An Interview with Author Jeffrey Simmons
An Interview with Author Jeffrey Simmons
Author of I Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye
Reporter: Jeffrey, your book I Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye begins with a moment that changed your life forever. Can you tell readers what happened and why you chose to share that experience?
Jeffrey Simmons: On Father’s Day in 2018, I came home from work and found my fiancée, Brittney, lifeless on the bed. She had been dealing with what seemed like a simple illness—something we all assumed would pass. Nothing prepares you for a moment like that. The shock is overwhelming. The world literally feels like it tilts under your feet. I wrote this book because I realized there are many people walking around carrying that same kind of shock and unfinished pain. If my experience can help someone feel less alone, then sharing it was worth it.
Reporter: The title itself is incredibly powerful—I Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye. Why is that phrase so meaningful?
Jeffrey Simmons: Because it captures something so many people experience but rarely talk about. When someone dies suddenly, there are always things left unsaid. You replay conversations in your mind. You wish you had one more chance to say “I love you,” or to ask a question, or to simply sit together one more time. That sense of unfinished business can haunt people. The title is honest—it’s the reality of sudden loss.
Reporter: Early in the book, you speak directly to readers who are grieving. Why was it important for you to acknowledge their pain right away?
Jeffrey Simmons: Because grief can feel incredibly isolating. When someone loses a loved one unexpectedly, they often feel like the only person experiencing that level of confusion and pain. One of the first things I wanted readers to understand is that their emotions—anger, confusion, sadness—are normal. They’re not broken. They’re grieving.
Reporter: Your book combines personal experience with research and practical guidance. Why did you take that approach?
Jeffrey Simmons: When I was going through my own grief, I did a lot of reading and research trying to understand what I was feeling. I realized that grief has emotional, psychological, and even physical aspects. I wanted the book to be both personal and helpful. It’s not just my story—it’s a guide for navigating one of the hardest experiences a person can face.
Reporter: One of the themes you discuss is how sudden loss creates a sense of disorientation. What does that look like in everyday life?
Jeffrey Simmons: Everything feels different. Simple routines—making coffee, getting ready for work, even walking through your home—can feel foreign. You’re living in the same world, but it doesn’t feel the same anymore. Grief affects your concentration, your sleep, and even your sense of identity. That’s why it’s so important to approach healing one small step at a time.
Reporter: You emphasize that grief is not a straight line. Why is that important for people to understand?
Jeffrey Simmons: Because many people think they’re supposed to “get over it” after a certain amount of time. That’s not how grief works. You can have a good day followed by a very difficult one. Memories can hit you unexpectedly. Healing isn’t linear—it’s more like waves. Understanding that helps people be more patient with themselves.
Reporter: What was the most difficult part of writing this book for you personally?
Jeffrey Simmons: Revisiting the memories. Writing about that day, and the days that followed, brought back emotions that were incredibly raw. But it was also therapeutic. Writing allowed me to process those experiences in a way that helped me understand them more clearly.
Reporter: What do you hope someone who is grieving takes away from your book?
Jeffrey Simmons: Hope. Not the kind of hope that says the pain disappears, because it doesn’t. But the kind that reminds you that healing is possible. You can move forward while still honoring the person you lost. Their memory can become part of your strength instead of only your pain.
Reporter: Many readers struggle with guilt or “what if” questions after losing someone suddenly. What would you say to them?
Jeffrey Simmons: Almost everyone who experiences sudden loss goes through that. You start replaying events in your mind and wondering what could have been different. The truth is, we rarely control those moments. It’s important to remember that love isn’t measured by the last conversation you had—it’s measured by the life you shared together.
Reporter: Finally, if Brittney could see this book today, what do you think she would say?
Jeffrey Simmons: I think she would be proud that something meaningful came out of something so painful. She had a beautiful spirit, and if this book helps even one person find comfort during grief, then her memory continues to make a difference in the world.
If you'd like, I can also create a second version that reads like a People Magazine or Oprah Magazine feature story about you and the book.
Those tend to be very powerful for blog posts and press releases promoting the book.
