It is raining lollipops for Bermuda entrepreneur Simone Barton ? but only after she found herself at a crossroads last September.

Mrs. Barton's destination management business was flagging after a drastic drop-off in business following the Island's largest hotels being forced to close for extensive repairs last year when Hurricane Fabian ripped through the Island on September 5.

But vowing to, as she said, "take lemons and make them into lemonade," Mrs. Barton started thinking through business ideas.

The result is a sweet, new business ? Lollipop Bay Bermuda ? to be launched at the beginning of May and sold at 14 venues across the Island.

The mouth-watering line-up of lollipops ? Bermy Banana, A'Bye Ginger Beer, Who's Ya Watermelon, Cousin Fred's Swizzle and Pink Beach Bubble Gum to name a few ? are all made hand poured in Bermuda from specially imported humidity resistant ingredients.

In keeping with the Bermuda-themed names for the treats, Mrs. Barton is also making the lollipops in the image of the Island.

There are Bermuda cottage lollipops, lighthouses, even ones inlaid with dolphins ? a sure sale with Dolphin Quest visitors.

Although not officially on the market yet, Mrs. Barton said the sweets had been well-received by her test groups.

Initially, she tried out the product with the employees of TeleBermuda International (TBI) where here husband works. She later got input from extended family.

In addition to selling the lollies in local shops, Mrs. Barton is also able to do specially-made designs for birthday parties, fundraisers and conventions.

And that is not all, with Mrs. Barton having taken the lollipop idea and incorporated it into a children's book about to publish.

In the tale, "Smoochy the whale" rides in on the Milky Way chasing a lost bracelet. Landing in Lollipop Bay she becomes fast friends with a gaggle of children who noticed the air had a new, sweet smell. They discover Smoochy, who produces a fruity ring around herself when she is happy, in the bay and together harvest lollipops.

The candy-inspired story line has a deeper meaning though, with Mrs. Barton saying the underlying message was to soar with one's strengths while managing one's weaknesses.