For readers who are just meeting you, who is Savannah Swade in your own words?
I’m a wife, mom, educator, dog mom, former mom of lots of little critters, and the coordinator of chaos both at home and at work. I drink way too much caffeine, get far too little sleep (because I’m reading or writing) and swear…well, a lot. My guilty pleasures are sweet, expensive, iced coffees, and pretty cowboy boots.
2025 was your debut year, with three releases! How did it feel to launch your career so quickly?
It’s kind of crazy that it happened that way. But, I had three books (A Cowboy’s Song, A Legacy Reborn, and the third, un-released book in that series, A Captive’s voice) all mostly written in rough draft form before I ever started seeking feedback and going through the steps to publish. So, I’ve been working through a “backlog” of sorts. It does feel great to have my name on some covers and have people excited to grab my newest release!
How do your personal loves—coffee, country music, and life as a mom—show up in your writing, if at all? There is a LOT of me that shows up in my books. Reagan, from A Cowboy’s Song, is a coffee-crazed, foul-mouthed, country girl. Keaton, the MMC, is a bull-rider turned country singer. The playlists for my books always include plenty of country selections.
I got to use my mom experience for the next couple of books that are coming out. A Key of Columbine’s, due out in April, features a seven-year-old boy. Some things my six-year-old has said served as some inspiration (Yep, even the “F” word—at least he used it right!) A Captive’s Voice, due out in July-ish, has a little boy who turns four during the book. My early readers have complimented my “toddler talk”- but I just listen to my three-year-old and copy what he says!
When I write parents, I think I try to channel the parent I want to be, that I strive to be, in some of the strong parent characters.
📖 About A Cowboy’s Song
What inspired A Cowboy’s Song and the Forever Phoenix series?
I had the Reagan character in my head for a LONG time. I had so many story lines that I actually split them, and they became Reagan and Kory (the follow up, A Legacy Reborn). The song that kind of drove her storyline was “Wild as You” by Cody Johnson. There’s a line, “You belong where the four winds blow, out where the outtamed Mustang roam.” (surprise, not surprise, Phoenix is the name of her Mustang that Keaton buys her)
Keaton came from “Dear Rodeo,” also by Cody Johnson, but it was the documentary about the song that sealed it. I’d been debating on the perfect guy for Reagan when I watched it. He refers to the song as “the love letter to rodeo he didn’t want to write”. A failed bull-rider turned country singer? Perfect for our sassy barrel-racing hurricane!
There are some underlying themes in this series of characters rising above their past—whether it be abuse, controlling parents/former partners, trafficking, or other harrowing situations. One of the things I do for my job is help find and approve outside educational programs that present to our students. We have an organization somewhat local to us that is dedicated to educating young people about the dangers of trafficking, especially what it looks like in the Midwest, in what would be presumed as safe communities. Trafficking survivors' stories are fascinating to me, the strength they have to come back from that. That’s how that theme came to be part of the continuing storyline of the series.
Your books often mix small-town charm, cowboy romance, and light action/peril. How do you balance these elements?
Well, small-town and cowboy go hand-in-hand. I always say that A Cowboy’s Song is a cowboy romance, but the whole series is small-town with a little farm/ranch life thrown in. Books 2, and eventually 4, will be the only others that feature MCs who are accomplished horsemen/women.
I love police procedural type shows- Law and Order, NCIS- and those elements were always part of each storyline. My books, especially the Forever Phoenix series, are much more drama than rom-com, although I love sassy banter, so there will be some laughing moments, too.
Without spoilers, what do you hope readers take away from A Cowboy’s Song? When you find that person you’re meant to be with, they’ll love you through it all. And when it gets hard, turn to that person, not away.
🔥 Romance & Character Work
You love strong female characters. How do you approach writing characters who grow into their strength over the course of the story? So, funny enough, I just sent Captive’s Voice, Phoenix book 3, off to beta readers. The FMC is a trafficking survivor who is simply broken in the beginning. She’s been the hardest for me to write, because she doesn’t start off snarking and sassing everyone. I worked to show it in other ways, quiet ways. For her, it was learning to stand up for herself, advocate for things she needed, when she’d never been granted those choices. And it had to build over time, compared to Reagan, who, in the first three or four chapters, flips off a competitor in front of an entire arena and may or may not beat up a bull rider (not Keaton) for harassing her teammate.
Banter is a hallmark of your work—what makes witty, romantic back-and-forths feel authentic to you?
I may or may not have been accused of being . . . snarky and sarcastic once or twice in my life. It’s pretty much my default. My husband and I (who is an amazing, supportive guy) both share that trait, so if I’m stuck on a scene, sometimes he can help. I also have a few pretty awesome, sassy gal pals who will also try scenes on for size with me :)
How do you craft the slow build of chemistry and tension before giving readers the HEA payoff?
So, insta-love is probably my least favorite trope. Give me ALL the yearning and angst of a slow-burn. It’s the little things- it starts with looks, little touches, and building in how that makes a character feel. It might be a dream/daydream, one of them spacing out and watching the other.
My favorite tension scenes I’ve written are in Legacy Reborn. That one is a “lovers to enemies to lovers.” They have a cute fling, then some major misunderstandings while stuck in proximity. Let the games begin!
🖋️ Writing Process & Favorites
What does your writing routine look like while balancing life as a coffee-loving mom and dog mom?
I’m probably the least “routine” writer out there! I’m either in the recliner or the table, depending if I’m writing or editing. But, I’ve also written a few chapters sitting at McD’s playland while my kids burn off some energy. I’ve written with them laying on my lap while they watch TV, but now that the oldest one is starting to read, we’re going to have to stop that!
Morning is fresh-brewed coffee, afternoon and evening is Diet Coke, then sometimes wine at night.
Are you more of a planner or a pantser, or a mix of both?
I’m a mix. Forever Phoenix is very planned, especially as I move the series forward, as there are overlapping timelines, and it drives me insane when those are messed up in other books/series. But, I wrote a 20k word novella over Christmas from a random TikTok video I saw, so it just depends how inspiration strikes.
Which scene or character in A Cowboy’s Song was your favorite to write—and why? Reagan will always hold a special place in my heart, since she was my first character that really came to life on the page. But, her ex is also fun to write. And . . . still more to come from him.
My favorite scene in that book is when she and Keaton are sitting at her creek, and they both finally let their guard down- deepest fears, some things like that. It’s also the first time they do more than a little kiss, and you can feel the tension start to build. (Don’t worry, just a few more chapters until the chili peppers hit!)
🌄 Small Town & Cowboy Vibes
What draws you to small-town and ranch/cowboy settings?
I’m from a small-town and grew up riding horses. I did a little barrel racing, but wasn’t good enough, nor could I afford a competitive enough horse to go higher. We live near a somewhat large city, but outside of it just enough to still feel mostly rural. Everything about cowboy/ranch/farm life has just always called to me. A city girl I’ll never be.
How do you bring authenticity to the cowboy/lifestyle elements for readers who may not be familiar with them?
Well, like I said, I grew up riding horses. I’m no rodeo queen, but my dad and I raised several and trained them ourselves. I’ve become the resident “horse person” in a writing group I’m part of.
Do you see these settings as a character in themselves in your books? Sometimes. Keaton’s tree (you’ll see) plays a key role in both Reagan and Keaton moving their relationship forward, and then some of the sadder parts, some harsh realizations.
In All My Lasts, which is my hockey romance, there are some pretty significant things that happen both times they visit Oklahoma, where the FMC grew up. A lot of parallels of their relationship trials and tribulations.
💬 Reader Connection
How do you hope readers connect with your story and characters emotionally?
I hope they see not just the funny, brave, or lovable parts. I want them to see the broken pieces, the struggles, the pasts they’re working to overcome. Nobody is perfect- life isn’t perfect, and you’ll see that in my books. But, sometimes we find that person who fits us perfectly, and provides the co-captain we need to navigate life together.
I don’t think there is a main character yet that you won’t be irritated with at some point. I know we like “perfect book boyfriends,” and my guys are certainly not cruel or abusive, but they’re human, they’re allowed to have flaws. It’s just important that they acknowledge them and still put their best self forward every day.
Have you been surprised by any fan reactions to your debut series so far? I was pleasantly shocked how many people have liked it and rated it so highly. It’s always so scary putting yourself out there like that!
My favorite though is when someone says “I’m not really a crier, but your books made me cry.” Same. I have a scene or two in each book that I cry every time I re-read it, and that’s a lot of reads!
🔮 Looking Ahead
What can readers expect from the rest of the Forever Phoenix series?
Well, the action and peril continue! We’ll see a few more tropes- single dad, reverse age gap. We’re going to continue to address harder topics (infertility, infidelity). In book three, we really see the female friendships start to form on a larger scale, and it’s such a beautiful thing. Women should support women and these girls do it!
In book three, the name of the series is fully revealed, and you see how visionary these women are. They don’t just go to bat for their friends, they’re ready to burn the world to help womankind!
Are there tropes, themes, or twists you’re excited to explore in future books?
So, outside of Phoenix series, I am working on some darker themes. I have a mafia why-choose in rough draft. I also have an M/M hockey romance planned, the third book to follow All My Lasts, one of my available titles.
Within Phoenix, reverse age gap, kinky bucket list, and single dad are all upcoming!
Do you have any other projects in the works outside this series (like hockey romance!) that readers should watch for? Yes, I have my hockey romance called All My Lasts that is available now. That will eventually be a trilogy, ending with an M/M title.
I have two novellas coming out this spring as part of the multi-author series called The Desire Diaries. Forever Enough, a second-chance, co-parent romance, comes out Feb. 26. And, The Wedding Date Debacle, my first why-choose release, is slated for mid-May.
A Key of Columbines, which will start off the Hawk’s Ridge Cowboys series, releases April 24. This is a second-chance, cowboy (bronc rider), surprise kid with a twist, story.
🖤 Just for Fun
If A Cowboy’s Song were adapted, would you see it as a movie, a series, or something else?
A series. You can’t do A Cowboy’s Song without doing the rest of the books!
If you could take one character from the book for a coffee date, who would it be—and why?
Reagan. She’d know where the best coffee was, not judge me for trying multiple kinds, and you’d laugh all afternoon
What’s one fun or unexpected fact about your writing process or this series that readers might not guess? I didn’t name the series until about six months after Cowboy came out, and then I struggled, because anything to do with “Phoenix” is always fantasy. It took a LOT of brainstorming to come up with that name.
💬 Final Thoughts
When readers close the final page of A Cowboy’s Song, what feeling or takeaway do you hope lingers with them the most? There’s power in forgiveness, and love can conquer all.
