I Self-Publish Things (AKA What I've Been Doing Since Roughly March-April)

My name is Savannah. Y'all knew that. But what y'all probably don't know is that I'm a self-published author.

Let me tell you a little story spanning all the way back to March/early April of this year.

I've been writing short stories for a good while. In lieu of traditional NaNoWriMo, I took on the task of writing 30 short stories, one for each day of November. But even before that, I've loved creating stories, long or short, fluffy or more serious. Storytelling and crafting has been and always will be a passion of mine.

But let's talk about those November stories. Up until this point, I had been researching literary magazines to try to get my work out there. That is, until I thought about a freelance editing project I'd worked on. The author I edited for self-published his work through Amazon. He had sent me a copy of his book as a thank-you gift.

And that's when the wheels started turning.

At the time, I was working on a short story called "Turn the Town." As I was writing it, something about it just felt right. I had a gut feeling that it would be a good first work to publish after failed attempts to try to put something together as my "debut."

That's when I took the plunge.

I finished that story. I put my graphic design knowledge to use and designed a cover from scratch. I spent hours researching and fiddling with Kindle Direct Publishing until I had a product I was proud of.

And, on April 20, 2017...

...I launched "Turn the Town" on Amazon on Kindle and Paperback.

My dreams literally came true the day I held a copy of my short story for the first time. I can't accurately describe the euphoria I felt when I flipped through the book I'd put together. Even though it wasn't a full novel, it was out there. And it was mine.

And I was ready to do even more.

Speaking of even more...

I'm launching a new one! This next one is titled "The Pirate College," and it's a pirate comedy that I'm super excited to share. It will be available for Kindle and paperback on Amazon on August 15th.

If you want to learn more about and read my work, the easiest ways to access it are through my Amazon Author Central page and my author website.

I am so, so grateful and thankful to my family, friends, and everyone else in between who's picked up, read, and supported my writing and my dreams. This girl is one happy author. And I can't wait to see where God leads me on this grand adventure.

"A book is a dream that you hold in your hand." - Neil Gaiman

My Erin Condren Life Planner Setup | Summer 2017

I've been using planners for a long, long time. I get it from my mom. :)

I'm no stranger to Erin Condren, either. Literally. I've heard her speak twice now (once at Geaux Wild in New Orleans, the second time at GO Wild in Nashville), and I've used her planners before. I keep coming back to these planners because of the layout and how easily it fits in with my life (more on that in a minute).

So, how do I use it?

Tools I Use

These days, I'm using colorful Sharpie art pens to write in events and things. I use stickers from The Glam Planner (YouTube beauty guru followers will be familiar with shop owner Elle Fowler, AKA AllThatGlitters21), and I use a variety of washi tape to mark off longer spans of time (like a river trip I went on recently).

Color Key

I've been using this color key for years...at least since college.  I was inspired by this video by - surprise! - Elle Fowler/AllThatGlitters21.

• Pink - work
• Orange - social
• Green - travel
• Turquoise - blogging
• Royal blue - dates
• Purple - misc. items
• Black - to-do list items
• Red - appointments/urgent

The Layout

My actual planning is very simple. I use my color key to write events (often putting them in clouds, pictured above), and then punctuate them with whatever "icon" stickers I have. I love these from Glam Planner because I can't get over how cute the anime-style characters are, and it's not too overwhelming on the page whenever I consult my planner on a day-to-day basis.

I also categorize my days. The Erin Condren vertical layout is separated into three boxes per day. The top box is To-Do (or important holidays, like birthdays and anniversaries), the middle box is work, the bottom box is social.

And that's pretty much it! Like I said, simple, but I love it. It fits my life the way I need it to. Do you use a particular planner? Let's talk in the comments! :)

My Favorite Middle TN Coffee Shops

I'm a coffee hound. People who know me can absolutely vouch for this. I love a good cup of joe, whether it's something I make at home or something I choose to go buy at a local coffee shop or chain.

Speaking of local coffee shops, I've enjoyed trying new ones lately. In fact, one just opened up near where I go to church (more on that in a minute). But there's something about local shops that warms my heart (pun may or may not be intended), and hey, it's always good to support local businesses.

So, what are my favorites in the Middle TN area?

Barista Parlor

I wasn't about to write a coffee post without writing about this place. I've mentioned this place plenty of times before here on [Savannah] in Wonderland, and my opinion of it still hasn't changed...it's the best. From specialty coffee with fruit notes to homemade pop-tarts and other goodies, you can't go wrong. :)

Location: East Nashville, Downtown Nashville (The Gulch), Germantown
Website: https://baristaparlor.com/

The Frothy Monkey

This one's a frequent spot for me and my girls. I love getting caramel lattes here (hot and iced). My friends also adore their turtle latte. Also, they serve a great lunch and dinner here, so come hungry for a great time with your girls or your significant other.

Location: Downtown Franklin, Downtown Nashville
Website: https://frothymonkey.com/

Coffee & Coconuts

This is the new coffee shop that just opened near my church. I've only been once, but I can already tell this will be another coffee place for my girls and I. The beachy atmosphere is adorable, and the caramel latte I tried was pretty great! I'll probably plan on trying one of their specialty coffees next time I visit.

Location: Franklin
Website: http://coffeeandcoconuts.com/

Muletown

This great coffee shop is one that's run by some family friends of ours, and their coffee is nothing short of phenomenal (If you're familiar with Puckett's in Columbia, this is where they get their coffee). I asked for a recommendation when they didn't have a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and they suggested a latte made with locally grown honey. Y'all, it was awesome.

Location: Columbia
Website: https://muletowncoffee.com/

Do y'all have any favorite coffee shops, in Middle Tennessee or otherwise? Let me know in the comments! :)

Quick disclaimer before I go: I am not paid to review these coffee shops, nor was I asked to review them. I am just here to share what I love with you guys. :)

A Colorado Girls' Trip

Last month, I got to go to a state I'd never been to before with some of my favorite people.

Colorado has been a state I've wanted to visit for the longest time, and my friends out there have wanted me to come out there so badly. Now, I can finally say that not only have I been, I already want to go back.

So, here's what my friends and I did in Denver and Breckenridge. :)

Denver/Golden/Boulder

Denver is a cool city. As a Tennessee native, I adore Nashville's industrial side, and Downtown Denver is that times ten. Beyond Denver's limits were the towns of Golden and Border, and I fell in love with those places, too. The Denver area has a TON to offer, from restaurants to cool street art to, of course, the gorgeous mountain backdrop behind it all.

Highlights from Denver/Golden/Boulder:

• RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER.
• Chautauqua National Park
• Tokyo Joe's
• Larkburger
• Linger Eatuaries
• Little Man Ice Cream
• The Source
• Union Station
• Downtown Denver in general, really

Breckenridge

My friends and I adored this little town. Some of us skied, some of us relaxed and enjoyed the town. Either way, this place was a blast for all of us.

Highlights from Breckenridge:

• The Starbucks, which was situated in a little yellow cottage. That was our main hangout.
• The gondola to and from Peak 9
• The shopping
• Downstairs at Eric's (a restaurant and arcade!)
• ALL THE SNOW.
• Peak 9 itself (I didn't ski, but it was cool to visit...it's like a theme park.)

And so concludes my recap of my Colorado girls' trip. Thanks so much for reading! :)

March Favorites | 2017

I know I say something similar every month, but March has come and gone, and I can’t believe how fast it came and went.

This month was pretty big travel-wise, but I loved this month a whole lot in general. So, without further delay, I present my favorites for this past March!

Beauty

I can’t start the beauty section without mentioning my experience at Bite Beauty. The two lipsticks I made there are my absolute favorites. (If you want to know more about my making these lipsticks in San Francisco, click here.)

But as far as the rest of my makeup goes, I’ve been really loving using just the Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme sans foundation. That concealer’s coverage is so thick that I find that I don’t need really much else in the face department. Plus, it’s given my skin a chance to breathe, which is a big plus.

Music

Here are my top 5 songs for March:

1. Symphony by Clean Bandit (feat. Zara Larsson)
2. Waterfall by Stargate (feat. Sia and P!nk)
3. Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men
4. Blindside by Hunter Hunted
5. Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran

Travel

As mentioned earlier, I traveled a ton this month. My travels were mainly on the West Coast and in the Midwest.

Y’all know that I absolutely adore California. I had not been to San Francisco in ten years, and I finally got the chance to fall in love with it again. It’s such a unique city, and I can’t wait to go back.

Then, this month, I went to the great state of Colorado for the first time! Don’t you worry, I’ll be posting more about my trip to Denver and Breckenridge, but I had a blast out there with my best friends.

Bible Verse

“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns.” - Psalm 46:5

What were your favorite things in March? Let me know in the comments! :)