Digital Book Nook Magazine recently had the pleasure of chatting with Simmer Breeze, author of Broken Chains: Forgotten Love in the Elder Community. In this exclusive Q&A, Simmer shares the inspiration behind their story and writing journey. We are excited to share this insightful interview with our readers today.

Some books entertain. Others educate. And then there are books like Broken Chains, the kind that holds up a mirror, challenges what we think “love” looks like, and urges families to take a deeper look at what may be happening behind closed doors. This powerful and eye-opening release exposes a hidden crisis unfolding in families where love, guilt, and silence can quietly transform into enablement, alienation, and elder neglect.

Through lived experience, participant narratives, documented Adult Protective Services cases, and professional advocacy, Simmer Breeze reveals how unresolved trauma and misplaced compassion create generational patterns that leave aging parents vulnerable, unheard, and abandoned. Broken Chains confronts uncomfortable realities many families avoid, but it does so with clarity, empathy, and conviction, offering awareness and truth with the hope that readers can break cycles before they become irreversible.

Exclusive Q&A with Simmer Breeze

Simmer said she first discovered she wanted to be a writer, “When I found out that the change happens with information.” Writing has always been about purpose, and using words as a tool to create awareness and change reflects the heart of Broken Chains and why this message matters so much.

Writing can be both deeply personal and mentally demanding, and Simmer shared that balance honestly, sharing that her favorite part of the process is “Placing me on paper, and remaining focused.” There’s something powerful about being willing to show up fully in your work. Still, it also takes discipline, especially when the subject matter is emotional, heavy, and tied to real-life experiences that many people would rather avoid discussing.

When it comes to her latest release, Simmer didn’t hesitate to name the urgency behind it, explaining, “I found it of an urgent concern to shine a spotlight on issues facing the elderly community.” That sense of urgency is what drives the entire book, bringing attention to what many families avoid talking about and highlighting how quickly vulnerable elders can become overlooked when boundaries are never enforced, and accountability is replaced with sacrifice.

The title of the book also carries a deeper meaning, and Simmer chose it intentionally, sharing that “Family relationships are similar to links in a chain that are solid but subject to breaks under stress.” It’s a powerful way to describe how families can appear strong on the outside, yet quietly weaken under pressure, dysfunction, or unresolved trauma, until something finally snaps.

Simmer hopes readers don’t just finish the book informed, but changed, sharing that they want readers to walk away with “Hope, information, and a need to care more.” That message speaks directly to the heart of Broken Chains, not to shame families, but to encourage awareness, compassion, and action before neglect becomes irreversible.

When asked about favorite authors, Simmer’s response reflected her preference for authenticity over popularity. Rather than naming one person, she explained, “I don’t have a favorite, but rather follow those who speak in terms of reality.” That commitment to real-life truth is exactly what makes her writing so direct and impactful, because this book isn’t built on theories or trends, but on lived experience and the realities too many people ignore.

And for writers who hope to one day publish their own work, Simmer offered simple but empowering encouragement: “Yes, place pen to paper, you have a story to tell.” It’s a reminder that every author starts with one decision, to begin, and that your story has value, especially when it has the power to help someone else feel seen, informed, or supported.

Broken Chains: Forgotten Love in the Elder Community is not about blame; it’s about awareness, truth, and breaking cycles. It challenges readers to redefine love, responsibility, and protection across generations, while shining a much-needed spotlight on the elderly community and the hidden struggles that can unfold behind closed doors.

Ready to read Broken Chains: Forgotten Love in the Elder Community? Buy it on Amazon today, available in paperback and Kindle.

About the Author

Simmer Breeze holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, along with multiple certifications and credentials related to elder community services. These include training and certifications through the Ohio Supreme Court and work as a Medicare/Medicaid provider. The author has served as a Former Elder Care Ombudsman, advocating for the rights, dignity, and safety of elderly individuals in long-term care facilities, and as a Court-Appointed Advocate within the municipal court system. In addition to professional advocacy, the author operates a start-up nonprofit organization focused on housing support for veterans and the elder community, addressing instability, neglect, and systemic gaps in care.