Behind the Mind: Inside the Psychological Thriller Writing Process of Julia, 705, and The Walk

By Manuel S. Romero

June 2025

The Psychological Thriller Writing Process: Crafting Fear from Memory and Silence

There’s something intimate about horror—not the loud, gory kind, but the quiet kind. The kind that slips under your skin. That lingers long after the lights go out. That’s the kind of story I’ve always been drawn to, and it’s the kind of story I try to write.

My psychological thriller writing process begins with questions, not answers. What happens when memory lies? What if reality is a construct of guilt? And how do we survive the truths we hide from ourselves?

Over the past year, I’ve taken readers deep into two very different psychological landscapes—first with Julia, then with 705. Each novel explores the psychological thriller writing process through memory, trauma, and identity collapse.

705: The Room Where the Past Waits

705 came from a different place—more abstract, more surreal. It’s about a motel, yes. But really, it’s about being trapped in the echo of your own life. Each guest enters Room 507 expecting to rest. Instead, they find something far more disturbing—themselves. Or worse: the version of themselves they left behind.

With 705, I wanted to play with space, with looping time, and with dread that feels inevitable. The radio static. The unfinished guestbook. The boy in red. These aren’t just horror tropes—they’re mirrors. Distorted ones.

Since launching the teaser and video on the site, 705 has become one of the most visited pages on MindTwistBooks. That tells me one thing: readers want fiction that unnerves and unravels—not just entertains.

The Walk: Coming Soon

And now, I’m deep into my next novel: The Walk. This one’s different. More intimate. More fragmented. It’s not about a haunted place—it’s about a fractured person.

The Walk follows Ellis, who is walking through a long, dreamlike tunnel—but every person he meets, every chapter, is a piece of himself. The twist? Ellis isn’t the true self. He’s the final mask. The protector. The one built to survive. By the end, the walk becomes a loop, and Ellis must confront a truth so devastating it could erase him completely.

I won’t say more—for now. But know this: The Walk is coming. And it’s the most psychologically intense story I’ve written yet.

Stay on the Path

If you’ve been reading Julia or 705, thank you. Truly. These stories are made to be felt—not just read. And with The Walk on the horizon, I can promise the journey is far from over.

🖤 Follow the process, explore behind-the-scenes moments, and join the growing community of readers who crave fiction that digs deep.

➡️ Browse our books and read more at: www.mindtwistbooks.com