Guyanese-born author Deoranie Badal, also known as Marcia, has published a memoir detailing her journey from trauma and domestic violence in Guyana to rebuilding her life in the United States through writing, faith and community service.
The book, titled Jewel of Writing, combines memoir, poetry and prose to chronicle Badal’s experiences growing up in Guyana, her education and early career, surviving a near-death experience in Berbice, and later relocating to the United States for safety and recovery.
Now based in upstate New York, Badal volunteers with the Tioga Arts Council and writes as a columnist for the Tioga Courier. She said the book was born out of a need to break years of silence surrounding her experiences.
“Some books are written for fame. Others are written because silence becomes unbearable,” she told Ignite News.
In the memoir, Badal recounts her upbringing in Guyana, where she attended Cove and John Secondary School and later Swami Purnanand Secondary School, formerly Hindu College. She later pursued studies in computing, accounting and finance and worked with the National Communications Network Inc.
Badal was also involved in charitable initiatives and participated in the Miss Guyana Earth Pageant in 2010 before moving to Berbice, where a traumatic incident changed the course of her life.
The memoir follows her emergency relocation to the United States and the emotional toll of leaving behind her homeland, career and loved ones. Through poetry and reflective prose, she explores themes of survival, resilience, faith and healing.
Badal said the book is intended to encourage women facing trauma and abuse to prioritise their safety and well-being.
“I want young women to know that leaving, whether a toxic situation or a relationship, is not failure. It is survival,” she said.
She added that writing became a form of healing during her recovery and adjustment to life abroad.
Jewel of Writing also examines the challenges of migration and starting over, while highlighting the importance of faith, empathy and community support in overcoming adversity.
