*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!
My book title would be called “Black Belt in Motherhood” I have thought about writing this book for a LONG time and someone even asked there other day if I thought about writing and I told her yes and even had a book title. Maybe the time has come for me to actually start writing it on paper instead of just my head.
Love that title! It would totally hook me. I’d read it. š
Adventure
“Sweet G.R.I.T.S”. A hair teasin’ memoir of Girls Raised In The South.
That’s creative and funny! I’d love to see the “cover” of the book. š
My book would be, “Oh the Things Parents Say, if They only Knew”. I am a teacher and between notes parents write and the things we hear from students-it has its hilarious moments.
Have just the right recipient for this book. … I don’t have any recipients for my book “Ups and Downs of being the Big Sister!” – but, I have 4 younger sisters to give it to the minute it’s published:)
I would love to win a copy of this book! If I wrote my own book I think I’d title it-Topsy Turvy Sidewinder…The Wild Ride We Call Motherhood
I’m pretty sure you won’t have too many duplicate “Tenda” entries. š
Cora Lee
“The Tales of the Girl with Two First Names” or
“It’s a Baptist thing”
Blair Austin
Lee Patterson
Make a Left at the Red Light
Angela R.
purple VW beetle purple me!
I guess the title of my book would be “The-Far-From-Average-Life”!
Valerie Schatz ~ “The Bird & The B’s”
If I were to write a book, it would be called “Bedtime Bootcamp”. And I intend to write this one day š
Peace & Blessings!
“Mimi Madness”…about all the fun I am having with my grandchildren. (They call me Mimi). Melanie’s book sounds like great fun! It is so good to have talented Christian writers making it to the New York Times Best Sellers List. Brava!
Love to read this book. Mine
would be “Blessings”.
I relish the books that you can’t put down until you finish reading them. Only have had a handful in my lifetime.
Mandie K
That book sounds great! I am a mother so your post about it caught my attention.
Elizabeth Eng
I have no clue what I would title my book. I keep try to think of something genius that will make you beg me to write the thing. But I am distracted by my boys dishing up their own chicken soup right now. So. . .gotta run!
I don’t plan to write a book, but would love to read this one!
The World of Girls – (I have two daughters and five granddaughters with number 6 granddaughter on the way – NO BOYS- except I have one son)
Stephanie P.
Hmmm….book would be
Sixkness and Health simply because that is what God had planned for our marriage and my goodness we have had a ride! Would not change a day!
Tasha Spears
Reagan C
I’m going out tomorrow to see if I can find the book. Sounds great. I’d name my book “Racing with Rene’.”
Refiner’s’ company ( God’s work in refining us like precious Gold)
My name is Sara Rodrigues, and if I had to write a book, it would be “The Receptionist’s Guide: 101 Ways that won’t change your employers, but keep you sane”.
My book would be titled Big Hair! Haha
How about, “Sawdust and Legos”? Thanks for the fun giveaway! This would make such a fun gift for my BFF!
Thanks for yet another great give away LPM! You are always looking for ways to bless others…!
“Water & Mints” A guide to preparing for a Baptist get together.
Stephanie P.
When He’s All You’ve Got
4 Babies
This is the moment…. (FINALLY)
Something like “For the love of shoes…”
….still thinking of book title…:)
I realized that writing a book would be too expensive given all the photographs that would need to be included, so I write a blog instead, called “SewForDough”. It teaches people all over the world how to do sewing alterations, from beginner to advanced skill levels. It also gives advice on how to run a sewing based business. You can click on my name above and it will take you to the blog!
But, I would love to win this book! I have heard so many great things about it already. Thank you for the opportunity!
Judy Bouchard
Houston, TX
I’ll never write a book š
“It’s Messy, but that’s the fun part”
The name of my book would be “It’s Hard to Fit Through the Narrow Gate”
I would LOVE to be able to get a ponytail that high as well!
Anyway I would love to write a book and it would be called “I Didn’t Sign Up For This!”
Angela Longenecker
Julia W.
My title would be “The Joys of Being a Granny”.
I’ve been meaning to go buy Melanie’s book! I’ve been reading her blog for four years and I just love it. I bet the book is just as great! I’m not that creative so I can’t think of a title…my blog is This Is The Day so I guess I’d go with that. Lindsey Lou is a much cuter title. š
Oops. I’m obviously not good at following directions…Rachel Lacy. š
Not Yet, Linda! (Linda is my cat)
Left to My Own Devises, I’m Ridiculous
Virginia Beck
Waltzing my walk on The Way: one woman’s wanderings as she faithfully followed The Call
A View from the Pew… the life of a Preacher’s Kid.