It’s a story for the guy who is tired of being told to ‘be strong’ and just needs to know that someone else has walked through the fire and made it out the other side. It’s written with the raw honesty that is lacking in many grief books.
Bill Beckett – 14 February 2026
The Back Flap
The Empty Side of Our Bed is a heartfelt exploration of life after loss—a raw and honest account of the profound journey through grief, from the painful “firsts” to the quiet moments of survival. In this follow-up to Love, Family, Cancer, Bill Beckett opens up about the emotional aftermath of losing a spouse, capturing the loneliness, the sorrow, and the strength required to face each new day.
This book is for anyone who has experienced the devastating loss of a loved one and is searching for understanding, healing, and hope. With unwavering transparency, Bill shares the painful process of adjusting to a life without their partner, the heart-wrenching “firsts” that follow, the bad days that seem to never end, and the quiet victories of rebuilding a new life after the old one is gone.
The Empty Side of Our Bed doesn’t shy away from the dark days but also offers a message of hope: that even in the midst of unimaginable loss, it’s possible to find new strength and create a life that honors the past while embracing the future.
About the book
What is the book about?
It’s about what happens at 2:00 AM when the house is silent and you realize the other side of the bed is going to be empty for the rest of your life. While the ‘grief industry’ tries to put men into a 5-step process, my book tells the truth: grief is messy, it’s un-manly, and it’s a battle. It’s a story for the guy who is tired of being told to ‘be strong’ and just needs to know that someone else has walked through the fire and made it out the other side. It’s written with the raw honesty that is lacking in many grief books. It touches on many things, such as the “firsts”, the duality of memories and trying to find yourself again.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing this book towards the end of 2024.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me close to a year to finish.
Where did you get the idea from?
Well, I had written a book in 2021, shortly after my wife passed in 2020. People liked it so much and encouraged me to write about the aftermath. My first book is called, Love, Family, Cancer. That one is about the cancer battle.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Yes, Chapter 7, called, “The New Normal” is probably the one chapter I struggled most with.
What came easily?
Recounting and just telling my story from within.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Mine is a memoir so all characters are real.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I don’t have any particular writers that I attach myself to. However, reading and conversing with authors has helped me to improve my craft. For example, I think my second book is more well written than my first.
Do you have a target reader?
I believe that my target audience would extend out just beyond widowers. They would be first and foremost. However, this book is also for anyone who has lost a loved one. People who enjoy memoirs/true stories. People who like romance would also enjoy it as well as people who like to read about comeback stories.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Generally, I like to organize all of my ideas pertaining to exactly what I want to address. Then I divide those ideas up into segments, which ultimately become the chapters.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I usually do not outline.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I do both.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I have not.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No. I have to be very focused and have no external distractions when I’m writing.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I only received one publisher that was interested in publishing. However, they had caveats. One was that they wanted to combine both of my books into one. Which was not a deal breaker but they told me that they could not publish until sometime in later 2027. This was longer than I was willing to wait.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did the cover.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Winging it.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I think that most Indie authors need to realize that getting your work accepted by either lit agents or publishers is pretty difficult. But also realize that it does not mean your work is not worthy. The majority of publishers and/or literary agents are wanting the authors to have some type of platform.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of The Empty Side of Our Bed from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
