According to Lisa Manyon, the bestselling author of Spiritual Sugar, an autobiographical account of her extraordinary journey to heal cancer with love, dreams do come true, and miracles happen. While most view a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence, Lisa has a different perspective. She believes each diagnosis is an opportunity to heal by focusing on love instead of fear. In today’s interview, Lisa opens up about her transformative experience and the invaluable lessons she learned on her healing journey. Spiritual Sugar has taken on a life of its own, profoundly impacting readers and filling Lisa’s heart with gratitude.
Lisa has presented about self-care and healing with love at the Supporting Her Breast Cancer Fundraiser, The Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Disruptors Summit, and the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, to name a few venues. Her presentations at RVML are now available on YouTube. You can learn more about her backstory with Write On Creative and Marketing With Integrity, along with the backstory of Spiritual Sugar and Healing With Love in these presentations. She is incredibly proud to have achieved the lifelong dream of being a bestselling, award-winning author. The book has achieved #1 International bestseller status, resonating with readers globally, including in the US, Canada, Australia, India, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Adding to its acclaim, Spiritual Sugar received the prestigious American Writing Award in the Spirituality category in 2023, ranked as a top10 finalist for the BooksShelf award, and most recently was honored with placement as a finalist in the 2024 International Book Awards (IBA) hosted by American Book Fest.
This book is for YOU, the seeker, ready to tap into the inner sweetness of your soul and divine guidance to enhance your life. Inspired by her healing with LOVE journey and a divine message from the Creator, Lisa’s story is not just about cancer—it’s a reminder of faith, hope, and the power of self-healing. Spiritual Sugar encourages you to commit to yourself before a health crisis demands it, sharing the essential ingredients to heal with LOVE and guide you home to yourself.
Lisa, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me today about your book, Spiritual Sugar. To begin with, please take us behind the scenes for the inspiration and timing of this book.
Thank you for this opportunity, Shields. I always love sprinkling Spiritual Sugar throughout the world. The inspiration for the book was completely divinely driven. I’ve always had a deep spiritual connection and often receive ‘Divine Downloads’ or “God Nudges” with the next steps for my life and business.
The inspiration from the book came directly from the Creator. In 2015, I received a message that I would write a book called Spiritual Sugar and that it would be about healing with love. I was honestly overwhelmed by that idea for a couple of reasons. 1) I didn’t think I was qualified because I didn’t feel as though I was a ‘healed’ person.
I believe healing is a process. 2) Taking on another big mission felt a bit daunting. I have been teaching “Marketing With Integrity” for decades, and it’s finally catching on despite being considered an oxymoron in the marketing, advertising, and publicity arenas.
Long story short (although you can read all about it in the book), I journaled about this message and tucked that journal away for TWO years until 2017 when I was navigating some severe health concerns. While sitting in inquiry in my office, I asked myself, “Did I kill myself for THIS? And, what is THIS?” I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but I knew it was something serious. The message I received at that moment was, “Don’t worry, you’ll heal this with love.” That sounded WAY better than the alternative. I recalled my journal entry, and thankfully, I hadn’t torched that one (I often burn my old journals). When I revisited that entry, I immediately bought the domain name and began building the Spiritual Sugar brand while healing.
What was it like when you first found out you had cancer?
First, I want to say that facing mortality is not for the faint of heart. More often than not, a cancer diagnosis is seen as a death sentence, and there are certainly real concerns with any diagnosis.
I leaned deeply into faith and love, and that helped dissolve the fear.
It took me quite a while to get to the diagnosis. I knew something significant was wrong, but I didn’t know what. I didn’t in a million years think I had cancer. I was in my 40s at the time. I was having a challenge getting good medical care and being heard. The medical practitioner I initially saw wasn’t being as attentive and accurate as I would have liked. I was initially misdiagnosed with an abscessed tooth, and I knew that was not correct. Finally, when the practicioner asked me, “Do you think you have cancer,” I knew it was time to make a change. While my intuition is strong, as is my faith, a little thing like not having a medical degree precluded me from being able to weigh in on that. Plus, I had never had cancer, so how could I know if that’s what it was? Thankfully, before the actual diagnosis, I received the divine message that I would heal with love, and I took that heart. I also took action. When the diagnosis was delivered, I took it pretty well. I knew I would receive one of two answers, and depending on which answer I received, I had a clear path to take. Of course, there were tears, prayers, and deep meditation. Receiving a potentially terminal diagnosis is life-altering. However, there are many paths to healing, and the KEY is to focus on love, faith, and healing. It’s paramount to lean into self-care and do everything you can not to get sucked into the fear which is often pushed on us when facing a cancer diagnosis.
You say this book is your “love letter to humanity.” What do you mean?
This is an excellent question. Spiritual Sugar is my love letter to humanity because it is divinely driven. Who am I to argue with the Creator?
It’s my intention that readers begin to take such good care of themselves that they avoid a serious wake-up call like a cancer diagnosis. I don’t wish this journey upon anyone, even though I do view the diagnosis as a blessing and a miracle. Unfortunately, the stats are staggering. In this lifetime, one in two people will receive a cancer diagnosis. In this case, it was me.
Within the book I share some deep truths to help you COMMIT to you. My deepest desire is that we each have the tools and resources required to BE our happiest, healthiest selves now.
The book has three sections with Spiritual Sugar Heart Sparks (aka journal prompts) sprinkled throughout.
1) The Awakening—this section chronicles my journey to heal cancer with love including personal journal entries and information to inspire and likely invoke some WTH moments. Note: this was the catalyst for my wake-up call, and the book is about so much more than this).
2) Spiritual Tools—In this section, I share 30 non-traditional healing modalities (which are actually ancient wisdom) that can be used to heal with love and complement Western Medicine (I chose not to do chemo or radiation).
3) Embodying Spiritual Sugar—This section brings it all together and highlights the 7 Spiritual Sugar Principles that require care and nurturing to fortify your life.
The book has been referred to as ‘a go-to resource for healing with love’ by Dr. Joe Vitale and ‘an encyclopedia of tools to change life for the better’ by Neale Donald Walsch.
Lisa, the writing of this book was truly a divine process for you. Please talk more about your process.
The inspiration was delivered seven years before writing the book and two years before the diagnosis. When I was navigating the cancer diagnosis, I kept a journal and meticulous notes as I traversed the not-so-easy-to-navigate healthcare system and the vast amount of healing resources available (many that are not available via Western Medicine). I knew I was going to write the book, but I was just not sure when. I waited until I received the five-year all-clear, with no evidence of disease status in 2022, before I was fully confident in writing the book. The all-clear came in August, and I went to work pulling all the pieces together. It was vital for me to publish that year, and I believed if I didn’t fulfill the request from the Creator, I would likely get another serious wake-up call. When we ignore God Nudges, we are often shaken into situations that require our attention and course correction Much like the healing journey itself, I was guided to the right resources and team members to complete the book and it continues to gain incredible traction.
In many ways the writing of this book was very much a part of your healing journey.
Writing is healing in general, and after writing a book, I can honestly say it’s one of the most healing activities I’ve ever done. It’s also incredibly humbling and vulnerable. I’ve always written in one capacity or another, but it’s mainly for business, and while I have a public persona, I’m very private. This took my stance that “business is personal’ to a new level. It’s softened me in many ways, which I believe is good. I’ve noticed that when playing in the Spiritual Sugar and healing with love arena, I’m much more in my feminine energy, whereas, with Write On Creative and Marketing With Integrity, I’m more strategic and tend to run more masculine energy (even though I’ve added a feminine spin to marketing with my proprietary communication framework to focus on PASSION points).
Healing is an ongoing process with many layers. We each have areas that require time and attention, but it doesn’t mean we’re broken. Everything is an opportunity to heal with love.
In your day-to-day life how have things changed for you as you have healed yourself?
We’ve all been touched by trauma, abuse, and addiction in some form, so being truly present with what needs to shift takes a lot of time and attention. This has meant slowing down, spending more time in nature, and being intentional about what matters most. It meant truly committing to me and putting self-care first. I was a workaholic for many years and kept myself “safe” within the confines of deadlines and projects. I’ve been running Write On Creative for over twenty years now, and it was time to look within and realize there’s a lot more to life than work. I’ve opened up the space to enjoy life fully. I believe life is made for living, and we should spend our time doing things that truly matter and bring us joy. I enjoy a slower pace and have freed up more time to connect with family and friends. Connections and experiences are what’s most important to me now.
I’m very selective about the projects I take on. Most of my clients via Write On Creative are scattered across the globe, and most of my work is done remotely. Locally, I serve on the Advisory Board of the Rogue Valley Women in Business, where we’re focused on elevated collaboration.
Lisa, please tell us more about your background as a professional copywriter and marketer. You do things a bit differently.
I’ve been drawn to the written word for as long as I can remember. As soon as I could, I was writing poetry and critiquing commercials in between watching Captain Kangaroo and Scooby Doo. I got my start in journalism in grade school and high school. First, I started a school newspaper in fourth grade on a mimeograph machine with a classmate. Later, I became the ads manager and a lead reporter for The Pepperbox, the Arcata High School newspaper in Humboldt County, California. So, marketing and writing have always been in my blood. Throughout the years, I ping-ponged between a career in marketing via ad agencies and radio stations (I’m a certified Radio Marketing Master through the Radio Advertising Bureau) and social services, where I managed millions of dollars of grant funding for nonprofits.
When Write On Creative was born in 2003, I started studying with the top direct-response copywriters and marketers in the online space. I quickly realized that the antiquated ‘pain point’ approaches were not aligned with how my clients or I wanted to do business. The ‘gurus’ were all teaching the problem, agitate, and solve (PAS) approach to copywriting. This formula encourages marketers to highlight and agitate the pain points. I intuitively knew this wasn’t the best approach. When something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not right. The pain point approach can perpetuate buyer’s remorse, increase return rates, and escalate chargebacks. In essence, it’s a subtle form of brainwashing that is one of the many marketing tactics I encourage people to unlearn.
I started doing things differently, and people took notice. They were craving a more aligned way to craft marketing messages. When I was featured on the cover of Aspire Magazine. I named my values-based “Challenge. Solution. Invitation.” communication framework. It’s a much softer approach and helps people dial in the value proposition in a more aligned way.
This is the basic framework:
The challenge—you’ve got to KNOW it. This means meeting people where they are with empathy and understanding, not manipulative pain-point tactics.
The solution—you’ve to BE it. This is where you embody your magic and clearly illustrate your value proposition by demonstrating how to solve your clients’ challenges by showcasing your results, case studies, and testimonials. This is where we amplify PASSION points and paint a picture of possibility.
The invitation—you’ve got to DO it. Many people miss the mark in marketing because they simply don’t ask for the sale in an aligned way. When you follow my framework, you’ve already equipped people with the information they need to make an informed decision. So, by the time you get to the invitation (also referred to as “the ask” or “call to action”), it’s an easy yes or no.
One of the things I love most about this approach is that it eliminates the need to overcome objections. No one wants to have to convince people to do business with them. When you are clear about your value and the value you deliver, including your value proposition, crafting a message that magnetizes your ideal clients is much easier. My framework helps with this, and I offer a free messaging exercise when people take The Messenger Quiz at TheMessengerQuiz.com.
We share very similar values that are parallel with my creation of LocalsGuide and your Marketing With Integrity work.
Yes, we do. It is an absolute pleasure to help people tell their stories in a way that aligns with their values and showcases their true magic. I appreciate this connection and the opportunity to share my story here. Thank you for all that you do for our community and for providing a platform, both online and offline, that allows us to learn more about one another.
Not only is this healing work a personal journey but also a community journey as well. Please say more.
When we embody our story and truly walk our talk, it helps others do the same. I’m not saying it’s always easy, but it’s a vital part of contributing to the world and helping to heal the broken threads of humanity. I’ve had the honor of speaking about self-care at The Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Disruptors Summit and secured a sponsor so we could give copies of Spiritual Sugar to the attendees.
It was an incredible feeling to give back in that way and provide a resource to those who showed up to the event and are committed to doing the hard work that needs to be done.
By showing up for ourselves and others, we help strengthen our community.
I hope to secure more philanthropic sponsors to help dropship books to women’s shelters, cancer support groups, and more.
Spiritual Sugar is powerful and has been received worldwide, with many responding to its powerful teachings and garnering great feedback from readers. What has amazed you the most and what have been some of your favorite reviews?
Spiritual Sugar’s impact deeply touches me. I’m honored by the awards and bestseller status. The reviews on Amazon average 4.9 stars, and reading them brings me to tears. Having powerful bookends in the form of a foreword by Dr. Joe Vitale and an afterword by Neale Donald Walsch doesn’t hurt either.
I continue to be asked to appear on various podcasts and am excited to be featured on the Radical Remission Podcast. Dr. Kelly Turner’s book Radical Remission was an invaluable resource when I was healing, and it’s an honor to be interviewed on the show.
I also enjoy supporting independent bookstores and have done several book signing events. I always encourage people to ask for Spiritual Sugar by name at their favorite bookstore (if it’s not already in stock) because they can order it for you.
And finally, my favorite placement of the book is on the Humboldt County Bookmobile. I grew up in a rural area, and books were my best friend. So, knowing that Spiritual Sugar is on the same bookmobile I used to visit as a child is heartwarming. I used to pour through the Caldecott and Newberry Award Winners on that mobile library and dream of being an author.
My favorite review wasn’t a review. It was a comment from a reader who was moved to tears when reading the book and said I am doing God’s work. In addition to the reviews and kind words, the ripple effect amazes me. I recently met a woman whose chiropractor in Flagstaff, Arizona, gifted her a copy of the book, and I had never met either on of them. These synchronicities make me smile.
Lisa, please talk about the seven Spiritual Sugar Principles.
In the third section of the book, I overview seven Spiritual Sugar Principles to fortify various aspects of life. I won’t share them all here, but I will share the first Spiritual Sugar Principle: Fortify Your Faith. To me, faith is believing in something bigger than yourself. One of the divine downloads I got while writing the book is that the book should lead people to nature because once we experience the beauty of nature, there is no denying that there’s a power outside of ourselves. I was also clearly told that the book was to be spiritual and not religious because organized religion, when misused, has caused a lot of harm in our world. I don’t want to focus too much on that. Still, I will say I was stunned to learn at The Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Summit that the #1 source of human trafficking in the world, including sexual trafficking of children, occurs in the church across all denominations. This makes me think of how important it is as a community that we come together and do our part to facilitate change.
Commit to yourself before a serious health crisis requires you to.
Many of us are on autopilot. I know this was true for me. It’s important to give time and attention to fortifying all areas of our life. I touch on this in the book and specifically encourage focusing on self-care, health, and wealth. When I speak of wealth, I refer to all our riches, health being #1. It’s not all about money, however, the reality is when a severe health crisis hits, very few people are prepared for what it will take mentally, emotionally, and financially. Many of the things I did to save my life were not covered by insurance, and I’m still rebuilding from that.
We are not promised tomorrow so we must COMMIT to ourselves today. With enough education and attention, we can all live happier, healthier lives. An excellent place to start is spending more time in nature, drinking pure water, eating pure food, and exercising.
Lisa, nearly everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. How can we help them?
It’s important to remember that no two cancers or people are exactly alike. That being said, there is not a specific recipe, but there are many ingredients that can help. I believe the best thing we can do is remind people that cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Education is KEY. A positive attitude goes a long way as does questioning everything. Had I listened to the misdiagnosis I received, we very likely would not be having this conversation today.
I often remind people of the power of placebos and nocebos. Essentially, a placebo gives hope, and a nocebo does the opposite. With placebos, people have been ‘cured’ by believing they were taking medicine when they were not. With nocebos, when someone is given a diagnosis and expiration date, the mind can latch on to that, believe it’s true, and make it so (even when the terminal diagnosis was a misdiagnosis). The power of the mind is undeniable.
I’ve outlined many resources and ingredients in Spiritual Sugar. One of my favorite resources is the book Radical Remission by Dr. Kelly Turner. I used this as one of my healing bibles and continue incorporating many of the tools into my daily life.
We are not promised tomorrow, and committing to ourselves is paramount.
As a community, what can we do to share Spiritual Sugar with the world?
I would love to get the book out to more people. Spiritual Sugar is a beautiful resource, so, please read the book. Gift it to friends. Leave a review on Amazon (this helps with visibility and reach). Consider philanthropic sponsorship to gift it to your favorite support group or organization. We can discuss what that looks like, and books can be drop-shipped to the recipient of your choice. Many businesses have employee wellness programs and stipends available for personal growth. I’m available to speak to groups, and I’m happy to co-create special events, too.
Lisa, where can we buy Spiritual Sugar?
The book is available at SpiritualSugar.com where you can order a signed copy, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and independent bookstores like Bloomsbury Books and Sound Peace in Ashland, Oregon. If it isn’t in stock, please ask for it by name. Bookstores interested in hosting a reading, signing, or book discussion are welcome to reach out. I enjoy supporting independent bookstores.
Lisa, are there any final thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers here today?
I’d like to thank everyone for the beautiful support and feedback that I have received so far. Please keep sprinkling Spiritual Sugar throughout the world and keep the reviews coming. I’m open to suggestions regarding where you believe Spiritual Sugar would have the most impact.
Learn More:
Write On Creative
2305 Ashland Street #419, Ashland, Oregon 97520
WriteOnCreative.com – Marketing with Integrity
SpiritualSugar.com – Healing with Love
866.620.1428
