*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!
Sounds like a great book. Would love to read it. Sue Johnson
My book title would be From the Dukes of Hazzard to The Lord of Lords.
If I wrote a book……Counting My Blessings!
Nicole Powell
Hmmm…I’m having so much trouble coming up with a title, I know I could never write a book! Haha! “From the Wandering Mind of…”
“Just Another Day in Paradise”
Angie G.
Simply Living or Living Simple?
my book would be entitled A Little Bit of Sand and
Snow. would be about my two dogs sandy and snowy.
I would love to have one of the books. The name of my book would be “Not There Yet”.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Natalie E.
Karen Basham
Marci Dighton —– my book would be The Spiritual Gift of Sarcasm!
I’ve always wanted to title a book “If God is Not The Author of Confusion Then Why Am I So Confused?” I have no clue why… That’s way too long for a book title! : )
Debra Tice
My book would be called Trust Him when He has called you out of a empty nest to raise two FASD Boys He has a plan
Dyan Yoder
“Finding My Peace In The Puzzle”
Thanks. And thanks for all you do.
Grace and peace to you. š
loved reading your blog and seeing the pics! not sure what my book tittle would be–years ago I thought about writing on divorce grief in the midst of remarriage–there aren’t many books on that topic.
thanks!
Pamela Sheldon – I would LOVE a signed copy of Sparkly Green Earrings. If I were to write a book, it would be titled, “Redeemed from the Wild Side”.
It could always be worse!
Ok, LL – I could not put it down! Read it in 3 hours cover to cover, laughed, cried, dog-eared pages, etc! Yay that you had the willpower to put it down.
I don’t need another copy; give it to someone else here if my # comes up. My book would either be “Welcome to the Funny (as in odd) Farm” or “Don’t Come to the Front Door (as the foyer place I sort our laundry)”. š
Anitra Merritt
Through the Glass
My Dysfunctional Family: A story of a blue collar family
Liz Stephan
I wrote a whole, big, long book that isn’t going to work. The premise just got turned on its head by life, but it might have been called:
“Little House on the Oregon Coast.”
Would absolutely love to win a copy of “Big Sparkly Earrings!” Maybe God will show me how to rework my book into a better book one day. . . with a very different premise and ending.
Jane Lysell, “Blessed….”
Lisa Bryan
Hippy Chick to Jesus Freak
the foyer *is the* place (oops)
My book would be “Sis, Hub of the Wheel” because it would be about my late mother, who was called “Sis” by everybody. To the extent that nieces and nephews called her “Aunt Sis”. A true mold breaker, the definition of “unique.”
If I knew where I put it- I wouldn’t have to ask you!
The Farmgirl’s Guide to Jesus
š
Amy Hayes
Rebecca H. If I wrote a book, it would be called, “Please, Pardon this Interruption of The Instructional Day: The Tales of An Elementary Principal.”
The Life Lessons I learned from my children.
Well I’m definitely not a writer and certainly don’t ever want to write a book, but I do love to read (in the little bit of time squeezing in here and there) and so glad that there are those who do write!
Christina Schmitt
“Chosen”
Wow!!! My “would-be” book would be entitled… “Seasons of Change… how He moved me through the many seasons of my life, and He’s not done yet!!”
Thanks for sharing š
Probably would be ” The Caregiver”
Stephanie Davenport, “Dashed Expectations”-A working title for my book to be!
Amy B
My book….never entered my mind to write a book!! Just being honest!
Crystal Glisson ..
Hmm name of a book…ok maybe ” I forgot to put on my earrings” š or I will steal this from my small group leader ” fortune cookie Christianity” really long story, but fun idea
Wild Joy!
A real book? One that I’d write? Well, being a quilter, and wanting to publish a book about my quiltmaking ministry, I’d call it “Quiltmaking With a Purpose.” Thanks for the chance to win!
Rendy Lemke
Tales From the Trails!
my book title would change over and over until the very last second (just like what I am going to order at a restaurant changes until the waiter takes all the orders and walks away)…today it might be “A Joyful Noise”!
Susie Handy
If yours is Lindsee Lou — mine would be Susie Q
š
I really want to read this book!!
I want to write a book but God hasn’t shown me the topic or the title, YET.
You girls are so much fun! Love hearing about your adventures – thanks for letting me into your lives! A book title? Why not “Kitchen Ballet: The Twirls of Girly Girls”
Libby Jones
“Keepin it real like its’s goin out of style: if you ain’t laughing and cryin, you ain’t livin.”
Yep – I’m a 30 year old mother of two boys, please, may I have some sparkly green earrings??
I would love to have this book!!
Would love to read it! My book would be “That Crazy Carpool Lady”