Vincentian publishes memoir of tumultuous journey from tragedy to triumph

Words of wisdom from a babbling toddler climaxed a tumultuous journey of tragedy, trials and tribulations that coloured the life of Hyacinth Byron-Cox.

When the dust settled in her life, ‘The Art of Surrender: A memoir of survival, sacrifice and victory’ materialized.

The self-published author, English professor and mother of three sat for an interview with SEARCHLIGHT ahead of the official launch of the publication in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) which was held at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall on August 31.

A section of the persons in attendance at the official launch of ‘The Art of Surrender: A memoir of survival, sacrifice and victory’ materialized, in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) which was held at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall

“That book was actually written 10 years before I published it. It was sitting around on the coffee table and I finally decided to make it public. I removed a couple of chapters and tightened it up and decided it was ready.”

Bryon-Cox explained that the awakening moment came one day, out of the blue, while she sat in her marital home in SVG with the second of her three daughters.

She said the message came as an astonishing revelation, especially considering that the messenger could hardly string a sentence together.

“It was just a tough day for me. There was a storm or a hurricane happening in St Vincent and I heard [daughter] say with clarity, and she was just doing baby babble at the time and she said ‘Mum surrender’.”

The book touches on every challenge and victory experienced in Byron-Cox’s life from her entrance into the world, which came as a surprise to her mother who did not know she was carrying twins; to the death of her youngest brother who was shot in a robbery attempt; to the end of her marriage to a politician; to finding her way on her own in America, unemployed with three small children, all the way to her pursuit of a PhD.

“I mentioned in the book that my go-to emotion is anger; it gets me angry when I think about it because I view it (death) as senseless… it will forever be a wrenching process. There is no closure.”

And while, for some, it could be difficult to lay bare the intimate parts of one’s life, Bryon-Cox said that being completely vulnerable in the writing process was all part of “surrendering”.

“Surrendering is not easy but when you see the benefits of surrender it becomes less difficult. It is the need to be in control of everything in your life that troubles you and stresses you.

Many aspects of my life they would find resonate with their own – betrayal, hardship, divorce, poverty, even cultural and political aspects…”

She describes the memoir as a “critique of immigrant life in American and Caribbean life” and said since being published in August 2022, it has been well-received by Caribbean women in the Diaspora.

At the book launch, lawyer Jomo Thomas said the book is a frank and thought-provoking reflection on Byron-Cox’s life.

“This book offers everything that young and old people can connect to. There is something there for all of us.”