Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a feel-good book. It has a story of self-reflection, healing, love, and faith although there are some difficult issues covered regarding loss, hardship, and fear.
The plot has Dawn Dixon’s life turned upside down when her fiancé, Kevin, backs out of their wedding. She then finds out her mother had breast cancer and treatment. In addition, both mother and daughter are still recovering from the sudden death of their husband/father.
After Kevin insists Dawn goes on vacation, using the honeymoon reservations, she decides to take her mom, Marnie. Both need a relaxing get away. But the trip turns into a longer then planned event after Marnie decides to buy a historical run-down ice cream shop. She is fulfilling a dream that Dawn and her father had. While trying to fix the shop, Marnie meets a townsperson, Lincoln, who is willing to help. Not to mention she calls Kevin for his advice. Marnie enlists Dawn’s help to carry out her dream because Dawn is the person to oversee operations and has wonderful ice cream making skills.
There is a potent emphasis on healing and self-reflection in relationships. Dawn is practical, focused, and a planner, while Marnie is spontaneous, a risk-taker, and creative. As they work together both start to understand and accept the differences of the other person.
This story is uplifting and inspirational emphasizing what is important in life. The small-town setting, humorous banter, colorful characters, and healing make for a wonderful story.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Suzanne Woods Fisher: This is book one in the series “Cape Cod Creamery.” About six years ago for a Christmas present I sent my husband and daughter to Penn State’s short term ice cream school. Ever since, ice cream has been a big part of our life. My editor wanted me to write a series about ice cream.
EC: Role of ice cream in the story?
SWF: It is a character. Ice cream has been a part of the family’s life, including a dream to have an ice cream shop. The mother buys this run-down ice cream shop and needs the daughter’s help. Ice cream has kept the family together and has continued to bring them together.
EC: Each chapter has ice cream quotes—why?
SWF: Little quotations about ice cream. These quotes relate to what is going on in the chapter. It gives the reader a visual appeal. There is one quote that relates to the theme, “life is like ice cream, and we should enjoy it before it melts.”
EC: Your favorite flavor?
SWF: Vanilla is my favorite. A funny story is related to that question. The most popular flavor in the world is vanilla, but the hardest to make. It cannot be masked. My husband did something that I wrote into the series. He made vanilla 59 times to make it right. The vanilla base is the main one for all other flavors.
EC: How would you describe Dawn?
SWF: She is an only child. She is more like her late father, than her mother. She is not spontaneous, or a free spirit, as is her mom. Dawn has very self-awareness and is a planner. She grows throughout the story. She is diligent, a perfectionist, and a rule follower. She was able to have some father-daughter time where ice cream between the two of them was their togetherness. After she lost her father and fiancé healing became important.
EC: How would you describe Marnie?
SWF: She is more creative. She is a breast cancer survivor. She is a child of the sixties, cooky. Marnie relies on her intuition. She is a lot of grey. She balances out Dawn.
EC: What was the role of cancer?
SWF: This is my story. On Christmas Eve I got the phone call I had it. I had surgery, healing, and then radiation. Cancer is right in front of you, but as time passes it gets farther away. The scenes where Marnie did not want to go to cancer survivor meetings was me. I wanted to be very private about it. I wrote this book during that whole process. This book was a gift to me, as an escape from that experience. Whoever is reading this, please get your annual mammogram because that is how my cancer was caught.
EC: How would you describe the relationship between Kevin and Dawn?
SWF: Kevin was struggling as the wedding got closer. He felt they were not in a place they should be to get married. He stopped and slowed things down. He kept checking in to make sure Dawn is OK. They become open where things went wrong. They are sensitive to each other.
EC: How would you describe Lincoln and Marnie?
SWF: Lincoln was a workaholic and then realized he lost everything. He had a moment that he had no one to put as an emergency contact. This was a wake-up call. They realize they have a lot in common. At this point they are just good friends and are shying away from a second romance. Both are slow, cautious, and careful. They try not to be judgmental.
EC: The historical association?
SWF: They are like a homeowner’s association. They want to keep the tone of the town. The drama of the book is how they wanted to put the brakes on anything that will be different from what the town was like.
EC: What is the theme?
SWF: Preserving the past while moving forward. Holding on to what is needed yet at the same time is not frozen, to let go and embrace the future.
EC: Next book?
SWF: It will come out in a year. Marnie goes to ice cream school and bumps into her husband’s niece, a chef who lost her job. She stays with Dawn and Marnie where Dawn and she compete. But Dawn’s cousin is clinically depressed and needs help getting back on her feet.
EC: THANK YOU!!
