*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-too funny I drew a book cover Sunday… Title: ASK
God put it on my heart, now if I could get the contents of the book given to me… 🙂
Mine would have to be
HeHoHa ‘s Mommy
Finding Laughter in the Midst of Trials
(BTW, this blog post did not email out yesterday to my email. I found out about it on Beth’s Tweet! :-))
Dusti Hurst…Living in the Midst of Males…mom of 3 boys
You’ve got my curiousity up!Iwould love to read it!
Thanks
Yvonne
Sounds like a fun book already! My book would be titled, “Finding the everyday Miracles.”
Lizz Molloy
“3 Red Dogs, 3 Black Cats, and a…Curly?”
I traded in trash for treasure
And walked away with a clean heart
Rhonda Sewell
I drive a school bus & I’m a pastor’s wife.. So my book; “Driving the Crazy”
My book title would be: Flock of Fun! by Susan Backhaus
My book would be called How to go from Muffintops to tanktops in 30 Days :). love fitness. I really like the cover of Big Mama’s book.
My book title would be “Least Likely…” 🙂 (…to succeed/…to be married…and a mom) But by the grace of God, there go I!
Love to you all! 🙂
Lyn Steriti
The name of my book ” My life in flip flops”
Gwen Hornsey.
Book title-mirror, mirror. About the Bible as our mirror for life:)
Living Proof: Redeemed
I’ve used that phrase so many times giving my testimony.
K. Beth Duffield (to help avoid duplicates):)
My book title- Potholes: Avoid them at all Cost.
I thought “Retirement” meant sleeping in??
Choosing Joy
Brittnie Blackburn
I would call my book A Joy Renewed since that is my life motto after struggling through, and recovering from, an eating disorder and infertility. 🙂
We all have stories to tell, but not all have the courage….Maybe mine would be, “Whispers from the heart”.
Karessa Huber – Confessions of a Talkaholic
Julie Gallagher
Discipling Your Kids: Showing Your Children What It Means to Love Jesus With All Your Heart
Susan Hale
I would love to read that book and share with my book club!
My book would be “You want me to do what?”
The Otherside of Motherhood
Kristy G
I just published a book 🙂
Amazing Faith…meet my friend Tammy
It’s about a friend’s faith throughout her fight of pancreatic cancer. An incredible “only God” journey and all book sales are going in a college fund for her 13 year old daughter. I mailed one to living proof because I am weird and think of Beth as a mentor though we have never met…ha!
The One At Home
My book title “Watch Where You Step Mama, There’s Big Birds Out Here”, Words of Wisdom from my Children…
Sorry, no title……haven’t had my coffee yet.
Wait…..maybe that should be my title. 🙂
LuAnn Fischer
My book would be called – The Farmer’s Daughter to the Welders Wife.
Too blessed to be stressed!
Sounds like a great book!
Kristin K.
Pick me! Pick me! This sounds like a book I could really benefit from…there are days I feel like I’m drowning in motherhood…a little pick me up would be nice. 🙂 Thanks Beth!!
oops…forgot my title…I don’t know…I guess I’d call it “Under the white flag”…I surrender…lol.
Kristina Fure
Wendy. Austin tx.
Would love a copy. Thanks
“Do What You Like, Like What You Do”
I can’t wait to read this!
The Magic Laundry Basket – that’s a good start for my memoir.
I would love to read and share this book with my daughter, we can all use some smiles!
Connie Franklin………Pursuing Passion & Praise
Alicia Keswani – I think I would call my hypothetical book … well. I can’t think of a name. I do have a name in my head but I hope that will actually land on a book cover one day. So I’ll keep y’all in suspense until then 🙂
I want to win…please…cant afford to buy the book Im out of work and on a very tight budget.., ( please God let me win ) okay okay…..My book would be called….
GOLDEN MEMORIES AND SILVER TEARS
Alyssa Molina, I think my book would be called “Poached Pears– a story of God’s unfinished work” (stole the idea from my husband!!)
Ann Berends, “It’s Okay to be a Bad Christian.”
Shelley Guiseppi
If I were to write a book it would be called. Crazy Dog Lady
Susan Levergood
Kiersten Griffith
If God ever gave me the gift of writing, my book would be called Beauty from Ashes.
Martha O’Tuel …. thank you!
Growing to love
about how in my life I have learned to love )putting away selfishness more and more with each step in the loving direction), from my parents, my siblings and friends, husband, and now children and most of all God from every one of those other sources and by Himself
My book name would be ….. Fabulous Fee’s Gifts.