Unpacking a Killer Story: The Making of a True Crime Podcast with Author Matthew Witten

In this episode of Beyond the Pen, Matthew Witten talks about his book, Killer Story, and its inspiration. Join us as we dive into the world of true crime podcasts with the fictional story of Petra Kovach, a young journalist who risks everything to launch a podcast investigating an unsolved murder.

We explore the themes of immigration, short-form storytelling, and identity and how they intersect with Petra’s journey. We also discuss the moral and ethical implications of the journalism, the justice system, and the importance of character development in storytelling.

In a fun segment, we engage in some improv character creation and learn more about the author’s writing strengths and weaknesses. Tune in to discover how Petra’s investigation unfolds and how her pursuit of justice ultimately leads to unexpected consequences.

NOTE: The audio file became distorted and was somehow saved during this episode’s editing phase. Until a cleaner version is uploaded, please enjoy our great conversation today. Thank you.

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Maccabee & Marccella Podcasters

Maccabee is a husband of 19 yrs, father of two boys, Army vet, voice actor, writer, and podcast co-host of Beyond the Pen. Growing up in the theater and working as a voice actor, script analysis has been a critical skill he's been perfecting over the years. This skill has allowed him to look past what the author wants you to see and discover the truth between the words and the printed paper. Every story is unique, and so are the authors.

Marccella, a self-proclaimed bookworm, is an advocate for authors and their unique voices. Since learning to read at aged 6, Marccella could be found in the library with her nose in a good book. As an avid reader, Marccella recognized that there was untapped potential in the author community and was decidedly committed to creating valuable spaces to have conversations with writers of all genres. As a result, Marccella united with Maccabee (her brother from another mother) to further her vision of expanding the reach of authors and their audience.