Getting Away with Murder

“Good evening, and welcome to another episode of Talk to me—Read to me. My name is Leah Rivers, and my special guest tonight is Michael R. Swift. His new book, Getting Away with Murder, has just made the New York Times Bestselling charts with a number one bullet! His meteoric rise in the writing world is astonishing to say the least. So, sit back, relax, and grab your notepads because I’m sure Michael will share some great tips about writing and his career thus far. Michael, thank you so much for allowing me and all of my listeners into your lovely home.”

“You’re welcome, Leah. It’s an honor to have you here.”

“So, let me just start off by setting up the scene here, so our listeners can appreciate the warm surroundings I find myself in. We are sitting in an exquisite library surrounded by hundreds of books and a roaring fireplace, so if you hear any crackling, don’t check your settings; it’s just the flames devouring the wood.”

“That’s right. It’s a bit chilly out there, so I thought a warm fire would soothe our blood.”

“It sure is toasty in here, that’s for sure! Now, let’s get on to business, shall we? Your new book…I’ve read it, so let’s talk about it. Can you tell our listeners a little bit about it, or do they have to buy the book?”

“Well, without giving any spoilers away, it’s about a serial killer who stalks his victims and kills them when they least expect it.”

“So, that sounds a bit cliché, right? I mean, there are a lot of serial killer books out there. What makes yours so different?”

“Cliché is right, Leah. You’re correct that there are a ton of these stories out there, but mine is very different. I’ve tried my best to keep this book new and fresh.”

“How is it different? Our listeners are dying to know, ha-ha!”

“I take a methodical approach to my writing. Every kill, every person being stalked has a purpose, and I write with so many visual emotions, the reader can’t help but feel for the killer and his victims. It’s almost a seductive foreplay for the mind.”

“Oh…my mind is wet just thinking about it! Can you give us an example?”

“Well…”

“Pretty please! Ugh…don’t make me beg you unless you like that sort of thing!”

“Ha, ha, ha! Flirty as always.”

“Damn, right! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!”

“In that case, I’d be glad to share a scenario.”

“YES!”

“In this novel, our serial killer, Ben Cartwright, is a writer and is well known and liked. He befriends fellow writers and authors around the world because they understand the struggles of writing and quickly establishes deep connections with them. Over time, one of these friends, Steve Thorton, wants to meet in person. Ben plays it off as a joke, but this was exactly what Ben wanted. They meet in private, and let’s just say that after a few words, Ben slashes Steve’s neck with a long, sharp knife. The kills are orgasmic for Ben. He gets off on them.”

“I know. The way you describe the killings in great detail paints the perfect picture. I couldn’t help but feel for the victims.”

“Yes, and there’s a sense of longing for Ben to kill them. His motivation is justified in a special way when the story ends, but I don’t want to spoil the ending.”

“That’s what I think is so different about this novel, Michael. You have truly touched on something so unique, so mesmerizing, the readers won’t know what hit them because you’ve made this serial killer human in a very relatable way.”

“Yeah, Ben doesn’t just kill for bloodlust. Every action he takes serves a greater purpose. I’m glad you picked up on that, Leah.”

“Of course, I did. I can tell you and our listeners that I’ve personally read hundreds of books, but none of them has lingered in my mind the way yours has.”

“Thank you, Leah. That’s the best compliment I’ve had in weeks!”

“You’re very welcome! Where did you come up with the idea for this book?”

“Well, like most of my ideas, this one came to me out of the blue. It started as a simple hook and blew up from there. I asked myself: What if a novelist wrote about his killings in depth and then passed it off as a fictional work? What would happen? How would it happen? Stuff like that, and then it grew and came together as I wrote it.”

“I love that! Listeners, I hope you’re taking notes!”

“That’s right, Leah. Sometimes writers don’t need to plot every little detail. I find that if I do that, things come off as boring. I like to keep things going from a fresh perspective and let the characters dictate which way the narrative will go. I just capture what I see or, at best, as good as I can remember.”

“Well, I love your writing style, and I know our listeners do too. So, before I let you go, can you give us an idea of what you may be working on next?”

“Of course, Leah. I would be glad to. I never stop writing, so there’s always something new on the horizon. I’m actually working on Getting Away with Murder: Part Two and hope to have it out next summer.”

“That’s amazing! I’m looking forward to that, and I know our listeners will as well!”

“There will be a lot more blood in the next book. I can promise you that.”

“We love to hear that! Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have on tonight’s episode. I want to thank our special guest, Michael R. Swift, for joining us, and a very big thanks to all of you for listening. You can find Michael’s best-selling novel, Getting Away with Murder, everywhere books are sold. Make sure you pick this one up because it’s a killer read! Have a good night, everyone. See you on the flip side!”

“Is that it?”

“Yep, we’re all finished. You did a great job. Thanks again for doing this!”

“Oh, you’re quite welcome. When will this episode premiere?”

“Tomorrow night. I usually edit the recordings for time purposes and then post them the next day. Don’t worry, most of our conversation will stay intact because you did an excellent job.”

“That’s great! I’m glad to hear it. I’m surprised you do all of this by yourself.”

“Yeah, I’m a woman of many talents. Plus, I save a little bit of money by not having a full-time staff to help me, so it’s a big win in my book.”

“That’s amazing. Before you go, I would like you to feast your eyes on this.”

“Okay…wait…. What is that? A knife?!”

“That’s right, Leah. I thought you would like to see how and where I really get my ideas for my book.”

“No! You’re crazy! Stay away from me! HELP!”

“Scream all you want. Nobody can hear you. Trust me. I know. I’ve had lots of practice!”

“Don’t come near me! Please don’t hurt me!”

“Oh, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to kill you. You should be honored because your death will be the next chapter in my new book. I have to keep the ideas fresh. Remember?”

“Oh my God! NO!!”