“A sojourn provides a place to both be and do consciously, being fully present in the moment – aware and engaged. However, if we only journey and forget to savor the sojourns along our life path, being constantly in motion and focused on our next step, then we are not actually fully engaged in our lives. And so, we remember to savor the sojourn, each one.” —an excerpt from Savoring the Sojourn: Contentment through the Seasons as You Unearth Your Masterpiece

The dusk chorus sang their song, and the late evening light streamed sideways across the lawn. The violets have self-seeded over the years, and looking for a photo opportunity of the new book in the garden, it all seemed to capture beautifully what the guiding premise is of Savoring the Sojourn. And in nearly three months’ time, you will be able to explore this approach to living well and cultivating a life you love living and that brings you to life.

What you see above is a moment savored and now shared to announce that we have finally arrived at the day when preordering begins.

Rest assured, the grey banner across the middle of the cover will be removed come September 15th when your preordered copy arrives, but I wanted to capture a photo of the book for you, both the hardback and the paperback. It’s real. Signed copies of Savoring the Sojourn is hold-in-your-hands ready, and I cannot wait for you to be able to do so.

~seen above, Shannon in her garden at Le Papillon.~

The preordering window is now open to purchase TSLL’s 4th book, Savoring the Sojourn: Contentment through the Seasons as You Unearth Your Masterpiece. If you are subscribed to any one of TSLL’s newsletters, you’ve received in your inbox just hours ago all of the details on pricing, when the book will be released globally on Amazon (a cheaper shipping option if you live outside of the States), and what the special gift is that will be included with each preorder between now and July 31st.

It has been over two years since the writing began, and that Galerie Gallimard seen in the IG Story below is now very full, with lots of scribbles, exing outs, circles, checkmarks, and you name it to hold onto any idea that I wanted to entertain for the book, it’s in there. And now, it is also not so clean (there may be evidence of a teacup having been placed atop it at one point 😉)

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A post shared by Shannon Ables (The Simply Luxurious Life® ➡️ TSLL.co ) (@thesimplyluxuriouslife)

From that notebook of ideas to now a book ready to be sent out into the world for you all to read and explore. Most importantly, it is my hope that Savoring the Sojourn will become a resource of encouragement for you to both gather up the courage to step toward and stick with each idea you wish to bring forth as well as a reminder to slow down, take your time and live each day so well that while you are eager to experience where you hope to arrive, you also don’t want to rush the precious now that is.

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Below is the description of the book shared on the back cover:

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.

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If you want to learn more about how the focus of the book came about, as well as more details about the illustrations created by Sarah Lœcker, I invite you to read this post that was shared back in February.

For more information on shipping, scroll below. If you are ready to place your preorder, click the button below and be directed to the purchasing page. Active TOP Tier members, remember to use your coupon code at checkout to receive the gift for free (find it in June’s A Cuppa Moments). If you are not yet a TOP Tier member and would like to be, so long as you do so before July 31st, you can find and use the coupon code to save. Learn more here about becoming a member.

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The Special Gift with each Preordered Book

• Savourer le Séjour (savoring the sojourn)
• newly designed by TSLL, exclusively for the book’s launch
• 4 x 7 ” notepad with magnet on back
• 25 pages
• Full color of Sarah Lœcker’s illustrations for TSLL’s 4th book
• Final notepad design decided by TSLL’s TOP Tier Members in June’s A Cuppa Moments. 
• Value — $20
• Available only during the preordering window (June 13 – July 31st)
• Each Active TOP Tier Member may receive a free notepad with the special coupon code.
• All customers may order the notepad, as many as desired.
  • If you would like more than one, the individual notepad product page is found here (otherwise, when you order Savoring the Sojourn, a notepad is already included in your purchase price.)

Shipping Prices and Ordering Options

Let’s take a look at some important details about shipping. Choose the best purchasing option for you based on where you live and the shipping methods offered:

Preordering OPTIONS (there are two):

(1) Purchasing/Preordering from Shannon between June 13th and July 31st:

• Receive a signed copy inside your book. Include a personal note to be written inside the book at checkout, if desired.
• Orders will be shipped directly from Shannon (Oregon, US) so that they will arrive by September 15th (or as close as possible if shipped internationally). I will be shipping them out at the end of August.
• Quality control to ensure the book looks its best.
• Formats available: hardback and paperback
• Gift (shared below) is included in the price.
• TSLL’s previous three books are all 20% off between June 13th and July 31st (no coupon needed – reduced in shop already). Signed copies.
  • When ordered during this window, the previous three books will ship with Savoring the Sojourn in September. One shipment, one shipping price. 
• SHIPPING COSTS:
  • Domestic (US)
    • 1-2 books, $14.50
    • 3-4 books, $30
    • More books, $40
  • International (all countries outside of the US)
    • 1-2 books, $40
    • 3-4 books, $70
    • More books, $80
• PRICE for the Book + Gift:
  • Includes gift (see below to learn more)
    • signed Hardback ($35) + gift ($20) = $55
    • signed Paperback ($27) + gift ($20) = $47
  • TOP Tier Members: remember to include your coupon code (found in June’s A Cuppa Moments) at checkout to receive the notepad for free.
  • Not a TOP Tier Member, but would like to be to receive the free gift? Now is a great time to do so, as membership pricing will be increasing permanently on August 1st, and you will have the opportunity to receive the free gift. Learn more here, become a member, and then place your preorder with the code. Email me if you have any questions – shannon@thesimplyluxuriouslife.com
• Prefer to just order the gift and a signed bookplate, and then order your book from Amazon on August 25th?
  • Find the Savourer le Séjour notepad here, add it to your cart.
  • Then add the bookplate, find it here, to your cart. 
  • You will only pay flat-rate shipping (either $14.50 or $30, domestic or international). 

• Option to preorder book without gift:
  • Beginning August 1st, preordering will be available for signed copies without a gift. They will arrive on the same date, September 15th. I will send out a newsletter alerting subscribers to this availability to purchase.
    • Price of Book, solely:
      • Hardback: $35
      • Paperback: $27

(2) Ordering through Amazon when the book is available globally to purchase on Tuesday, August 25th:

• Receive direct shipping within your country, reducing shipping time from order to your door. My intention by opening the ordering window in late August is to ensure you receive the book on or before Tuesday, September 15th.
• Formats available: hardback, paperback, audio, eBook
  • You can preorder the eBook now – click here. 
  • It will be available to read on August 25th
• Shipping Costs: Free (if you are an Amazon Prime member) or significantly reduced shipping if you live outside of the United States. 
• You can still receive a signed and personalized bookplate to place in your book, and it will only cost $3 (the cost of postage internationally from the states). You can place your order for the bookplate here. It will be sent in late August so that it arrives by September 15th. 
• Unfortunately, the gift will not be available when ordering through Amazon.

All of TSLL’s three previous books (hardback and paperback) are now 20% off through July 31st. Order now, and they will arrive with your preordered copy of Savoring the Sojourn on September 15th. Each will be signed. No coupon needed, as all books have been reduced in TSLL’s Shop. Learn more about each of the books here.

If you have any questions about preordering or anything shared in today’s post, please leave a comment below, and I will respond as soon as possible.

Before long, September 15th will be here!