a spotlight on what happens when no one is looking.

One of the most powerful recollections in the book is the conversation with your mother about the abuse and her own lack of protection. Was that difficult to revisit?

As a child, I resented my mother for not being the kind I wanted. Probably many teenage girls feel the same way about their mothers. But in my maturity, I’ve come to think of her as a survivor too. She did what she had to in order to survive. It just wasn’t very maternal. Instead of being difficult to revisit or think about, writing about her has given me peace. People do crazy things when their survival is in jeopardy. It’s just unfortunate that it happened in my home.

· What is your hope for people reading FACING THE JAGUAR when it comes to embracing their own inner strength?

My hope is that people will share the light I’m shining into a dark place and use it to find their own way forward. There is a way out. It takes work and faith. When we help others, we help ourselves at the same time.

For those who have their own stories to tell, what advice would you give them?

Have perseverance and patience. Don’t give up no matter how long it takes. It may not happen in the time frame we expect. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening just because we can’t see it. Make it your mission to help others.

I love this quote by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. “Each time we help someone cross a threshold, we ourselves are transformed. There is something about being a guide at the boundary between spatial realms that enlarges our souls.”

· Thanks again for the time, Babs. How can our readers stay connected with you?

https://www.babswalters.com

YouTube.com/@facingthejaguar

@walters.babs - Instagram

Babs Walters Author - Facebook

[SPOTLIGHT] Midnight Ace of Midnight Ace Book Bar

2025-12-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

by Cyrus Webb

You might not know her name, but you know her work. The influencer we call Midnight Ace has built her platform online introducing us to books and the authors that write them.

· Midnight Ace, it has been great following your journey. When did you first realize your love of books?

I have been a reader as long as I can remember, starting back in elementary school. My journey didn’t start off sneaking and reading romance books. To be honest, I didn’t like romance back then. I was into my mysteries.

· What has it been like for you to share your love of books and the authors who write them with the world?

Cyrus, if you had told me that I would be up close with some of the most revered authors I would not have believed it. I mean even a burning bush moment might even have given me pause. (laughs) It is an amazing experience!

I wished it would’ve happened sooner, so that I could’ve shared some of these moments with my sister, who really introduced me to romance. Beverly Jenkins was one of the first black authors she shared with me.

To that point, you have had the opportunity to work with authors over the years. How did that start?

I can't recall the one thing, but it would have to be experiencing book events, meeting and talking with authors. Now I am doing my own brand of reviewing and wine pairing. I think that gets people’s attention. Also, I tend to tell the authors what I think the characters should be doing next and that has given me opportunities to work behind the scenes with authors helping to craft scenes, proofreading, Alpha and Beta reading.

When Iris Bolling reached out to me some years ago and asked if I wanted to be a part of her team, I was hesitant because I didn’t think I had much to offer; but that has come with an overwhelming amount of knowledge about the business and business in general.

I have been introduced to many people, including you, Cyrus, and Shay Baby, to name a few. I want to thank you for the invaluable knowledge that you are always willing to share.

I appreciate that, and it was great to meet you last year. I appreciate all that you do. Midnight Ace, it’s not easy to put yourself out there to the world. What has helped you to build your platform?

I am still very comfortable behind the scenes. Traveling and attending events kind of blows that wide open. Having a circle of people who celebrate you and really want to hear what you have to say is humbling. It still surprises me when one of my Book Buddies reaches out and asks for a book or wine recommendation. Or an author tells me I made them feel welcome when I interview them. My love for books and discussing them won’t let me hide. The saying “Reading is Not my Hobby, It is My Lifestyle” applies to me.

We are looking forward to what is coming next for you. Thanks for spending some time with us, Midnight Ace. How can our readers stay connected with you?

Cyrus, the pleasure and honor are all mine, I appreciate you.

My website www.midnightacebookbar.com

Email: midnightacebookbar@gmail.com

YouTube: @midnightacebookbar1984

Social Media platforms: @midnightacebookbar

Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers, 2025

2025-12-11T04:48:00.000-08:00

Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club are excited to share their Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2025.

Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2025 (listed in no particular order)

Ballet Brown by Bellen Woodard (Scholastic Inc)
The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic Press)
Snoop by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Press)
The Family I'm In by Sharon G. Flake (Scholastic Press)
Little Big Man by Varian Johnson (Orchard Books)
Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
Becoming Boba by Joanna Ho and Amber Ren (Orchard Books)
Cassie the Sassy Fairy by Rochelle Dawson (Rochelle Dawson)
Harlem Honey by Tamron Hall (Harper)
Ruby Bridges: A Journey of Courage and Forgiveness by Dr. Norma McLauchlin (Chosen Pen)
A Hidden Surprise in the Forest by William D. McCreary (William D. McCreary)
Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman (Viking)
Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson (Scholastic Press)
Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin (Orchard Books)
Dream it! Sing it! Do it! by Jason Derulo (Lightswitch Learning)

Conversations' Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025

2025-11-30T16:04:00.000-08:00

Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club shares its Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025!

Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025 (Listed in no particular order)

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman (Union Square & Co.)
The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado (Thomas & Mercer)
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
Please Don't Lie by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt (Thomas & Mercer)
At the Island's Edge by C. I. Jerez (Lake Union)
A Fool Indeed by Dean Conan (Rise and Read)
The Queen's Musician by Martha Jean Johnson (Spark Press)
Rooftop by Darden North (WordCrafts Press)
Starting From Here by Paula Saunders (Random House)
Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell (Intentional Entertainment)
Love Between the Pages by Natasha D. Frazier (Encouraging Works)
Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap (Crooked Lane)
What If I Don't by Tony Lindsay (Tony Lindsay)
A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy (Zibby Books)
The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass (Crooked Lane)
Split by Michael Swartz (Koehler Books)
Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
Loving Myself: Reese's Story by Suzetta Perkins (SP Productions)
Trapped: City of Angels by Michael Cory Davis (Michael Cory Davis)
The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee w/ Jayne Allen (Storehouse Voices)
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas & Mercer)
Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda (Scarlet)
Seth's Cross by Jeff Randall (Winged Publications)
The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (Zibby)
Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner (Grand Central)

Conversations Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025

2025-11-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club have compiled its Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025.

Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025 (listed in no particular order)

Words Make a Way Through Fire by Cyra Sweet Dumitru (She Writes Press)
Beauty Beyond the Tears by Kate Thurman (Kate Thurman)
The Black Family Who Built America by Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Atria)
Interview Speak by Barbara Limmer and Laura Browne (Manning)
The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (Legacy Launchpad Publishing)
Don't Walk Away by Marilyn Raichle (Counselor Books)
Lightkeeper by Stacy Waldman Bass (Radius)
Finding Your Voice After Corporate Laryngitis by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
Successful Failure by Kevin Fredericks (Random House)
Iron Will by Roderick Sewell II (Legacy Lit)
Post Oak by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
The End Is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen (Simon & Schuster)
You've Been VALidated by Valerie Greenberg (Post Hill Press)
The Quintessential Woman by Dr. Anissa Short (Chosen Pen)
Hollywood Confidential by Steve Jones (Harper Celebrate)
The Inner Fitness Revolution by Tina Lifford (Amistad)
The World Is Waiting for You by Edwina Findley Dickerson (HarperOne)
Master of the Pivot by Kayla Corine Thompson (Kayla Thompson)
She Journeys by Sarah May (She Writes Press)
Plan It Like a Pro by Melissa Banks (Conversations Media Group)
This Is It by Melba Moore (Melba Moore)
The E.M.P.O.W.E.R. H.E.R. Blue Print by Chanelle Coleman Wesley (Chanelle Coleman Wesley)

[BOOK REVIEW] Master of the Pivot by Kayla Thompson

2025-10-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

by Cyrus Webb

Sometimes you just need a reminder that everything is going to be okay.

That is what Kayla Thompson delivers in her book MASTER OF THE PIVOT. It shows how she has been able to make tough choices in her own life that have paid off, learned from the things that didn't go her way---and most importantly given herself the opportunity and the space to rise and thrive.

MASTER OF THE PIVOT reminds us to lean into our strengths, trust our gut and be willing to do it alone, especially when it appears others don't understand the vision. Kayla's signature humor and still come through as she pours into the reader, making you feel like you're right there with her as she outlines the path that has led to her current success.

The big lesson? Trust the process. If you stay true to yourself and don't leave yourself behind, things will turn out just fine.

Get MASTER OF THE PIVOT on Amazon.

Conversations Book Club's BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ in October 2025 (Non-Fiction)

2025-10-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Looking for some great books to add to your reading list in October? Conversations Book Club and Cyrus Webb are glad to recommend these 25 BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ.

Conversations' 25 Books You Need to Read in October 2025, Non-Fiction

(Listed in no particular order)

The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (Legacy Launchpad Publishing)
Facing the Jaguar by Babs Walters (She Writes Press)
The Quintessential Woman by Dr. Anissa Short (Chosen Pen Publishing)
Learning In Free Fall by Nicole Terrizzi (Riverside Publishing)
Post Oak by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
You've Been Validated by Valerie Greenberg (Post Hill Press)
She Journeys by Sarah May (She Writes Press)
The Call of Wonder by Brian Cranley (Greenleaf Book Group Press)
The World Is Waiting for You by Edwina Findley Dickerson (HarperOne)
Successful Failure by Kevin Fredericks aka KevOnStage (Random House)
My Brother Wife Beater by Anonymous
Hollywood Confidential by Steve Jones (Harper Celebrate)
Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
Iron Will by Roderick Sewell II (Hachette)
The Black Family Who Built America by Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Black Privilege Publishing)
Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
Jump and Find Joy by Hoda Kotb (Putnam)
Who Better Than You? by Will Packer (Harmony)
Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
The Inner Fitness Revolution by Tina Lifford (JVL Media)
Words Make a Way Through Fire by Cyra Sweet Dumitru (She Writes Press)
Before I Let You Go by Angelo Ellerbee (HOV Publishing)
The End is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
Out of Bounds: The Chris Washburn Story by Chris Washburn and Ron Chepesiuk (Wild Blue Press)
Lightkeeper by Stacy Waldman Bass (Radius)

Conversations Book Club's BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ in October 2025 (Fiction)

2025-10-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Conversations Book Club and Cyrus Webb are excited to share 25 Fiction Titles that should be on your reading list in October and through the rest of the year.

Conversations' 25 Books You Need to Read in October 2025, Fiction

(Listed in no particular order)

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
Josie's Way of Grace by Felicia Brookins (Felicia Brookins)
The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles (Ava Miles)
Loving Myself (Reese's Story) by Suzetta Perkins (SP Productions)
Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell (Intentional Entertainment)
The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado (Thomas & Mercer)
A Fool Indeed by Dean Conan (Rise and Read)
Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn (Thomas & Mercer)
Seth's Cross by Jeff Randall (Winged Publications)
A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy (Zibby Media)
The Bulls of Bashan by Jodi Lea Stewart (Rising Phoenix Press)
Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy (She Writes Press)
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas & Mercer)
What if I Don't by Tony Lindsay (Tony Lindsay)
Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter (Minotaur Books)
I Become Her by Joe Hart (Thomas & Mercer)
Where Eagles Fly Free by David A. Jacinto (Meadow Vista Publishing)
Trapped: City of Angels by Michael Cory Davis (Michael Cory Davis)
Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap (Crooked Lane Books)
Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen (Storehouse Voices)
Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda (Scarlet)
Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor (Berkley)
Somebody's Husband by Robbi Renee (Black Odyssey Media)
The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (Zibby Media)

Conversations' Top 25 Summer Reads, 2025

2025-05-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb is pleased to share Conversations' 25 Summer Reads of 2025. It is our hope that these fiction and non-fiction titles will bring you as much enjoyment and satisfaction as they did us.

Top Non-Fiction Reads

Master of Me by Keke Palmer (Flatiron Books)
Dancing on Coals by Cynthia Moore (She Writes Press)
Barely Visible by Kathleen Somers (She Writes Press)
Facing the Jaguar by Babs Walters (She Writes Press)
Matriarch by Tina Knowles (One World)
Don't Walk Away by Marilyn Raichle (Counselor Books)
The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (RLS Publishing)
Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen (Simon and Schuster)
Post Oak: Quanah Parker, The Comanche and the Mission by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
The End Is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
Before I Let You Go by Angelo Ellerbee (HOV Publishing)
Standing Up by Mary L. Devine (She Writes Press)
Brand It Like Serhant by Ryan Serhant (Hachette Go)

Top Fiction Reads

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas and Mercer)
Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter (Minotaur)
At the Island's Edge by C. I. Jerez (Lake Union)
Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
Keeping Receipts by W. Mason Dunn (W. Mason Dunn)
Enemies Domestic by John DeDakis (Speaking Volumes)
The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren (William Morrow)
Letters From Strangers by Susan Walter (Lake Union)

Cedric "The Entertainer": "Flipping the Script with Debut Novel

2024-09-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

by Cyrus Webb

It's hard to go anywhere lately and not find something that Cedric "The Entertainer" is not a part of in some form or fashion. Whether we're talking about television shows, movies, comedy stages, entrepreneurial ventures with Anthony Anderson and even the recording booth, he is making his mark in the worlds of entertainment and business while showing others how it's done.

In 2023, however, he added a new slash to his name, bestselling author of the novel FLIPPING BOXCARS under his name Cedric Kyles.

As a natural born bookie I was excited to get the book and read it, and like so many other ventures by Ced it did not disappoint.

The book takes you on the journey of the main character Babe, a man trying to make his place in the world while also taking care of those he loves along the way. The paperback edition of the book released in September, giving new audiences a chance to engage with the story and the characters.

I had the opportunity to talk with Ced about the book and its messages. Enjoy the conversation.

Ced, thank you again for the time and congratulations on all of your success. What has it been like for you to reflect on all you been able to do?

Like so many people, you live your life often times you can have successes, life can be good, and yet you have a lot of things in your head that you want to do, but you can keep yourself from trying. 2023 was just one of those years where I just decided to try and do things that I believed in that I had inside me and not necessarily pre-judge it or decide that people weren't going to really accept it. Some people only know me as a comic, they aren't going to believe me as a novelist, singer or the other things I do.

This was my time to experiment and have a good time. Most of the greatest things that we have to offer people are things that we often keep for ourselves. We just don't share it, and we'll be quite surprised on how people actually will follow you and will dive in and will be inspired by another side of your personality. It's been really great doing television and film but these new ventures are just that, they're new. I'm planting seeds. I'm not expected to be out here and be the top number one R&B singer in the world, not the number one novelist in the world, but I'm planting seeds for something I love to do and that's what I'm doing.

You are definitely doing that. What I've noticed especially with the book on Amazon is people saying they weren't expecting this [novel] from you. The main character of the book for those who have not had a chance to read it is an individual who really has two sides to him. People know him as Babe in the streets. That's where he has a lot of his respect, but to his wife, Rosie, he's Floyd. What was it like for you to think about the two worlds that this man had to be able to walk in?

Yeah, that was one of the real key things that became more and more profound as I was writing the book was really thinking about the times he (Babe) lived in. This is pre-Civil Rights, in the middle of Jim Crow, and he's in the South. He had gone into the military, so he has lived in Germany, England and France. Now he is recognizing that the type of bigotry, the type of racism that we have in the United States was bolder than anything he experienced anywhere else.

Babe is now there to fight for his dream, his ideas. So, when he came back, this is that period of his life where he can't put that back in the box. He can't put the fact that he knows a few French words, that he knows how to shop or eat or order a latte or that his mind is expanded, He's not necessarily the same person. And so to ask him to go through the back door, to ask him to 'Yes sir,' to somebody younger than him is going to be difficult. In creating him I was like how do you stand in your strength, be a man, and also know you got to protect your family and then have these dreams that are bigger than where you're trying to be boxed into.

That's really where I built the tension around the character and what's going on in his life at that time. It just became very clear to me as I was writing it who my grandfather was again, because a lot of people know he passed before I was actually had a chance to meet him. So, these were all just kind of like my feelings about who he was as a person, and it became very real to me writing this novel.

I love the fact that we get to see Babe in his element. He's a gambler. He's a person willing to take chances. There will be some who look at one side of him and say he's all about himself, but we do see times when he is definitely thinking about others. Talk about that, Ced, and his ability to not just try to pull off a big heist but in doing so show that his life has some meaning and that he matters.

I think that one of the key things about us and our personalities, and what I really wish we did more as human beings, is work together. We used to have communities that were really that. We used to joke about how people in the neighborhood could straighten you out if your parents weren’t around, and if you're doing something like breaking in cars, being a bad kid, somebody else's parent can actually say something to you. Nowadays, you're scared to say something to anybody else's child, right? You just don't get engaged, and you let behavior get out of hand, get crazy.

Babe wasn't that kind of person. If he saw something, he was going to do something about it. In the book in the process he built a lifelong friendship with someone. These are the kind of things I think that people don't necessarily take enough risk either to find ourselves helping somebody and then realizing that's going to actually give us something back in in return and sometimes tenfold.

In 2023 you were out there on the road talking about the book. Though Floyd or Babe is the main character, he really has his literal ride-or-die friends around him.

Yeah.

I want to talk about what that was like for you to show the power of friendship and brotherhood in this book, even when it wasn't even about them. They were really just wanting to make sure that Babe was good and had what he needed.

I would say that's also something very reminiscent of me that I kind of pulled out from my grandfather through some degree of osmosis or something. My partnerships with my guys that I started with like my business partner of over 30 years, my tour manager since junior high school...we ride like that. It's those kind of people that hold you up. They grow, they build, they learn, they educate themselves. A lot like you see with LeBron's or with Jay Z's camp. These are people who are not just hanging around. They come to contribute. And so, I wanted to show that partnership and what they bring to each other and why.

I thought that was very important to show that no man really is a mountain, that he's not standing out there alone. He (Babe) has a beautiful woman that's got his back which most of us really need, somebody that really holds us down, and then a core friend group that is there for you when things get tricky and get a little down. They see the things and the gaps and the holes that you don't see, and they got you covered and that's very important. I thought that was necessary to show. Again, a person who is about helping people, a person who is not selfish in his game.

In the book we see for Babe half the reason why he doesn't have the things that he wants in life yet is because he's so busy taking care of everybody else. Now he feels at 40, this is my time and that's another clock that we put in there. He was approaching his 40th birthday, and we all do that. We all have these kind of things in our head that 'By the time I'm 30, I'm gonna do this,' 'By the time I'm this, I'm gonna do that.' Those are good litmus tests to try things in life, to give yourself deadlines, but like Babe we have to realize we got to get up and put your foot down and go forward.

Get your copy of FLIPPING BOXCARS on Amazon or your local bookstore. Also make sure you're staying connected with Ced on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cedtheentertainer.

Photo Credits

* Top image by Getty Images/ Andrew J. Cunningham

* Middle image by Conversations Media Group

* Bottom image by Lucine Chammas (PMKBNC)

[BOOK REVIEW] Face the Music in Pictures , Book One Reloaded: The Jerome Ewing Story

2024-09-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

by Cyrus Webb

We all have heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case Face the Music in Pictures , Book One Reloaded: The Jerome Ewing Story speaks volumes, not just for the pictures it contains but the history it shared.

Birthed after the pandemic, we are able to see how Jerome Ewing has used his skills with a camera to not just snap pictures but record memories and history that will be shared forward. Putting the book together with the stories he is able to recount, it gives us a look not just at his varied career but the lives he has touched. We see the "It Crowd" of the entertainment industry, some of which hadn't reached the levels of fame and influence they now have, but still enjoying where they were in their careers.

This book also is about how Jerome Ewing has garnered the trust and the attention of those with power and influence, allowing him to use his gifts in ways that not just impresses us but inspires us as well.

A conversation piece as well as a piece of history, Face the Music in Pictures , Book One Reloaded: The Jerome Ewing Story is a book that will entertain and inspire.

Get your copy on Amazon.

[To You, From Me] My Love Letter to Books and the Authors Who Write Them

2024-08-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

As a child that was my favorite past-time, more so than playing with my toys or honestly with my friends. I have always felt a connection with the written word. Fiction and Non-fiction spoke to me in ways that few things were able to. It was no wonder, then, that I knew that being a writer was something I wanted to pursue as an adult, but nothing I ever dreamed could have prepared me for where we are now.

This issue of Conversations Magazine is releasing as we celebrate 18 years sharing that love of books with you, the reader. You'll find interviews and features of both non-fiction and fiction for all ages, with the hope that you will find something that speaks to you and those around you.

The spotlight of the issue is my conversation with Cedric "The Entertainer". I had the chance to converse with him in 2023 with the launch of his book FLIPPING BOXCARS. The paperback edition debuts in September of this year, and this issue gives me the opportunity to introduce it to you. You'll also find my chat with bestselling authors Chanelle Coleman Wesley, LaQuita Parks, Fa'apepele Hunkin and otheres.

As my brand expands there are some changes that are also coming your way. I have the privilege of working with amazing companies, entrepreneurs, authors and start-ups. Because of that it's important that I maintain the integrity of my relationships and keep the trust of my audience. What does this mean? Well, this is my official announcement to my audience that effective immediately I will no longer post written reviews on Amazon. Though I have always been honest in my reviews, I want to make sure with my audience that you know what I'm saying is the truth based on my experience, and not my relationships. Amazon has been a hub for my reviews for over 14 years, but moving forward you will only see my written reviews in the pages of this magazine, my blog and on other sites only. Video reviews will remain on the Amazon platform.

For 18 years now it has been my pleasure to give you amazing interviews, features and introductions to people you are just discovering. My hope with this issue is to introduce you to authors you will want to get to know more about as well as stories that will move you to do SOMETHING in your life. Even if writing or reading don't seem to be for you, I believe you will find something in this issue that will connect on some level with your own creativity and purpose.

Enjoy this love letter to books and the authors that write them.

Happy reading!

Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief of Conversations Magazine/

Mississippi Success Magazine

CHANELLE COLEMAN WESLEY: Helping Others While Remembering to Say YES to Herself

2024-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Cyrus Webb

Through her tenacity, humility and grit, motivational speaker/bestselling author Chanelle Coleman Wesley is literally changing the world one person at a time.

She's a fighter, an influencer in her community and a walking example of faith in action. She is also someone who has realized her own value and worth and poured into others to remind them of the same.

I was glad to have the opportunity to talk with her about the journey and advice for you.

Chanelle, congratulations on the success you have had in your writing and speaking journey, as well as in life. What has it been like for you to reflect on the changes you’ve made in your life?

Cyrus, thanks so much for the opportunity to share space with you on this platform. I love this question. It’s been utterly amazing to see the doors that God has opened for me. There was a time when I was scared of my purpose. I wasn’t able to realize my dreams, because I was too busy living my fears. To see the strides I’ve been able to make within the last few years is mind-boggling. I’m especially humbled by the impact I’ve been able to make by way of these projects birthed on the She Said Yes to Herself Unapologetically platform; however, I can’t help but wonder what my life would’ve been like if I had lived this way earlier in life.

Saying YES to yourself sounds like it would be an easy thing. When did you realize it was important to put yourself first?

As women we are nurturers by design. The capacity to be givers is intrinsically infused within us. We also have the examples of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, women in our communities, and women within the church who all paint a powerful demonstration of being selfless. The problem arises when we serve others extravagantly while simultaneously failing to serve ourselves in the same fashion.

Most times we’re running off of empty cups. The first time I heard a flight attendant say, “If the oxygen levels drop in the cabin the oxygen masks will be released from its compartment, put your oxygen mask on first, then assist others…” I instantly thought, “How cruel! Why would I put my mask on first when there are people around me who may need my help?” I heard this saying in my youth but It wasn’t until much later that I truly processed what she was saying. Now, I have a better understanding. If I fail to put my mask on first, I won’t be in a position to help others or myself. I’ve learned to become intentional about loving on me. Ensuring I have what I need to be healthy, happy and whole. What’s in my cup is undoubtedly for me. My gift to others is the overflow.

Your faith also plays a large role in your work. How has faith been strengthened as you evaluate, change and grow?

I was raised in the Christian faith. As a child I was heavily influenced by my mother’s godly example, her penchant for storytelling, and her strong sense of faith. But as I lived this multi-complex experience called life, I’ve learned through the joys and pains of life that a superficial connection with Christ just won’t do. Life will require you to know Him for yourself. Looking at my personal journey and how I battled thoughts of suicide after the death of my daughter, just a short while ago, I can truly say that I’m here today because of two things: God’s gift to me (my surviving children), and intercessory prayer.

When I couldn’t pray for myself I had a network of people covering me in prayer. I’m alive walking boldly in my purpose. I’m going through doors that the Most High Himself has opened for me. He has added to me connections that have blessed me both professionally and personally. I’m operating in my calling. Great is His faithfulness.

What has it been like to connect with other like-minded women who appreciate your vision and want to be a part of it?

It's wonderfully amazing. I’m both honored and humbled to be among this dynamic tribe of women of faith. I will always be eternally grateful for the connections and collaborations we’ve built.

What advice would you give to other women about sharing their own truth with the world?

Are you sitting on your skill sets, vision, passion, or purpose? Have you given your fears permission to cancel your calling? If you’re waiting for your fears to be removed before you start sharing your message, you’ll never get off the sidelines. Do it scared. If your dreams don’t have your stomach doing somersaults, knees shaking, and heart racing then you aren’t dreaming big enough.

Thanks again for the time, Chanelle. How can our readers stay connected with you?

Cyrus, it’s always a pleasure to talk with you. Thanks again for sharing space with me on this platform. I’d love for readers to connect with me on social media, and my email is shesaidyestoherself@gmail.com.