Episode #91 Matt Witten – 51 Percent, Corporate Power & Writing for TV vs. Novels

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with bestselling author, playwright, and television writer Matt Witten to discuss his latest thriller, 51 Percent, and his remarkable career spanning novels, television, and the stage.

Matt shares the inspiration behind 51 Percent, a dystopian murder mystery set twenty years in the future where powerful corporations control public infrastructure, privatize law enforcement, and even own people through "51%" contracts. As resistance begins to grow, the novel explores timely questions about power, freedom, and the future of society through an ensemble cast of characters with competing perspectives.

Michelle and Matt also dive into the differences between writing for television and novels, drawing on Matt's experience writing for hit series including Law & Order, House, Pretty Little Liars, and Supernatural. He discusses breaking into television through a Law & Order pitch meeting, developing memorable characters, transitioning between screenwriting and fiction, and his path to traditional publishing after winning the Malice Domestic Writers Award.

The conversation also covers Matt's creative process, balancing multiple storytelling formats, and what's next—including his upcoming 2027 thriller, Clutch, set in the world of the WNBA.

🎧 Join Michelle and Matt for an engaging conversation about thrillers, television writing, publishing, and crafting stories that ask compelling "what if?" questions.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more author interviews and creative conversations on Miles Beyond the Page!

ABOUT MATT WITTEN:

Matt Witten is a TV writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter who has written for many TV shows including House, Pretty Little Liars, Law & Order, Medium, Supernatural, and CSI: Miami. His thriller novel The Necklace is published in eight languages, is an Amazon Editors' Pick, and has been optioned for film by Leonardo DiCaprio. His novel Killer Story won a Foreword Indie award for best mystery and has been optioned for TV by Endgame Entertainment. Matt wrote four amateur sleuth novels that were published by Signet, including the Malice Domestic Award-winning Breakfast at Madeline’s, and he has been nominated for two Edgars and an Emmy. His published stage plays include The Deal, Washington Square Moves, and The Ties That Bind. He wrote the movie Drones, produced by Whitewater Films. His futuristic thriller, 51%, comes out in 2026. NBC hired Matt to cowrite a TV pilot based on 51%. His movie/TV agent is Paul Weitzman at Culture Creative Entertainment.

WHERE TO FIND HIM:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

WHERE TO FIND HIS BOOKS:

Amazon