Michael was inspired by an evening walk through downtown Los Angeles. He was with a large group of authors and artists from the World Fantasy Convention, chatting away as they strolled back to their hotel, when 2 large rats scuttled by. They also passed an old wooden door on the side of a building and that struck him as odd amid all the glass and steel of the city streets. He kept imagining what could be behind that door-but ended up doing the painting from the inside looking out!