*Update: Comments are now closed! And I’ve decided that y’all have some of the best hypothetical books around. You had me laughing out loud! Check back soon for our ten winners!
The weekend before last (I know, take a minute to figure that one out. It is Monday after all.), I drove myself to Katy, Texas. (While that may sound like I actually ventured out on a road trip, it really just means I drove 30 minutes across town.) (Also, Iām really into the parenthesis today.)
(Iām currently humoring myself and no one else. I know. Forgive me.)
The reason for my 30-minute road trip was because a sweet lady named Big Mama, I mean, Melanie Shankle, was doing a book signing at the Books-A-Million for her new book, Sparkly Green Earrings. You may have heard of her? Grin.
(By the way, if youāre curious as to why she refers to herself as Big Mama, youāll be relieved to know she explains her alias in the first chapter of her book. But Iāll leave that story for her to tell. A little suspense is a good thing.)
Melanie has been blogging since before blogging became the thing to do, and her blog was one of the very first blogs I read. (How many times can I use the word blog in one sentence?) It was really love at first sight, or read. A few reasons Iāve loved Melanieās blog are because sheās hilarious, real, a good writer, sarcastic and she loves Jesus. Need I say more?
Also, she does a really fun post every Friday called Fashion Friday, and I donāt know about you, but my materialistic side is really into fashion, and there is always something sheās finding online thatās adorable that I then put into my mental wish list.
Anyway, last Saturday I got lucky and both she and her equally hilarious daughter, Caroline, signed my copy of the book.
Truth be told, I love to read, but for the past week the book has sat on my bedside table. That is until I picked it up yesterday and devoured the first five chapters before I realized I would be late to church and miss prayer time unless I left right then.
(Yāall. I didnāt set my alarm yesterday morning, slept in, and went to our evening service. I donāt know, but I feel like a new woman. It was heavenly. But that has nothing to do with Sparkly Green Earrings. But I did feel sparkly. Whatever that means.)
You know those books that you pick up and theyāre just easy to read, charming and you want to keep going because youāve entered into their world without even knowing it? Thatās how I feel about Sparkly Green Earrings. I realize Iām only five chapters in, but I can guarantee you it wonāt take me longer than a week to finish it. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first, not because I donāt love Melanie or her writing, but because itās a book about motherhood, and, well, to state the obvious, Iāve not ventured into the land of motherhood, nor am I close, so I wasnāt sure if it would apply to me. But alas, it is so much more than motherhood, it is her story of motherhood and it is a sweet one. In fact, she talks about her best friend from the start, and I really resonated with that as I thought about my best friend, and our friendship, especially since she just walked through pregnancy and has her first baby girl that is my current obsession.
I say all of that to say this, our friend Melanie, and her whimsical book, made it on the NY Times Best Seller list this week. Listen, Iām no author, nor have I published a book, but I say thatās a pretty big stinkinā deal and deserves a celebration.
Need proof? Hereās a picture.
So, to celebrate, I thought it would be really fun to give away ten signed copies of Sparkly Green Earrings! Through a series of unplanned, or planned, events, we have those copies in our possession and they make me incredibly happy. Thank you, Amanda and Melanie, for making the signed books a reality. I know yāall had nothing better to do this weekend. Grin.
Hereās a look in the book.
How about this cover? I’ve tried endless times to get my ponytail looking like that.
Signed, sealed and (almost) delivered. Grin.
Someone else we all know and love also loves this book and the author!
And here is a picture of Nancy and me at the book signing with Melanie. The only thing Iām regretting right now is the fact that Caroline isnāt in the picture with us. Watching Caroline sign the books brought me pure delight.
(Notice the leg pop both Melanie and I are doing. That makes us cool.)
To win your own copy of Sparkly Green Earrings, simply leave a comment with your first and last name. (Side note: I know some of you donāt like your last name on the internet for the world to see, so if thatās you, your last initial would be so helpful. I donāt know if you realized there are A LOT of names on this blog, and not shockingly, A LOT of duplicates.)
For fun, if youāre feeling super creative, you can also tell us hypothetically what the name of your book would be called if indeed, you were to publish a book.
And Iām not even going to pretend like I know what my book would be titled. Iāll just start with āLindsee Louā.
Howās that for original? Catchy?
Okay, enough about my non-book.
I’ll leave comments open until mid-Wednesday morning!
Ready, set, go win a book!
Ima P – Coffee and Me š
Could be
“life, love and laughs after …”
Doria H.
Wow, I can not even think of a title for a book, so I can’t imagine me actually writing a book š
Marilyn Miller. Hmm…I have no idea what my book title would be but I’m guessing it would be something weird. Or fierce. Or not normal. haha.
Desiree Crisp
Amy Brown
Lindsay Winton
I am not creative enough to come up with a title. Hey, maybe that could be my title!! š
Ashlie McDonald-I do not have a creative bone in my body, so I have no idea what I would call my book!!!
Amy Burkhart
Jennifer Morgan
Andrea A.
Breanna Dennis
First off…Thank you for the opportunity for a free book! š Yay!
Second…I think that my book title would be “Masterpiece in the making.” Reflective about how each of us are God’s handiwork, but not till the day we die will we be a finished piece. It is then we will be able to see all of the beauty from the ashes that God has crafted.
Lynne Jones
No lie and I’ve thought of this often…my book title would be ‘A Beautiful View from the Crapper’.
I’ve always felt I just don’t have a book “in” me.
But my favorite phrase is, “she did what she could” – that
could be a title, right?
Love Big Mama & LOVED the book. A sweet lady lent me her copy so I must return it. That being said, I would LOVE a signed copy for myself. Thanks for the give-away!!! & Happy blogging!
oh…. Peggy Sanders AND “To the Moon” would be the name of my imaginary book. š
Narah M.
Lori Wilbanks
Thanks for a chance to win!
Shawnna Smith
Sparkly green anything is terrific since green I my fav color! š
And on the book title……its in my bucke list for one day and it would be titled “Take it off the shelf daughter!”
Thank you!
Martha Salters
My book title would be “From Diapers to Pearls,Raising my Girls”
Kay Sims, Lake Lure,NC
I couldn’t even begin to think of a book title right now. Wish I were a more creative person. I would love to win a book though. I love to read.
Sherree Self
Kelly Miller- looks very interesting would love to read it!
Brenda Sanchez
Future author of a biography titled “God is GREAT!”
Laura Wick
Lori Lightfoot
How Hard Could It Be?
Hannah Simon
My non-book would be called “The Undivided Heart.” (Side note, I have actually thought about this long and hard and really pray one I will actually get to pen said book.) (Also, I love parentheses.)
I would call my book “Pearl Earrings”.
My book would be something like “Glittery Sparkles!” I love glitter and sparkles – so the name of this book jumped right off the page at me! If I don’t win, I’ll be getting this book based on your great (really, really great!) review!
“Life’s journey.”
Tricia Garrett. My book would be called “Loud Secrets. Quiet Hope”
Kai Dickson
Deanna Lindgren – I love the Big Mama blog!
Taunya Gilbert
I want to write the book, “Less is so much More!”
And I too would love a copy of Sparkly Green Earrings…
Live life and love with no regrets
Pick me!
Vicky Kawamae. Book title “Love Letters to God”.
Sally Rabe
Title: Cannot think of a clever title to my life story, but would love a copy of Sparkly Green Earrings!
Sarah Baggett, My book title would be “My Simple Truth”
Kim U and book title “Former Pharisee”
Lori Long…haven’t enjoyed a book like that since “The Help”. Hmmm…title for a book? “Perplexed But Not Crushed.”
Michele Chester
“And They’re Off!” We’ve raised two beautiful daughters to know the Lord, and now we are going to watch them do great things for Him.
Renee Stroud
Sandra Mauldin
Cindy Merrifield…
My book would be “Be Still… a work in progress (actually learning to BE STILL!).
Christy Msal
I think I would name my book “Unpacking the boxes without losing your mind” If you haven’t guessed we move ALOT! we are on our 6th address in less than 5 years! lol
Kim K, Columbus, OH area,
My book? I sew for a living, so maybe ‘Stitches in Time’ (corny) , or, ‘Coming apart at the Seams’ (equally corny).
I also love parenthesis, Lindsee Lou! They are absolutely necessary, (so will use unapologetically!) Ha!
(The pic is adorable, by the way!)
Laurel F. The name of my book would be A Foolish Thing. (Because God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise…and I would definitely qualify as a “foolish thing” for sure.) No self deprecation…just realizing who I am not. š
She must be a wonderful writer. Saw a post from The Pioneer Woman about her. Need a fun read and would love to win!
I would love to own and read a signed copy of “Sparkly Green Earrings”! My book title would be “Fearless of Fear”.