*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, I’m really into the parenthesis today.)
(I’m 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 you’re curious as to why she refers to herself as Big Mama, you’ll be relieved to know she explains her alias in the first chapter of her book. But I’ll 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 I’ve loved Melanie’s blog are because she’s 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 don’t know about you, but my materialistic side is really into fashion, and there is always something she’s finding online that’s 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.
(Y’all. I didn’t set my alarm yesterday morning, slept in, and went to our evening service. I don’t 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 they’re just easy to read, charming and you want to keep going because you’ve entered into their world without even knowing it? That’s how I feel about Sparkly Green Earrings. I realize I’m only five chapters in, but I can guarantee you it won’t take me longer than a week to finish it. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first, not because I don’t love Melanie or her writing, but because it’s a book about motherhood, and, well, to state the obvious, I’ve not ventured into the land of motherhood, nor am I close, so I wasn’t 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, I’m no author, nor have I published a book, but I say that’s a pretty big stinkin’ deal and deserves a celebration.
Need proof? Here’s 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 y’all had nothing better to do this weekend. Grin.
Here’s 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 I’m regretting right now is the fact that Caroline isn’t 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 don’t like your last name on the internet for the world to see, so if that’s you, your last initial would be so helpful. I don’t know if you realized there are A LOT of names on this blog, and not shockingly, A LOT of duplicates.)
For fun, if you’re 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 I’m not even going to pretend like I know what my book would be titled. I’ll just start with “Lindsee Lou”.
How’s 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!
Alicia Sims
Thanks!
Becky Kilgras
Can’t wait to read this!
Love recommendations!
Laurie Stilwell. My book would be callee, “Getting off the Merry-Go-Round.”
Oops. iPad + Middle Aged Eyes = Mrs. Typo.
Pick me:)
Marie Davis
Bonnie O’Shields
My book would probably be called “My Name Should Have Been Lucy”.
If I wrote a book it would be Things Men Say When The Wife Is Driving The Car….subtitled Why do you have to get in the left lane 25 miles before the exit? My spiritual book would be “Jesus Took the Wheel”.
Paula Housholder
So excited!! Would love this!!!
My book would be titled, “My Love Affair with Judaism.” Don’t ask…just read the book…
Michele King, Waco.Tx
Book title: ”
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute!”
I can’t wait to read this book! My book would be titled…Joy Comes in the Morning.p
You should write a book Lindsee! I love reading your blogs whether serious or just fun. And…I’d really LOVE to win this book!
Amberley Almarode
Thanks so much for a great giveaway!! 🙂
Melanie Hawkins
Would love to read that book! Having my third child any day now.
I haven’t given much thought to writing a book, but it did cross my mind just this afternoon as I was doing my “spring” cleaning. The title? “‘My Mini Blinds Aren’t THAT Dirty’ and Other Household Misconceptions”
My book would be called Falling on my Ear. A word play from the song In the Garden and a .visual of what my life feels like some days
Annette Mil 🙂
Oh how I would love to have this book. As mom of a daughter who has just left the nest,it would be “My Daughter, My Best Friend Through Thick & Thin”Rt
Michelle Baylerian
Surprised by how God can use a broken woman 🙂
Megan P.
Erin Schlarb
Candy Edwards
Hmmm…a book title?
Pink Polka Dots …..
……and other things I love
So excited! My book would be titled
“Making Memories, Why I was a Laundry Lady for 17 Summers!”
Rebecca Coffee….”We May Be Lost but We’re Makin’ Good Time”. 🙂
Elisabeth Darling – yes I love my darling name! 🙂
Enjoyed review. Will read!
A necklace to match
Susan Hill
Kitchen Floor Epiphanies
I would love a copy!!!
Stephanie Kilper
🙂
My book.. well, I’m a dancer and super passionate about fighting for freedom so probably Free to Dance or Freedom Dancer or Dance Free
Stephanie V.
“Stephanie Jo”
Brilliant Blooms
Dandelions to Roses, different women all with the same purpose.
Leslie M…… “Carpet Fibers In My Nose”
(from Beth’s “Face Down” CD message…one of my all time favorites!)
Rebekah Stevens
Sursie: A small unexpected gift
Nicole Roccaforte
Cant think of a title, name is Vicki G
Lorrie B.
My book title would be “Booger Sleeve; the untold side of Mommy hood!” Obviously titled that because my kids always wipe their little noses on me! 🙂
Jen Maggard…and I have no idea what I’d title my book 🙂
My book would be titled “What in the World?”
Would love to read this book! My own book would be called Above the Pines. I live in northern Minnesota and we have many pine trees! 🙂
Jenny Hutcherson-I’m a teacher and girls’ basketball coach. I know my book would be titled “Lessons Learned from the Bench”
Rebecca Tyndall
I would write a book entitled “Lovin’ Livin’ on the Farm: Even if the Cows Look in my Bedroom Window” hehehehehe!! 🙂
Ashton Herod
Sarah K
Allergies and chocolate bunnies
This contest is quite interesting, as I recently have begun writing a book. It’s still in the “Abrahamic process” – don’t know where/how it’s going to become an actual printed book, but I’m just obeying God’s command to write. The proposed title is: Liberty Unveiled – Through the Eyes of a Captive Set Free. And that title is subject to change, of course, pending an “aha! moment” from the Holy Spirit!
Chez Aimee
Angie Johnson, Laramie, WY
Tricia Hicks
Dee H
Shelley Crews