*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!
Roxanne Bowman “Hannah’s Heart”
Hush (name of book, not ordering you to 🙂 )
Elizabeth Hanes
My book would probably be named,
“Really?… Seriously?…”
(I think mainly because I still have a teen, and preteen at home. LoL!)
The Title of my book would be Hope in a Hopeless World. Because Jesus is my only hope.
I’d call my book All’s Well.
Jamie Streit ~ book title, no clue but it would be about sharing God with and teaching kindergarteners
My birth month is May, and I have yet to own sparkly green earrings. (Birthstone is emerald.) the book I want to write is “The Almond Branch”-holding onto promises and dreams God has place in your heart.
Stephanie Floyd. Danville. Ky
I would love a copy of this book. I have read your post before about it and it seems like it would be a great read Blessings and thanks for the chance
Elizabeth Peratt
I would call my book, “Passing Understanding”
Thanks so much!
I’ve never won a give away. I hope this will be the first!
Morgan R.
This book looks great!!!
Kelly Copelan – I would name a book Lawnmower Revelations.
Amy Cottrell
Rachel Dugger
Hope creativity on the book title isn’t how you win cuz I got nothin’! 🙂
Niki van Brussel
My book would be called The Power of Grace (hopefully that’s not already taken 🙂 ).
Thank you & God bless.
Gay Ham
My book would have to be titled “Happy Hog” – get it?
Mandi D
Hmm. Title of my book…. Maybe “Pigtails and Parenthood” =P
I can’t wait to read this book! Love Melanie’s blog!
If I wrote a book, it would be called:
She Never Gave Up!
Serious Play: Reclaiming God’s Design for Life & Work
Thanks for the opportunity to win! – Jennifer Mccalmont
Would LOVE a copy of your book! Being a teacher, the name of my book would have to be something like, The Crazy Tales of a Classroom Teacher.
Would love a signed copy of her book. I also love reading her blog…. and love reading!
Rachel Wright!
My book would be titled, “kangaroo baby.”
Ashley Frevert
My book would be called, “Ashley Frevert, the True Story”. haha!
My life on the Rez.
Cortney Crowell
life with laughter it’s a whole lot happier!
Green Bananas
Danielle W.
My book would be written for my children and titled “Hand This To Your Therapist” 🙂
Andrea Shear
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been
“Just Sayin'” 🙂 Would love this book!
Emily Winkle
Dawn Rankin
“Coffee and Cardigans”
Toni Steere
Eugene Garcia. If I wrote a book, it would truly have to be titled “My Wife: Manager of All.”
Karen Hicks (Beth took my last name in vein on a recent blog but i’ve forgiven her – LOL!)
My book would be called, “Autism Schmautism” in honor of my sweet son.
Susan Marie from Houston TX
“Too Much or Not Enough” or perhaps “How To Cook Without Going To Town”
Maria T. – Smiling Through it All
Heather Green!
Jan Morton
“Third Verses & Other Things Missed in Worship”
Back in the day (some of you will remember) that we never sang the 3rd verse in a hymn, just “first, second, and last!”
DeeDee Martin
Been there, done that, ain’t going back!
How fun! Thanks for the giveaway!
Reading and laughing are two of my favorite things so naturally I want to read this book.
If I wrote a book about my life I think I would call it “A Heart of Flesh” or “Choosing Joy”
YAY
My book would be called, “Second Chance Butterfly”