*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!
“One More Thing”
Julie Simpson
My title…..”Heaven Help Her!” š
Bena Hartsock
Yen Thampi – “Spatially Unaware”
Julie dk in Casper Wyoming
A Walk that Matters
Traci Rivard
Thanks Lindsee…the book sounds interesting. My book title….”one of 3″
Congratulations, Melanie! Thank you, Lindsee, for informing us about a wonderful new book.
I also have a book inside me, but a title doesn’t yet come to mind. š
Lorrie Barker
My book title would be Beautiful Chaos.
Teresa Martin. I would love to win this book. If I wrote a book it would be “Musings of A Mother”.
I’d love to fall into a new book! This one sounds great!
Wearing His Forgiveness Like a Crown
Eva Lawhorn
Reeder’s Reads (after my blog!)
Help for the Hurting: Learning to Live After a Cancer Diagnosis
“Jenna worried”….the prequel to “Wemberly worried” š
Name of my Book: Parents of Teens Survival Guide
(Im a mom of 6 with 5 teens)
What NOT to do when growing up~ By A Coal Miner’s Daughter….(did you sing the tune?)
Always looking for a good book to read! This one sounds fantastic!
My title might be: “The Quandaries and Conundrums of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom”
Brenda Bivens I haven’t really thought about writing a book about my life, or if I did what the title would be. It would definitely be a good read though!
Marilyn Miller
My book “Life Can be a Lemon, So Just Pass the Salt”.
Lindsay Hernandez
Ramblings by Rhonda…I love to talk.
Tami Kiper
The Life of A Lake Kid
“The smell of sawdust makes me want to shout!” A tale from the daughter of a tent revivalist.
I’d LOVE to read this book! I’ve heard great things about it! I have 3 kids, ages 7,5 & 2!
You have given me an opportunity to think back on my life and all that has transpired in 63 years!!!! My title would have to be “Either Rise Above It Or Wallow In It” Nothing is impossible with God.
Tammy Grace
The book I dream of writing is:
Death by Shampoo and Toothpaste
(The joys of raising boys)
Connie Cox – My book would be, “Grandmothers really do have more fun”.
My title would be “Can I get a witness, anybody, about grooming female Cockers and rearing teenage girls: both insanely trying of me!”
Jaclyn Casillas
Interested! Maggie Cummings
jenny hudson
title of the book to be written with one of my best friends: “living with crazy”
I have been trying to think of my pretend book title…maybe, Learning to see the spectacular blessings in the everyday life. š
“A High Maintenance Woman…. But A Satisfied Heart”.
Leslie Petree
If I knew Then…
Buffy Scherer
The title of my non fiction book would be “Ya’ll, I really can’t make this stuff up!”
Terri Lovett
Monique Dozer
Valerie McFarland
My title: “Underneath the Oak Tree”
Sara Crocker
Rocks in my Pockets- the Story of a Curious Girl
My title “Four Boys”….I have four sons.
Karen Di
My book: “Recipes from the Fiery Furnace: When you’re the Main Ingredient”
Joy in the Journey
Bama Girl
Would love one!!! Is it available at bookstores?
Terri R
“If I Only Would Be Still and Know”
Karla H. (completely internet paranoid)
Can’t imagine reading a book, let alone write one.
But now I have a obsessive need to purchase a pair of sparkly green earrings and of course play hookie from life and read this book! What have you done (to me)? (SMILE)
Great post, Melanie. I love that your personality is so evident in your writing.
Sparkly Green Earrings looks fantastic. Even if I don’t win it, I’ll be picking up a copy to read.
My book would be titled “A Vessel’s Journey: From Broken to Beloved.”
I can’t think of a book title, but I just read Dawn’s R’s book title “Lessons From the Land of the Perpetually Irritated” and I would definitely buy it when it comes out!
Robin Freeman
My Life ……A Rollercoaster !!!