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She struggled to find a translator for one of her trying to be a writer. They looked at me directly and said,
conversations with an ice cream shop owner until she ‘You are a writer.’ I never forgot that. Because you just
eventually convinced an acquaintance to take a break need to begin. Call yourself one. Don’t let anyone else
from his protest at Taksim Square and help her. Their tell you that you’re not. Because you are. And to be a
conversation revealed that he grew up on the streets and writer, you write. Even if nobody will ever see it.”
had snuck over to Italy to learn the trade of gelato before After her work on the successful guide, Jennifer
bringing it back to Istanbul. Most of all though, Jennifer made a change in the direction of her writing, inspired
learned about the shop owner’s memorable moments, by her own family’s history. “The common practice of
such as his business being featured in a national news- Chinese men starting a life with a second family away
paper, and her own role in his story. from their home country, especially shortly after World
Ice Cream Travel Guide has a unique approach to War II, has rarely been seen in literature and media,”
food writing as it focuses on stories, rather than rec- she said. “As a grandchild of families like this, I wanted
ommendations. Through this project Jennifer hopes to explore its effects and lasting trauma on husbands,
that readers will find more than just a guide to experi- wives, and children.”
encing a city through ice cream, but that they will also This exploration takes form in the novel that Jen-
discover the stories behind each flavor. “Food is more nifer is currently working on. In it, young import seller
than just food. It’s a story. It’s a story about local fla- WeiLing and his housewife KaiLee struggle with sweep-
vors. It’s about local business. It’s also about people. ing changes in society that have a wide range of conse-
And finally it’s about the moments that we have with quences in their lives. Beyond her current project, Jen-
people,” Jennifer said. nifer has also published several personal essays and short
stories, as well as attending prestigious writing work-
From Ice Cream to Novels and Beyond shops around the world.
As for ice cream, at the end of the day, Jennifer
Jennifer has gathered an impressive portfolio of believes that it is much more than just a dessert. It is a
work through her travels and experiences. With an open way to connect with people and places in new ways. Sure,
heart and mind, she has created an opportunity for read- it’s fat and sugar that make us crave it, but it is also about
ers to experience a world of memories and stories childhood memories and the freedom of summer.
through her work. “It’s innocent and freeing,” Jennifer said. “And I
When asked what advice she has for aspiring au- can’t quite take that away from anyone.” From her trav-
thors, Jennifer was quick to respond: “The most import- els around the world to local shops in Ohio, Jennifer has
ant thing is actually to sit down and write. And then keep managed to make these moments last, capturing the
trying. And calling yourself a writer.” She continued, stories and flavors of ice cream along the way. If your
“After a reading at a bookstore, I once approached an curiosity is peaked, you can purchase Ice Cream Travel
author during the signing and mentioned that I was Guide through the website icecreamtravelguide.com

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