Sweet stories, mouthwatering creations

– Jarryl Bryan of Dessert Tales GY blends writing and baking into a unique business

The combination of businesses seldomly cross the minds of many entrepreneurs. However, it found its way into the mind of 32-year-old Jarryl Bryan, who has meticulously combined two of his favourite things—creative writing and baking—into his business, Dessert Tales GY.
Differentiating his business from the norm, where creative writers are not paid for their works, Bryan’s initiative allows for authors to submit their work, which is then vetted, and they are paid for their contributions.
According to Bryan, after careful analysis he has realised that in other creative fields, musicians get bookings, DJs earn money, and artists are commissioned to paint.
However, writers, especially short story writers, often struggle to make money, unless they can get their books or stories published.
With this vision in mind, this is why Bryan chose to create his platform.
Bryan seized the opportunity to use his Government’s cash grant to fund the business.

“This journey was like a month-long endeavour of planning, getting the website up and running, buying stock, and so on. My aunt helped with some of the startup costs, and [with] some of my savings, along with the $100,000 cash grant, [I] went into the business. I think that’s what the Government envisioned when it announced the grant—to use it to create more disposable income,” he explained.

A love for creative writing
Bryan, who is a certified baker, also has a deep love for creative writing.
“I love creative writing, and this is actually what helped birth the idea for my business,” Bryan said.
“I’ve been writing creatively for years now, and one of the consistent challenges has always been the lack of paying markets. If you look at America, there are many literary magazines and platforms for writers to earn money. So, this is where the idea for my business came from. Baking is another one of my passions, and I studied it as well,” he stated, adding that he is a recipient of training from Skills Academy.

He pointed out that he is seeking Guyanese writers from all backgrounds, but especially those who can creatively highlight Guyana’s cultural experiences.
“We have short story categories and guidelines for submission,” Bryan said. “We’re looking for stories that depict Guyanese culture, like folklore, for example.”
He expressed that he is interested in stories from writers that can showcase the cultural side of Guyana, including those about Moonwalkers, Kanaimas, and other cultural tales.
“We have an action category, and the name speaks for itself. We want short stories, including folklore and Guyanese legends like Kanaimas. In fact, our initiative only accepts stories from Guyanese writers, so you have to be Guyanese or of Guyanese descent. We want to emphasise the Guyanese part of our culture,” Bryan explained.
“We also have a romance category and science fiction. We haven’t really seen much from Guyanese writers in the science fiction genre.”
Bryan also made it clear that the business is always open to submissions, unless announced otherwise on the website or their FB page.
Looking ahead, Bryan sees this initiative as a way to pave a new path for writers in Guyana.

“I would definitely say that this is a new course for writers. It’s been a problem for me as a writer not having paying markets to submit my work to. We offer one-year exclusivity rights, and you get paid for your work,” Bryan stated.

The cooking side of things
On the other side of his business, where sweetness emerges, Bryan explained that his love for cooking—more specifically eating—drove him to venture into the baking world. He aims to fight hunger in a tasty way.
“As Guyanese people say, ‘Ah like meh belly,’” he shared, referencing a popular local saying.
“If you like to eat, you should know how to cook. For me, being in the kitchen, baking and cooking is not gendered—it’s a skill. It’s something that I love doing. I believe when you form a business based on something you’re passionate about, customers can see that, and it helps to build trust.”
Bryan’s formal training in baking and pastry-making at Skills Academy helped him develop his business further.
“I funnelled my skills into a business, and it’s been something I’ve been working on for months,” he said.
One of Bryan’s favourite treats is cheese straw, and prices are very reasonable for lovers of this treat.
“We have cornbread, cheesy cornbread options, cinnamon rolls with various toppings, Oreo cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, classic cookies and cream cheesecake, and, of course, our French cheese straw. I couldn’t form a bakery without including that. It’s one of my personal favourites,” he said.
But Bryan isn’t stopping there. He plans to expand his business and add performances, where writers can read their stories while customers enjoy baked goods at the bakery shop.
“We’re already looking at that long-term. We have short, medium, and long-term goals, and it’s definitely on the consideration list,” he said.
The website is desserttalesgy.com. People can also visit its Facebook page, “Dessert Tales GY,” for more details.