— Guyanese-US author aims to release fourth book by end of year

GUYANESE-US author Randolph Marks is preparing to release his fourth book, The Unspoken Battle, which will explore the mental-health struggles people often carry privately and the stigma that can prevent them from seeking help.
Marks, who released his third book, Look What They Have Turned Me Into, in 2024, told the Sunday Chronicle that he is currently working on the second chapter of his latest project and hopes to publish it by the end of this year.
The author said the book is intended to encourage greater awareness and more open conversations about mental health, particularly in Guyana.
According to Marks, the opening chapter addresses what he sees as the stigma surrounding mental health and seeking professional help.
He said the title, The Unspoken Battle, reflects the personal struggles people may experience without discussing them with others.
Marks believes that sometimes what a person needs most is a listening ear, a safe space and an opportunity to explore solutions to the problems they are facing, rather than simply receiving advice or having someone agree with them.
Drawing partly from his own experiences, Marks said he wants the book to explore the thoughts and emotions people carry but may be afraid to share, even with relatives and those closest to them.
He said his observations of people around him have also shown him that many individuals live with difficult emotions that they struggle to communicate.
“Most of the time we have so much going on in our heart, in our life, and we have so much things that we’re dealing with, not only in Guyana, in America too, but anywhere in the world,” Marks said.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Marks previously worked in law enforcement in the United States, an experience he said exposed him to people experiencing mental-health challenges, particularly young people.
He said that experience strengthened his belief in ensuring that young people have opportunities to be heard.
While The Unspoken Battle is not his first work to address themes surrounding mental health, Marks said he wants the new book to encourage readers to reconsider how they respond to people who may be struggling.
“I want this book to touch hearts, to change people’s lives and change the way they think, because the first thing we do as humanity, we go and we beat someone down. Not physically all the time, but emotionally, mentally,” he said.
Marks’ previous book, Look What They Have Turned Me Into, is a work of fiction examining some of the challenges faced by immigrants.
With his fourth book, he hopes to turn attention to struggles that often remain unspoken and encourage greater understanding of the experiences people may be carrying privately.
Marks’ published works are available through his author pages on Amazon and Goodreads.