*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 can’t say that I’ve thought about what my book title would be, but I would love to win a copy of the book!
My book title would be. Just like that there tree, I’m still standing (for now anyway)!!!!!
Broken and Beautiful
” Do we really have 6 children? ”
I really am shocked everyday!
Meg F.
And for my book title… I’ll have to think!
Christy Richardson 🙂
What an interesting title. I would love to read this book!
Put me in to win!
thats not a book title…though it sounds like a good one, I just want to get a signed copy of Sparkly Green Earrings
karen leavitt
Book title……”my age is going up, my prospects are going down”.
Oh, Boy!
Melissa Berhel
🙂 God Bless you all!!!! My book would be titled…
“God turned this Hot Mess into a HOT MESSAGE!!!” 🙂
Brenda Hodson My book would be “Just Enough” or for someone starting their own business with her husband it would be “Are You Sure??”
My pretend book title: “Good Thing God Loves Me with my Foot in my Mouth” or “Better Living through Sarcasm.”
Amanda Dolinger
the name of my “non-book” would be “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!” (a little non-fiction anyone? 🙂
I would love a copy of this book! And I would title my book “Choose To Say Yes”
and I am nowhere close to being an author 🙂
Candace Crabtree
Would LOVE to win this book!! I’ve had it on my wishlist since before it came out. 🙂 If I had a book, gosh, it would be called “What a MESS!” ha!
Thank you for offering this giveaway! Hmmm…the name of my book would be something like Out of The Ashes 🙂
Gracebits: Catching Tidbits of His Unmerited Favor
Kim Heaton, and my book title would be Bring Ella Home.
All days are good, some are just better than others!!!!
Dee Spitler. My book title? How about ‘Just once, I’d like to win.’ 🙂
Dawn Whiteford
I would write “Turning My Mess into His Message”
If I could write a book, its title would be, “From the Ashes”.
From Wine to Water
Kali W.
Uhh… I have no idea what I would name my own book.
Diane K.
Plugging: just away at homework (algebra -blech! at 43 I still don’t like it, lol, nor do particularly well at it).
My dad (back in NY) got in touch with his sister and her daughter yesterday (who still live in Texas) and he said they had a grand time talking nearly 3 hours!! I’m so happy my family’s coming together more & more 🙂
Lacey Craig
I saw Beth’s post…make that “tweet” …about this book a couple weeks ago and immediately ordered it. Loved it! And passed my copy forward to my sister. BTW, we’re both grammas…but Melanie’s words still resonate! Should I win another copy, it will be happily gifted to a deserving young mommy!
Jennifer Carter wants to read this book 🙂
Beth Heintz
Joanne Viola – Thanks for the chance!
Don’t Give Up….It Could be Just One Day, One Hour Away!
By Way of the Little House
If I were to write a book right now it would be Parenting Without Fear!
Christina R.
Whistling a tune, even if its a bit off key!
Katie Faffler
Kristi Whiting
🙂 thanks for the chance to win this book!
Praising in Pajamas
It would be a book about how my culturally unfabulous life, is in reality a supernatural one that shows the grace, power, and redemption of Christ.
Also, I really love my pajamas.
Kristin Lambert
Who just happens to love all things green AND all things sparkly!! ;o)
Love it! And you’re right– what a cute cover!!
The name of my book would be:
Help Me Here, Is Chocolate, Coffee or Tea Time?
Patti Bodenhamer
The name of my book would be “Meadowpond Farm” which is where I live with cows, horses , donkeys , dogs and a wide variety if other creatures.
Would love to read the book. I really can’t think of a title of a book except for struggles trough the years with Gods guidance.
I would love to win the book. I had read about it a couple of weeks ago, looks like a good read.
“The Whisper of My Mind”
The “Mother” Hood, is that a gang????
Christi Beerley
My book would be titled:
Me, Write a Book? Never!!!
I have no idea what my book would be called! Maybe *Glory to God* because if I ever got a book written, it would be all due to Him!