*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!
Sparkly Green Earrings! Please:)
Debbie Ritter.
My book would be titled ‘God Is Good ALL the Time!’
Brandy A.
From the Eyes of Bubba would be my book title. š although I am a “small” person my nickname has been Bubba since day one.
Mindy Seekford
My book title would be “Hoops and Heels”:)
I don’t know what the title would be but my book would definitely be about being raised an only child and growing up and having seven children of my own š
I always tell my mother she got a great return on her investment š
If I wrote a book, I’d have to call it “Be Still.”
This book sounds very intriguing:) My book title: Learning to Learn.
Michelle H
“Refuge of Hope”
Yep, I’m real š
Cynthia Pearson
I love to read but instead of writing a book, I encourage my author friends like Faith Bogdan, who has her first book coming out in April called “Who are all these kids and why are they calling me mom”.
Diane Rullestad book title “Comforting With the Comfort I’ve Been Given”
Do y’all not see how funny I am?
I would love to read this book! It sounds fun!
My book title would be “the fabulous life God gave her, a journey with joy and pain”
Sounds like a wonderful book! I’m not much of a writer, but I have thought about writing a book about my wonderful sister and entitling it “For the Love of Mary”. I loved her dearly and lost her way too soon. Blessings to all!
It would probably start with “what in the world am I doing”?!
Rebecca Murphy
Humor through the Window-The Tales of a Church Recpetionist
Stephanie Wright
Leanne Cody
My book would definitely be called “Ewins Doins”. Except no one would say the first word right. Unless they guessed it rhymes with the second word. Which it does. š
Alicia Phillips
I laughed out loud when you said “I’m not even going to pretend like I know what my book would be titled..” š
Maybe- frozen peaches: a girls guide to southern survival in a northern land
Becky Swenson is my name!
My book would be called…. Because Nice Matters.
Suzy Edwards – Atlanta
Although I love and appreciate creativity in others, I don’t have an ounce in myself — so I’ll have to pass on the title. š
Mel Ann Sullivan – Millry, AL – My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you say to the one wearing fine clothing, “Here’s a good seat for you”, but say to the poor person, “You stand over there” or “sit on the floor by my feet”, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4 NLT
Steffanie Reiley
Forever Grateful: A Daughter of the King Memoir
I just saw this and didn’t pick it up- unbelievable!
Susan Davis
My book would be for children called “God’s Little Ewe.”
Julia M “Just Breathe”
The Life of a Newly Wed
Amy P – Slow, Crazy Ride
My book title would be called Sustained by Faithfulness
Rebekah Parker
“Theological thought’s from a 4 year old”
My book would be titled, “The Wonderful World of being a Grandmother”
Debbie E.
My book, “Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!”
Paige Shappley
“Re-Do the I Do” because God gave us a 2nd chance do-over to get this marriage thing right! Hallelujah!
So What Do I Do Now? and I have the perfect recipient for the book to pass it along to (after I read it of course).
I’d love to win this!
I AM writing a book and it’s called Raining Toward Heaven
Megan McCann
I’d name my book: “Knitting, and Other Methods God Used to Teach Me To Love (My Family)”
Sounds like an interesting book! If I wrote a book, it would be titled – One Big Fat Hairy Rollercoaster.
Kristina Foster, Gardner, KS
Right now, my book would be called–“Snow Bound in KC” š
No ideas on a book title!
Joy In The Morning
Bridgit Smith…..Broken Bits. Mosaic Miracles! Or Safe at Home…How to keep your children safe in your home.
I love the title of this book. It reminds me of my mom who just passed away last month. She would have been 91 years young. We have been looking through her belongings and I think she had 200 pair (or more!) of sparkly earrings. (some from the 60s that I remember her wearing when I was young) So here’s to Big Mama and Little Mama (that’s what we called her cuz she was little and cute )who love their bling.
Monika R. — “Hold On, This Too Shall Pass…”
Nancy Foose
The title of my book would be “Enjoy the Ride”
Catherine Moore
My book would be called “Fear of the Fish”…my husband and I have talked about this one for quite a while but have yet to start it…maybe some day…
(PS Lindsee, I like parenthesis too!)
Kim Everest
Lendi Stuber
Blessed Beyond …