*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!
This looks like a great book!
I could use some sparkle right about now! and my book would be titled “Roller Coaster Rides of Life.”
Just stumbled upon Melanie’s blog in the past few weeks. Love that she chose to write about motherhood. I am so grateful God he gave me the opportunity to be a mom! Thank you LORD!
Beth, my daughter, will be the book writer. We do not yet know the title.
Would love to have a signed copy of Melanie book!!
(My book would be called “Three Little Girls”)
Yearning to Learn, Learning to Yearn
I have an outline of a book that I’m working on. “While I Am Waiting: For Women Who Are Walking With Their Beloved Ones Out of Addiction”
The other book idea I’m toying with is “Glorious Within: Discovering The Beauty of Who Your King Created You To Be”, based on Psalm 45.
Thanks for the heads up about Melanie’s book and blog. Do you have a link to her blog that you can share with us?
Thanks!
Melissa AuClair
My book title: Miracles from Messes …because after all the messes my heroine finds herself in, she is going to need miraculous intervention 🙂
Tiffany Rowland
The name of my book would be “It’s ALL good”. Started listening to Beth many years ago and am just finding my way back!
Holly Baxley
(…guess I should enter the proper way…lol)
Linda McMorris
Book name-“Only by Prayer”
Connie Kelley
But there are too many to choose from! 🙂
1 – Beauty Undeserved
2 – Logina-Bobina, a Peanut Princess and the Fella at the End
He is faithful
Heather VanHanxleden
“Help!….I’m addicted to having Babies!”
My book would be called “the Art Of Sitting”
I have to travel lots and learning to sit is quite am art.
Glitter & God
Polly Stanberry
My book might be “Without the Lord I Wouldn’t Have a Clue”
I LOVE the blog! I’m excited to read the “Sparkly Green Earrings” !! I’m a huge reader & it sounds great.
the book title: 🙂
” Ponytail It! It is Time!”
In a world of “going non-stop!” Time is of the essence. Ps 90:12 Lord, Teach us to number our days! That we may have a heart of wisdom!” (paraphrased! 🙂
Romona Smith
Forgot to leave my last name on the first comment!
So funny! I saw the post “Sparkly Green Earrings” giveaway on Facebook, and didn’t read any more, because I don’t wear earrings!
So now that I know, I would LOVE a copy. My book would be called “I Don’t Know How To Do This, So Help Me, Lord”
(and of course, HE did)
The name of my book would be The Shoe Fairy Has Landed.
Beth B.
My book title would be Pecos Proverbs. It would tell about all that God has shown me since moving to a small mountain village outside Santa Fe.
Would love to read this book! I am always looking a fun, easy read. My toddler keeps me busy, so I would love to escape into her book.
“Love those Grandchildren!”
If I were to write a book, and I plan to at some point, it would be titled, “How the devil used my shrinking waistline”
A story of vanity, transformation, and redemption for the plus size dreamer.
I would love to win a copy of this book. I love the Big Mama blog. She is so funny.
That book sounds awesome! If I ever published a book, I have no idea what I’d call it but maybe something like, “Color Me Random”…lol!
Judith Coates
“My Name is Judith And I Am Addicted to Fake Nails”
Any book talking about best friends should be in my hands because I’ve had some great ones walk me through some rough patches. My book title…….Wandering through Midlife!
Jamie Little
Free to Be Me…. for His Total Glorification and Our Ultimate Satisfaction
Carol Meinecke
Creative-Advocate-Restless- Ornery- Loving: Me. (First letters of the words spell my name) Corny, I know.
Pick me! Pick me! 🙂 Love you all…
“Rearview Mirror: Tales of a TagalongMom”
I left my comment a few days ago, but wanted you to know I’ve come back each day because I’ve truly been blessed by the BOOK TITLES! I’ve laughed out loud (no truly…not just lol, as in a slang term we use when writing, but really you could hear me laughing) and my heart strings were tugged on, as I could feel the pain and healing thats taken place in the lives of others. My mom always said, “Every one has at least one book in them” and I sure hope some of these get written! I for one saw titles of books I’d read. Give ’em Heaven Sister-friends!
The title of my non-book is “I didn’t make this stuff up!”
(a biography)
Lori Todd
Bling! Spiritual Jewels and a Few Heels and Handbags….
Hypothetical book title:
Cookin’ for the King! (It’s a cookbook)
Shelli Littleton … has written a book, but needs to get herself in gear and try to do something with it. Life!
Traci H.
If I had only listened to my Mom…
Andrea B
Karina Allen
Book Title: Living By Faith and Not By Sight
Thanks for introducing me to Melanie, I’m off to look for her blog and buy the book
Shelley Christensen
“How to be a Great Bad Parent” and “Memoirs from a Trailer Park”