*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!
“Volcanoes, Castles and Life-size Elephants”. (I’m a Children’s Ministry Director š )
Kelli Tate
Jan Rogers
Mi Vida Loca
Kelli Tate
Welcome to my world!
I hit enter before I could get my book title typed….
I book would be called: Your life is a dance; let God lead.
Shelly Hough
The title of my book would be something along the lines of “What Your Principal Would Really Like to Say (But Just Smiles Instead).”
Whitney Patrick
Del Marie Riley
My book would be titled “Born Early and Late Ever Since” or “Died 3 Times and I Still Didn’t Get It.” Thank you for the opportunity to win the book.
Can’t wait to win the book. My title would be
“Continuous Mountain Top to the Valley Experiences”
A mile in my shoes…
Cheryl Vickers š
Janet Payne–Book Title: You Never Know
Karen Ledbetter. ” I Wonder”
Auneca Akers
Stephanie L – Hold onto all those plans loosely
Brea Rich
Julie Paddock
My book would be called Calgon Take Me Away!
My book would be titled “Beauty for Ashes” Yvonne Gearing
Reading is one of my hobbies..would enjoy a new book !
Jean Grant
Strong as black coffee , Soft as butter
Journey to Becoming a GiGi
Would love this for my daughter who is expecting my second grandchild!!
Holy Ground in High Water
Sounds like a good read! I would call my book, “kisses on the cheek”
“Surviving A Life Of Monday Mornings”. I’ve entered 4 other giveaways trying to win a signed copy! Hoping I win this one!!
LuAnn Barton. Little Lulu and her poopy puppy Can you guess what I’ve been doing a lot lately?
“The Love Code”
THANKS!
Ann Morrison
Melisse Maser
“God’s Grace: Lessons Learned from Gracie, God’s Precious Pup”
Mona Hernandez
Sarah Sloop
Pilar H
Maybe just “O”!
Kerri Pearson! Would love a copy to share with my Mom and 2 sisters!
Cathy Slusser and because just last week I sent my book to an editor, I already have a title: From a Heavenly Land: Eliza’s Story. Sorry for the self promotion, but I am so excited!
Love her blog too. Thanks.
Marissa Burt
Storybound
Katie O.
Hannah Hancock
My book would be called … ok, I’m drawing a blank. I don’t know what I’d call my book. Maybe I’d just write a pamphlet. About hitting creative blocks. =)
I have no idea on a book title!
“Rescued by Jesus!”
Alyson Tamer
I’ve thought about the possibility of a book, but no name yet.
Maybe I would title my book “Taking My Heart Off the Shelf”
“Blessed Beyond”
Would love to read this book. My book title, Totally Blessed!
Lisa Willis…and I actually started writing something that I hoped would turn into a book, but pretty much all I’ve done is raid the file for blog posts…but if it had become a book, it would be A Plain Vanilla Testimony
Nicki S.
Nashville TN
“Did I Really Just Write a Book?!”
*I have a 2 year old, about to pop with my second along with a hubbie in seminary & working full time– hence the title š
Jennifer England
Queen of the England’s.
Cheri Rolando,
I would call my book, “I’m Just Sayin'”
Stephanie Steerman
Lyndsay Salvador–If I wrote a book today, the title would be “My Life as a Penguin, and other oddities of pregnancy” ( I’m 35 weeks pregnant and officially waddling)