Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: We’re joined by William F Gray to talk about his debut psychological thriller, The Man Behind the Door. William, can you tell us about your novel?

William: The Man Behind the Door is a psychological thriller about grief, trauma, and addiction with a ghost story spin.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

William: The inspiration for this book was actually my own father, who is the basis of Leigh Glasscock. It started out as a way to get to know him better ten years after his suicide, but it grew beyond that. He had a lot of struggles in his life, and I set out to tell his story in a non-biased, compassionate way within the structure of a fictional story.

Sabitha:  Which character do you relate to the most and why?

William: Leigh Glasscock is a character that I think encompasses the complexity of life. He does some truly heinous things throughout The Man Behind the Door , but he’s also the most likable because you understand him. You might hate him one second, and the next you’re feeling sorry for him, and then you’re actually rooting for him.

Sabitha: How did you choose the title?

William: The Man Behind the Door came from an early chapter, where I refer to a character that one of the children meets as “The Man Behind the Door”. As soon as I put it down, I knew that was my title. Not only is right on the nose (he’s literally behind the door) but it also fits metaphorically, because Leigh lives his life without anyone knowing him for who he really is. No one really saw who the person he was underneath the mask he wore.

Sabitha:  If you could pick any author to read your book, who would you want to read it? Why them?

William: This is the obligatory Stephen King reference, but it’s for a better reason than “He’s my favorite author.” I was twelve years old when I first picked up The Gunslinger and was introduced to King’s universe, but it changed my life forever. I read the entire Dark Tower series while my family imploded due to drug abuse. Everyone in my family used, and I was very much alone with the exception of Mr. King, Roland, and his ka-tet. In a lot of ways, they saved my life.

Sabitha: Books can be such a powerful force for us to find understanding and strength. You’ve written a moving and personal story. What do you most want your readers to take away from reading your book?

William: This is a two-fold question. At face value, I want everyone who reads my book to feel the same excitement I do when I read a great novel. On a deeper scale (and this is one I knew from the moment I published it) I want someone to read my book and feel like they aren’t alone. I want them to see a little bit of themselves in there, whether it be in the struggles that Leigh has or making sense of his actions after the fact. It’s a rollercoaster of a novel, full of horror, both supernatural and mundane, as well as pain and bittersweet closure. I think it has a little bit of something for everyone, but I also know that every author thinks that.

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

You can find my debut novel on Amazon and my website. My upcoming supernatural horror novel, The Devil Within Us All, is releasing this May via Wicked House Publishing. It’s inspired by powerful men who abuse their station (religious, political, or otherwise) to bring out the worst in others.