*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!
Laura Smith, Zebulon NC
I love Melanie’s blog…I feel like she is my friend, although we have never met! I would name my book “Seasons”.
Jo Ann Rodgers
Sarah Hamel
Book: A Diamond in the Dust
My book would be “All Boys Five”
Can’t wait to read this.
Tammy Rude
The name of my book, one day(I hope), will be called Sitting in Silence.
Casi Bowers
How Jesus Made Me Funny Again š
Trisha Zmijewski
My book would be called. To This Day: A Story Of Emotional Healing
Nancy Guay, my hypothetical book title is Surviving His Ph D.
I LOOOOVE a good book! Jessica Klepac – my book would be titled “Get out of the way already!” – talking to myself š And letting God lead!
Silvia Jesse
Peanut Butter and Pearls: Mommy Musings
Book – Finding Peace (A Single Girls Guide to Dating)
I would really love to win one of these books!
Trina Duncan
I have no idea what I would name a book.
Amber Martin
I have never heard of Melanie, but she sounds delightful. I guess I need to do a bit of research. š
Mine would be “So many directions and no clue where to go…”
This mom has total “Mom ADHD” and loses her focus way too often. My poor husband and children have learned to follow along to the best of their abilities. š They are such great blessings!!
Letting go of ME
Brenda Adams, Hilton Head, SC
Britiney Slaughter
I’d call my book Consider the Lilies.
Thanks for a chance to win!!!
Samantha Lee
My book would be Living the Exchanged Life.
Lisa Krumm – From Acorn to Oak
Meggie Kornelsen
Vicky C., no title needed, a reader not a writer š
Book: Spazamataz
Stacy West. The name of my book would be, “Proof that God Laughs”
I love Melanie and her blog! Can’t wait to read her book!
Denna Gordon
“Sweeping Up Joy: Cherishing the Everdayness of Motherhood”
Or
“Long Days, Short Years”
( both on Mommyhood, but the first title alerts me to the fact that I would need a very good editor who cuts out half my words! )
Sabrina Knuth
“Oops, Did I Say That Out Loud?”
Missy S
Was just looking at Melanie’s book in Lifeway today!
Alicia Wierenga
I think my book would be
“A Happy Housewife”
“You know you have four little girls when…”
There’s never a dull moment around my house with four little girls so I often write on Facebook, “you know you have four little girls when your husband has a doll on his nightstand, you find princess stickers ALL OVER the floor, your Christmas tree is decorated with hair pretties & jewelery, & the list goes on & on. “
So Many Voices
Valerie Robertson – Redeemed and Love Proclaiming it!
from Abilene, Texas
Shaci Tillman
Hmmm…. “Never say Never” (I have always said that I would never have kids after being a nanny to 3 girls! But true is I do want some someday!)
Oh and I want all girls and 1boy!
Nancy Davis.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
Love great books! Mine will be “Twice Abandoned, but Never by God”
Margie Snyder
Hilton Head, SC
“New Every Morning”
Karolyn Dicken
Hmmm…not sure a title. But it’d be something great, I’m sure! ;0)
Lisa Younce, Wylie, TX
I was so blessed to meet Melanie at the dotMom conference in Frisco, TX (Dallas) this weekend! She is so fun! She and Sophie Hudson (BooMama) were the MC’s. I also went to Melanie’s breakout session on fashion, she gave me all kinds of great ideas! I meant to buy the book, and realized too late I forgot! So I would love to win!
Blessings, Lisa
PS I recognized a certain Mrs. Jones was there too, looking stylish and cute as always!
Vicki L. from Tennessee
I would be thrilled to receive this book. It looks great! I should write a book called “Mondays with Mimi” sharing the precious times that my nearly 4-year-old granddaughter and I share on Mondays together. She keeps me laughing!
Michelle Ochoa — book, “Learning to Love Me”
Nola Zacher
Lisa Quinlivan
My Father’s Daughter…or Life as a Redhead…or Blessed
Do I Have a Story to Tell