An epistolary novel of dueling neurodivergences
What would you risk to escape a Groundhog Day style life in Hell?
“In this remarkable narrative, Darien Simon uncompromisingly explores the tangled dynamics of trauma, resilience, and human connection. Her candid reflections—part diary, part personal letters—offer a rare, intimate view into the complexities of healing after deep wounds. What moved me most is the blend of fierce honesty with genuine empathy, illuminating how misunderstandings, unspoken expectations, and missed signals can derail even our most vital relationships. Things I wish I’d Said is an inspiring work of the courage it takes to start again.” – Antonieta Contreras, Psychotherapist and author of “Traumatization and Its Aftermath” and “How Deep Is the Wound?: A Guide to Investigating, Understanding, and Resolving Your Emotional Pain.”
When del, fear-baffled by CPTSD and desperate to heal, meets Sam, an autistic man reliant on algorithms to navigate communication and relationships, their different neurodivergences could combine helpfully or lead to irreconcilable differences.
Can Sam help del finally heal from nearly fatal childhood abuse?
How will their evolving relationship impact del’s healing process? Can they find a way to synergize and capitalize on their neurodivergent strengths, build a genuine understanding of each other, and forge a durable relationship despite their dueling neurodivergences?
What challenges will each of them have to overcome?
How will navigating these challenges, against a backdrop of Covid, resurging misogyny, and rising authoritarianism that mirrors, on a global scale, del’s individual abuse experiences, influence both del and Sam?
Are there unknown unknowns that can defeat them?
Publication dates:
Paperback: (Amazon) 11 November 2025
For those who prefer Amazon alternatives, I expect to be publishing both an ebook and paperback through LuLu (dates TBC)
Audiobook (date TBC)