*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!
Jaime G
“Jaime’s Journeys”…not so catchy. my “book” will have to wait until the title is catchier.
Angie Martin…My book would be called “This Crazy Life”.
Pam Darbonne
My book would be called “Without Fear: Living Beyond the Everyday Swamp Tromp”
I would love to win this book!
Michele Hurst
Bloom Where You’re Planted!
Megan Carver
I’m not creative enough to come up with a title, let alone an entire book; but I know great writing when I read it!
Happily Ever After – with Jesus
Jenni Jerome
I’d have to think about my book title. But it would have to be something about God’s unending patience with me.
My book would be called “Come Home”
Elizabeth Andriot
Deborah McCoy
Book Title: God at work in Wyoming
Elizabeth Highsmith
Confessions of a Church Secretary
Jerry Ann Chancellor
Breathe! Because I always need to remember to do this! ha.
Loved the picture.
Teresa Swafford š
Jean Fillhart – Sounds like a fun book! I would love to read it.
Would love this book!
Tara C. – just saw Melanie at dot mom conference this past weekend š
Susan Thomas
My book would be called- The Purple Vinca in a Bed of Pink Flowers
About my families hopeful journey through autism.
Cindy Atkins š
Kristin Schmucker
My book would be called “Grace-full Living”
My book would be titled “Sit Back and Relax”
Sharon Lee
My book would be called…Running to the finish
“What to do with Missed Opportunities”
Michele Duffy
“Can’t think of a thing”… My title š
Thank you!
Semadeni Stories!
Tina Noel š
I don’t know what I would name a book that I wrote, but I doubt it would be Sparkly GreenEarrings! Susie Johnson Bloomington, IN
Kelly Mahalak
I would title my book: I thought I knew it All …..until God stepped IN
Charise Meeks.
Martha mire
How I remain a positive patty in this Debbie downer world
Sonya Johnson
I think I would title mine “Count It All Joy.” Life is full of learning to embrace this command. Changing perspective is a hard task.
Sarah Putnam, Bless Your Heart!….. That has to already be a book!!!
Nicole Wiegold
I’d call my book “A Sacred Romance” š
Hi,
Thank you!!
Tina Ross
Currently writing it…
Set Free To Be Me…
( So thankful to be set free)
I am so not creative when it comes to things like this. I’m just not too clever or witty, especially spur of the moment. So I’ll just say that I would love to win this book….and if I don’t, I’ll be buying it soon. I love giveaways. (If I come up with a book title, I’ll let you know!)
It’s my name—not my profession!
My book would be called my mountain
Julie Luttrull , “If a girl like me can survive … Anyone Can!”
Whisperings in the Wilderness!
Deeper Than I Thought would be my choice of a book title!
Rebecca Deatherage
Chrissy Myal
Book title? “Like a Big Burrito”
Wish I could elaborate but instead I’ll just giggle!
A list of excuses. A song lyric, I believe. š
Nikki Hurtado – Why Didn’t I Listen to My Mother?
It really annoys me she ALWAYS ended up being right š
So excited about this! Buying my own copy even if I don’t win. And my book would be called, “I wish I was a great writer”
Pick me, I’m recovering from surgery, I need a good read.
Kathy Ross
Samantha Rodriquez.