Jana, I hope you get a lot of good answers! That way I can grab some of the same info
Dale Carnegie's book is good and helped me get started. Someone recommended to me Leil Lowndes "How to Talk to Anyone, 92 little tricks..." I read it, but think I need to reread it so that more sinks in. Also, have read Mike Bechtle's "Confident Conversation". I have a much easier time having conversations after reading each of these but mostly with people I already know. I still have a problem initiating conversations with strangers. I think I will reread each of them with that specific thought in mind. Let me know if you get any good leads anywhere else, and I hope that any and all of them work for you!