Gilad James, PhD

Hi there! I'm Gilad James, and I probably spend way too much time thinking about what makes people tick. (My PhD in psychology wasn't just for show, though it does make for great conversation at awkward dinner parties.)

Let me tell you how I ended up writing dark psychological thrillers that keep readers up at night. I never actually planned to become a writer – I was too busy analyzing human behavior and diving deep into the fascinating world of psychological profiling. But sometimes the stories in your head just won't shut up until you let them out.

After years of studying the darker corners of the human psyche, I realized that the most terrifying monsters aren't the ones hiding under our beds – they're the charming, intelligent people we invite into our lives without a second thought. That's what led me to create "Introduction to You," which explores the fine line between love and obsession, devotion and destruction. (And yes, I do worry sometimes about how easily these characters come to me...)

My writing style? Think psychological thriller meets dark romance, with enough twists to give you whiplash. I love taking seemingly normal situations – a chance meeting at a bookstore, a friendly neighbor, a helpful stranger – and peeling back the layers to reveal the darkness lurking underneath. It's like watching a beautiful car crash in slow motion; you know you should look away, but you just can't.

When I'm not writing or teaching psychology (yes, I still do that – got to keep one foot in the real world), you'll find me people-watching at coffee shops and making up stories about their lives. My students sometimes joke that they never know if they're going to end up as characters in my next book. (I always tell them the smart ones would never recognize themselves anyway.)

I believe the scariest stories are the ones that could actually happen. The ones that make you second-guess every interaction, every seemingly innocent coincidence. That's what I aim for in my writing – that delicious moment when you realize the person you've been rooting for might actually be the villain. Or worse, when you find yourself sympathizing with someone you absolutely shouldn't.

What can you expect from my books? Complex characters who blur the lines between good and evil, psychological tension that builds like a slow-burning fuse, and endings that'll haunt you long after you turn the last page. Fair warning: I don't do neat, tidy conclusions where everyone lives happily ever after. Real life isn't like that, and neither are my stories.

To my readers: thank you for letting me take you down these dark paths. Your messages about staying up all night to finish "Introduction to You," or checking your locks twice before bed, make my twisted writer's heart so happy. (Though maybe I should feel bad about the lock-checking thing? Nah...)

For those wondering about my research process – yes, everything is meticulously researched. No, I won't tell you which parts are based on real cases. And no, my browser history isn't concerning at all. (Okay, maybe a little.)

When I'm not corrupting minds through fiction, I live in Boston with my collection of psychology books and a very judgmental cat who thinks I spend too much time staring at my laptop. She might be right, but don't tell her that.

Want to join me in exploring the darker side of human nature? My books are for readers who like their thrillers psychological, their romance complicated, and their morality questionable. Just remember: sometimes the scariest stories are the ones that feel the most real.

(P.S. If you ever meet me at a signing and want to discuss behavioral psychology or your favorite serial killers, I'm totally game. Just maybe not while I'm eating.)