*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!
I think my book would be entitled “My Mama’s in my Mirror!”
I’ve signed up for every giveaway of this book! Haven’t managed to win one yet. 🙂 My name is Tarah Hoffland.
Charlotte Seymour
I would probably call my book… umm… The Rose Diaries because all my American friends call me the English Rose, hehe.
(I know I may not be able to win because I’m from the UK but you never know unless you try *grin*)
Lisa Watts
Thank you for doing this giveaway.
Sleep is Overrated.
My book would be entitiled, Gratefully Graced
Raising Monkeys… Err… Children
Katie Moon
I don’t think I’d be a very good memoir writer… it would be too long/detailed and probably not very funny/witty. But I’d love to write a Bible study… not that I’d be good at that either. But since I’m an illustrator (who is currently enrolled in a free-grace seminary), it would be full of colorful, modern illustrations and even some you could take out and frame! I’d like to write one on Psalm 119 and the necessity of God’s Word in our lives. And one on the free/victorious/Spirit filled/crucified/suffering life we see in Pauline and Petrine literature, as well as the life of Christ. I’d love to study and write a study on the life of the Apostle Peter and His writing as well.
Is anyone as crazy as me to comment on their own comment? Lol! I just thought to myself… now why in the world did I feel the need to write about being in seminary. Stupid! Pride. What a fool it makes of us!
“Daughter of Blessing”
Ani’s Favorite Things
I think it would be…”Okay, God…that must’ve made you laugh.”
Adventuring with God
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win:-)
Amy Sanders
Finding Beginnings at the End of My Rope
Hmmm…Title..? Gotta think about that one
Laurie Binnewies
I am writing for the first time and toying with many titles one is:
“From mess to blessed” God can change anything!
Put your big girls on and get ready to read~
Annette Correll from San Diego
My book would likely be called something along the lines of “Was that your best shot? No problem!”
🙂
(Great bog today…Love the parentheses and use of the word blog and the leg pop…it’s all working.)
Can’t wait to read the book!
“Peace Kept Only By The Grace of God”
Mary Lou Fox
If I wrote a book, it would be titled A Miracle…cause that’s what it would be if I wrote a book.
Thru Tracey’s Eyes
“A cheerio lost in a box of fruitloops”! Or
maybe I should word it the other way around!! 🙂 <
Alta Blake
My Book Title: BeachGirls Follow the SON
Would love this book! My book would be “Confused to Transformed!”
Keisha Holland…..Life is Like a Chair of Bowlies. My sister once gave me some stickers that said this. It still makes me laugh!
ALL THINGS….romans 8:28 would be the title! 🙂
Please enter me: Melissa Waters
Lea Ann Bethany, “Life as Oatmeal Fudge”
This book sounds Fun! Thanks for sharing with us! Although, Im Not sure how I would find the time to write while being a full time homeschooling Momma of 3 high energy strong willed children (maybe if someone else followed me around & took notes, lol), My book would be called “Never say Never! (Because then God will start changing your heart & you will be doing that very thing before you know it.)” 🙂
Thanks for having the giveaway and for the book recommendation! Lillian Keenan
Teresa Mitchell –
Cocoa and Candy Canes
This book is terrific! I read it in one sitting. It is humorous, sincere, and inspirational. Melanie is a very talented young lady. Whoever wins one of these books will be in for a treat!
Grace Villarreal ~ ‘Grace is all you need’
Mary Beth Ferrara
Fran Dockins
My book would be called “Inside Annie’s Heart” and full of all those great things God has done for me.
Laura Deibel
“I Am My Own Floatation Device”
can’t wait to read this book!
Marla G
My fun one would be”The Best of Beth’s Haircuts-A Collection’. How to have the “Beth” hairdo! Gotta love it!
Mom of three ages 6,8,9 always on lookout for insightful deep yet humor infused books on this season in life. My book perhaps: moytherhood: travelling through a foreign land.
Hope to win! It sounds like a good read. 🙂
I think I would call my book “A Work In Progress”
Dirty bride
This book may be the missing piece to my wardrobe—hope I win!
If I were to write a book, the title would be “Kneeling Inside-Out”.
Lacy Campbell
There’s always joy with the pain…watch what happens!
Jeri May
My book IS called Unshakeable Faith. My husband and I recently self published and so I really respect someone who has a NY Times best seller! I would love a copy of Melanie’s book!
Linda Steinacher
If I wrote a book I think I would call it…Running With Scissors. Not original, but definitely what life feels like.