Each one of us contains within our being a multitude of ideas, curiosities, passions, as well as innate strengths. All of which were born when we were born. However, it is up to each of us to sow these seeds and let them blossom into what they can become.

Just as there are endless varietals of flowers throughout Mother Nature’s family, so to are their humans each possessing their unique beauty, talents and gifts. What we each need to learn how to do is nurture these seeds into blossoming.

I am BEYOND excited to introduce to you my new book today: Savoring the Sojourn

The full title expresses all that will be focused on in the book: Savoring the Sojourn: Contentment through the Seasons as You Unearth Your Masterpiece

And as you will read below in the book’s description, this is a book of layers for you to explore. We will dive into the literal seasons of Mother Nature: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer, savoring each one in various arenas of our daily life, and we will also dive into the four-part cycle of creating anything that exists within you that you are wanting to bring forth and do so with excellence, precision, and passion. Let’s take a look at the description in detail:

Description of Savoring the Sojourn:

The art of savoring along the journey of creating a masterpiece

A significant component of successfully creating or learning anything new involves understanding how the process works. 

Each of us has masterpieces within us. They may be tangible in form, such as traditional art ‑ a painting, an invention, or a novel, or they could be the glimmers of a concept, ideas entertained but as of yet not embraced, skills waiting to be honed and put into practice, wondering if we will find the courage to share them with the world ‑ a business brainchild, a leadership role, parenting skills, even attaining with proficiency a new language or skills to design artisan furniture, a cottage garden or an inviting website. The list is infinite, and no masterpiece is too small or unconventional when it comes to what a masterpiece can be, so long as it fits two criteria: intrinsic to our true self, and our willingness to set it free beyond our control upon completion. After all, we each have many masterpieces patiently waiting in the queue, hoping that we will muster up the courage to bring them to fruition.

However, all too frequently, fear stops us from finishing, even starting the creative process to bring our ideas to life. Essentially, what we are considering is a leap into the unknown, a journey without a map (or so we think), stepping onto an unfamiliar path, a challenge we have yet to complete successfully. While others may have done something similar, we have not yet done it for ourselves. 

The reassuring good news is that our fear is confirmation that our idea is sound, and, further, the path to masterpiece creation is well-worn, with great success, each creation entirely unparalleled. What is in parallel is the four-part cycle of the journey.

With the wisdom of Mother Nature’s four seasons, paired with the expertise from researchers of positive psychology, professional musicians, business educators, psychologists, and philosophers, Shannon Ables teaches the four-part cycle of bringing a masterpiece to completion, all while savoring the entire journey, each sojourn.

When we learn how to savor each season on the calendar—a sojourn, temporary in its duration, yet a place we reside for three months of the year—our ability to understand the four-part cycle of creation: acquisition of new skills, assessing, adjusting, and then finally, releasing, eases our mind so we can commit fully to creating. This understanding then becomes something we savor as well. 

Specific ideas for savoring the four seasons in all arenas of our life—everyday routines and rituals, decorating our sanctuary, cultivating a garden, cooking with ease, oodles of petits plaisirs, and wardrobe ideas for traveling to France as well as Britain that correlate with our everyday capsule wardrobe—fill the four seasonal chapters of Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Each chapter also includes skills to strengthen true contentment. Discover the benefits of mindfulness practices, how to regulate the nervous system for stability to find enjoyment in stretching ourselves to complete each masterpiece, and learn how to strengthen self-trust in the journey we have chosen.

pages: 361
publication date: September 15, 2026
formats available: hardback, paperback, audio, eBook
illustrator: Sarah Lœcker
cover design: Dash Creative

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While we still have seven months before the release date in September, rest assured, there is a reason for our patience. While I will wait for you to discover the specific reason for waiting for when you begin reading it, know that its purpose is to provide alignment and success along your journey of realizing, discovering and yep, savoring all that is available to delight in.

More details are coming in June with regard to preordering, so stay tuned until then, when I will share the following:

• Options for where to order that will give you the best shipping cost.
  
• How to receive a signed copy
  • three options will be available: shipped directly from Shannon, a signed bookplate – personalizing will be available, or a signed in person
    
• How to receive the free gift from TSLL as an Active TOP Tier Member and what it is!
  • Learn more about becoming a TOP Tier Member here.

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Until then, let me leave you with a few of the motivating sources that guided the focus of this book.

First, you, TSLL readers. Back in 2024, while I had an idea and had already begun working on the 4th book, I asked you what you would like the book to focus on. And resoundingly, you said, the four seasons. You also shared very specific details about the seasons that you would enjoy discovering in the book. I took note of all that you shared and let those requests inform the content I wanted to make sure to include.

Second, my own life journey. So many TSLL readers know where I began way back in 2009 – the year TSLL began, and in all that I shared of my early years in my first book Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life, you know my life has evolved in many ways, each one, I feel fortunate to say, in wonderful, once-only-dreamed-about ways. However, along that journey, while most definitely chosen, there were hiccups, struggles, doubts, worries, fears, and always uncertainty, but I kept stepping forward. Upon reflection, and what guided my decision as to why I want to share this book, Savoring the Sojourn, was that a consistent cycle unfolded for every eventual desired outcome that, at the beginning, seemed nearly or entirely impossible. What I learned and what I continue to trust to be true is what is shared in this book.

Now that I understand this cycle, but looking back, knowing that there was such a cycle would have brought immense peace of mind. No, we will never know what the outcome will be when we begin, but I can assure you, that if you trust Mother Nature and what others far wiser than me have discovered through research, science as well as observing other experts in their field of creating masterpieces, you will eventually arrive and bring to completion something new, something life changing in a most extraordinary moment that didn’t seem possible when you began. That extraordinary moment may be a seemingly ordinary moment to others, but to you, it will be a dream come true – to witness your own growth, to observe upon reflection how much you have changed, to realize you can create what you thought at first would be impossible. It is possible, it just takes awareness of the cycle of creating what is already sowed within you waiting for you to tap into your courage and bring it forth.

The Illustrator who brings the book to life

Before I conclude, I want to give a tremendous thank you to the illustrator who brings the ideas, the words to visual ‘life’. Sarah Lœcker has again created the illustrations for Savoring the Sojourn, just as she did for The Road to Le Papillon. Within the book, there are four new illustrations, one depicting each of the four seasons, which I cannot wait for you to discover upon purchasing the book.

She and I first sat down together over a Zoom call back in January 2025. I shared with her my ideas for the cover: a depiction of the cycle of an idea’s maturation, aligned with the four seasons. She, knowing TSLL, continued with the foundation of the four stages of the butterfly. If you look closely, you will see all four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Within, or along that vine are also details from my own life that reference generally topics explored in the book – gardening, nestling into our sanctuary, cooking, and caring for ourselves well (the green rectangle is a seed sowing tray full of seedlings that just burst forth through the soil). The sunflowers also specifically have an important meaning that will also be revealed in the book, but I will share with you today that they symbolize the gift, a packet of sunflower seeds, that has been given to each TOP Tier member who has gathered together at our in-person events in France and Britain over the past few years. And then . . .

. . . you will notice the ladybird (often referred to as ladybug in the States, but I most prefer ladybird ☺️). While I won’t share why it is included here why it is positioned where it is, rest assured that its inclusion is significant, and it appears on the back cover, as shared above, too. I promise, the reason will make complete sense upon reading the book.

So, it is with deep gratitude that thank Sarah for bringing all of this to life. I feel very fortunate to work her again. Sarah’s talent and passion are evident in the attention she pays to each detail; when you look closely, you notice her artistry and smile in discovery. Her knowledge of flora and fauna further inspires me to learn more.

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And now, we practice patience, and in so doing, savoring each day until September 15th arrives.

~Be sure that you are signed up for TSLL’s Books & Online Courses News newsletter as it will keep you informed of all news related to Savoring the Sojourn. If you haven’t already signed up, you can do so for free here.

~Learn more about all of TSLL’s books, where to purchase them, how to order a signed copy, watch the trailer of each and more here.