*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!
Love books, and look forward to reading this one (one way or another) ; )
One of my future books would be called… “I Have Arrived at the Conclusion that I Have Not Arrived” (too long?) ; )
I’m really looking for a book to read right now! Love to win it, but if not i will get a copy soon. My book title…??? ( still percolating on that idea).
I’m in 2 book clubs and always interested in new books to suggest so I’m so excited to check this out! The name of my book might be titled “Really? That Goes on In School?” . I teach high school! 🙂
It sounds like a good book.
Keitha Ruiz – I would love to read this book!!! I hope I win!!
(Love a giveaway)
(Carla T)
I am always interested in book to read! 🙂
My book title would be “Tapestry” maybe someday !?!
If what you believe were not true, would you want to know the truth? My book title would have to be that!
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
My book title: Here we go again, the roller coaster of life!
Donna Tyra I like the catchy title. I would call my book Cooking with GIGI
I’ve heard so much about this book and am in the market for a new read as I travel to Colorado in mid-March! Would love this to cozy up on the plane with! Thanks for the opportunity! Blessings! 🙂
There is a black and white picture I’ve had hanging up since college of a little girl walking down a path but you don’t see where it ends…I would have that on the cover with the title, “The Road I’m On”.
Book title – “Heart to Heart – Hope and Help for Women in Ministry”
Love your review of the book!
Love to read books recommended by friends! June G.
Not sure about a book title? Swimming in Grace, perhaps?! Thanks for the giveaway!
Would love to win a copy of this book!
My book title would be, “Use the Good China and Wear Sparkly Earrings — You never know whom you’re gonna serve!”
I love reading!
Michele Lenhart
Thanks, Lindsee, ALWAYS lookin’ for a new read.
“Kisses from Myra”, would be my book title
I would love to read about her “Sparkly” journey! 🙂
Tracy Klensch
I would love to win this book! What an awesome gift this would make for my friends who are Moms! = ) If I were to write a book…I think I would call it My Cup Runneth Over (the name of my former blog). So happy for Big Mama!
My possible title for a book is “Real life ain’t pretty, but it’s good!”
Sometimes life gets nitty-gritty, but with Jesus, it’s still all good… 🙂
Sandra Tolson
The title of my book…
“Don’t Mind the Mess…
It Looks Worse Than It Seems”
Just saw her at the dotmom conference! ! Would love the book!
Would love to read it!
I think I would call my book “Smile and the World Smiles With You!” and it would be about the power of letting people know they matter.
It’s a wonderful (but crazy) life
I’d love a copy of the book. It sounds like a book to share with my girlfriend. I hope I’m not too late to enter?!
The name of my book would be –
A Heart for the Son
My book would be called “Living in a fish bowl”
Can’t wait to read this book- whether I win it or buy it!!!
Much love to amazing women doing amazing things!
Fingers Crossed
Lindsey Jodts – would love a copy! My book would be called “Crashing Through Walls: What to do when life closes a door and there’s no window in sight”
I’m not sure what my book title would be, but I’d like to win this book.
Shannon Lackey
(Thank you!)
STEPHANIE N EVANS; I WALKED BY THIS BOOK IN THE STORE JUST THE OTHER DAY AND HAD A CURIOUS INTEREST IN IT AND LOW AND BEHOLD ITS ON THIS BLOG!!!!
AND THE TITLE OF MY BOOK WOULD BE “THE SEVENTH SAPPHIRE”
The name for my book would be called “The Redemption Songs”
Barbara bishop
I would LOVE to read this book! My book would be called “THE GREAT ADVENTURE”!!!!!
Dee Dee Thornton I don’t know what I’d title my book????
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading!
Book Title would be “Like Driftwood’s Tide”
Loved the titles others listed. I have several but seriously if I knew how to write this book, it is titled “Losing My Self Esteem”.
Still working on the title, but it would be something like…”When God wrote LOVED with Pink Glitter” 🙂
Sounds like a fun read….
If I were to write a book, I would entitle it Spring Through a Window…which would tell the beginning…and the progression of the miracle of my daughter who was born with a heart/lung defect…and is now “normal” (very normal!…I love parenthesis, also!) 13-year-old! I once stayed with her in the hospital for six weeks and watched spring develop through a window…
Thanks for hosting the give-a-way!
Tammy Gillmore
Have to add…she is a miracle…thanks to our Lord and Savior!
I love reading and pray I WIN!
Wow! I am so excited! I am known for my earrings!
I was told many years ago that the ladies at church watched to see which earrings I was going to wear each Sunday.
I had NO clue! But . . .if others were truly watching what I was wearing, I determined I had a unique way of starting a conversation about the Lord.
I have bird earrings, you see . . .God used a bird to talk to me when my son died of menegitis. He was 14 months old.
I wear angel and cross earrings most every other day.
Angels give me courage just knowing He gives us His angels to help us. Psalms 92:11
I wear many different styles of cross earrings. When I put my hands on the cross earrings, I am reminded that He knows my heart, and He walks with me on this journey we call life. He will guide my every step and show me the direction He wants me to go, if I will just allow Him. Psalms 139
You just never know how God can use something like earrings to bring around a conversation about Him.
If God ever opens the opportunity for me to write a book, I think I would title it “Heavenbound”
Joy for All People
Can’t wait to read this book!
Phyllis Swiney