*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!
Samantha Rodriquez š
I would love to read this book, and “Blonder Than I Pay To Be” by Jan Hohulin, if she ever writes it!! Now that’s going to be a funny book.
Hi Beth,
Putting all my creativity into a human video practice tonight. Haha.
Name: Ginger Mendoza
Thanks for the book giveaway and all you do. š
Jamie Ballou
How I Got to Where I Am
Luain Packard (I added my last name although I doubt there is another person named Luain in this blog community – if there is I WANT TO MEET HER š
Jennifer McCormick
I would entitle my book “This is My Story, This is My Song.”
Janice Pierson
My book would be called “Are you sure you have a plan for me?”
Want to Lose Weight…Learn to Let Go
Amanda Porter
My book title would be: “Gloriously Ruined”
Courtney M.
Gosh, I’ve never thought about writing a book, so I certainly have no idea what I’d call it. I guess that’s something to ponder.
Lydia Finger
Amanda Johnson- I have some ideas floating around for a memoir or a fiction novel based on things I’ve been through. Not sure what I would call it though. A title is SO important because if it’s dull, people are going to pass it up. Sparkly Green Earrings is definitely one to get people’s attention!
Dawn Edgell
Hayley Warren
My pretend book would be Warren Peace š
Mary G.
Liz F and I have NO idea what I would call my book!!
My book would be “. ” because I have 3 babes 4 and under…. The brain is mush and foggy š
Bree Cruz
My book would be titled
“Lord, Whisper Hope in My Ear”
Sarah Stephenson
Karen Schroer
Hmmm, my book would be titled “I Never Knew Retirement Would Be This Busy But What Did I Expect When I Moved To Be Closer To My Grandboys! (And I Love That I Can See Them So Often!)”
Paula Reynolds
My book would be titled: Called to Craziness, the inside story of a mother of 6,7,8….. Wait How many kids do we have?
Thank you for all you do!If I ever wrote a book,I love horses I may name it after my horse love BG, living in East Montgomery County Texas with women we ride together and go to Beth Moore toether <3
Allison Morrison
Hope for Mama’s of God’s Special Gifts
Oh…I am never very creative with these kinds of questions! (Grin) How about “Blonde Roots.” Susan Boland in Chapin, South Carolina
Stephanie v. is my name.
“two kids is nothing like having one” would be my book.
thanks for the contest!
Vanessa Brown! š
I would dearly love to read this book! Pick me!! My book would be named….The Crazy Dog Lady!
Kelli KB
I’d call my book “Sunrise, Sunset”
Amber Dilbeck
Christy R. š
The title of my book would be: “Endless Adventure”
Reann Jaminet
Catherine Hunter
The name of my book, if I were to publish one today, would be “Waiting…”
Monica D.
My book would be called:
I Hear Joy Cometh….And I’m Waiting
Julie Cranford
Maybe “Sometimes Joy Cometh in the Mourning”
I’ve heard great things about this book! Can’t wait to read it!
I would love to win!
April Emery, PA
My book would be “The Super Mom Myth”
Heather Gerard
Sorry, I can’t think of a name!
What a great book and title!
Cambodia Constants
lesley king // My Soul Waits would be the name of my book.
My book would be “How Christ used my wife to help re-create this fallen man!”
Catchy Title, Huh?!
yes, that is my real name! ;-)btw-i heart Melanie and her stories!
Laura Bouter
Jordan Walters
‘Mama of Twix’
Would love to win this book!!
If I ever wrote a book, it would be very boring, that’s the truth!
Donna Bloom