*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!
Erin Vander Top
I want to read this book. It is intriguing and would be a perfect read for this snowed in midwestern girl! Pink Petal Couture is the name of my book in the future.
Book Title: God’s Provision and Grace. Just wish I could write and thank Him for both of these things! Her title sounds so much more fun and original!
Stephanie Nichols
Sheila Harris
I just love that girl and I don’t even know her, I’ve been reading her blog for 2ish years and love her personaility. Would love a copy of this book. Thank you for the chance. In God’s love, sheila
God, Me, Him and Them (would be my title if I ever wrote a book)
I love The Big Mama Blog and I can’t wait to read her book! My creative book title would be Why Do I Always Have To Learn The Hard Way?
-Amy Hill 🙂
If it were a story of my life, I’d call my book, “My cousin, Antoinette.” And no, I do not have a cousin Antoinette. But I do have a crazy family. And a grandmother who, for no apparent reason, renamed one of my cousins “Antoinette” LOL
Connie Debner
My book would be called “Grace, Grace and MORE Grace”
Guilt, Gossip & Sweet Tea
The Chronicles of a “Good Southern Girl”
Would love to win a copy of the book. Thanks for sharing your trip to Katy. Lived in Houston about 20 years ago and moved with my husband to our native Tennessee shortly after we were married. Love and miss the people.
Would love to read this book!!!
book title… “Shu Flies!” and yes, I meant to spell “shu” that way… look at my last name 🙂
Rebekah Arnold. I would use Rebekah’s Rambling or Rambling Rebekah? LOL
I dropped mad hints to my hubby that I wanted “Sparkly Green Earrings” for Valentine’s Day. He didn’t catch the hint, bless him! My book would be, “From mom jeans to skinny jeans (finding my place in the body of Christ)”
Blessed! Enough Said!!
Snowed in with a blizzard in the Texas panhandle, would love a new book to read
Love all you do,
Jennifer esquivel
Borger, tx
I’ve got a few book ideas running around in my head. Maybe one of them would be: My Rosie Outlook
I just finished reading Sparkly Green Earrings and I LOVED it. I blogged about it too. Wouldn’t it be fun to own a signed copy?
Thanks for chance!
Rosemary Boswell
Pam Means
Stephanie Santiago….
Dee Anne McCrary
In Search of Time
Me, write a book? No way!
Jennifer Stymiest – would love a signed copy of Sparkly Green Earrings!!
Great! I have two grandbabies on the way!!!!! I need two of these books to give away… one to my daughter in law and one to my daughter…. and by the way Lindsee… you use parentheses… (I use parentheses a lot too)… plus I like to use dot dot dot… just in case you didn’t notice…. The name of my first book will be “Splattered Faith” like the name of my blog. Hope you have a blessed day!
Kathy
Melanie Ellis!
Not sure about a book title, but something to do with being “in progress” 🙂
Love a good, easy read that is either easy or humorous or both! Name of my book. Hosrseback In A Field of Daisies
The name of my book would be, “Pick One Thing, Jen!”
When God is Your Coparent. Is what I would name my book. My husband passed last April & God has been the coparent to my small children ever since.
Hmmmm……How about Christi-Lou for my title??? Could be fun!
Keri Penaherrera
Strength in the Journey – An autism mom’s quest
Brenda A K
I’m always up for another good read.
Kate Gray. The First Year.
Thanks!
Janet Lescalleet
“How Much Tired Can There Be?”
The title of my book would be: Not Really A Pirate
Courtnie Larson
I would love to read this book. Thanks for the fun post.
Lorie.
You can’t make this stuff up!
Long time reader of Melanie’s blog and would be so blessed to win a copy of her book.
Jennifer Castro
Great blog post! Funny 🙂 I Loved it 🙂 I would love to read that book too and do a book review for my blog! Hope I can share the love 🙂
Blessings!
Autumn McCafferty
My book would be called “Perpetual Boonde Moments”
Kinda self explanitory! 🙂
I would love to read Sparkly Green Earrings!
Phyllis Twilley
Mel Lucht
Andrea Brouwer! Thank for the chance to win!
Elizabeth Ann Dains
Audra Koning. I would name my book “Borrowed Breath” referring to the fact that every breath we take is ordained and borrowed from God.
I would love a copy of this book. The title to my book would be, “I still need a night light!”
Hope
Sherri Smith
My book would be called
An Oodle of Poodles and Other Ludicrous Things
My book would be named ” Grace Given Freely”.