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In this special bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell reads Chapter 30, The Satin Doll, from his book:

Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop

These are true stories from Patrick’s years working the streets of Milwaukee as a veteran officer, FTO, and eventual sergeant — stories of chaos, dark humor, tragedy, and survival that don’t make it onto TV shows.

All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary.

🎧 This episode includes:

• A foot chase that ends when a suspect runs face first into the side of a building
• The unexpected appearance of an elderly woman carrying a pearl handled revolver
• The legend of Minnette Wilson, the Satin Doll, who saved two Milwaukee police officers during the riots of the 1960s and was gifted a revolver by the chief of police
• Her connection to Duke Ellington and the song that may have been written about her
• A piece of Milwaukee history that most people never knew existed

📘 Enjoyed the book? Please leave a review.
Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads make a real difference for independent authors. Two or three sentences is all it takes.

📘 Police Stories: Street Cop to Sergeant is available now.
Link: https://a.co/d/04dS56ie

📘 Haven’t read book one yet?
Police Stories: The Rookie Years — True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is available now. Link https://a.co/d/0ekdgjK3

📘 Get ahead of the curve.
Police Stories: Rookie Sergeant is available for preorder now. Link: https://a.co/d/0i1LVvNm

👍 Like, comment, and share if this story resonated with you.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to write for a hit television show? I think it’s safe to say many of us dream of our work appearing on a weekly TV show that millions of viewers can enjoy. Welcome back for the conclusion of my conversation with Author, Screenwriter, and Playwright Matt Witten. He takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how it’s done.

Matt has had a career of ups and downs until he hit it big as a writer on the hit TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, JAG, CSI: Miami, Law and Order, my favorite, House, and many other high-profile shows.

It was a pleasure chatting with someone who has written scripts for shows that I have enjoyed so much and having him share his expertise with all of us. I hope you find this episode entertaining, informative, and maybe it gives you the inspiration to never give up and write what you love.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· How much ad-libbing do actors do on set?

· How does he balance creative license with reality?

· His novel, The Necklace, being optioned for the movies by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.

· NBC hiring him to co-write a TV adaptation of 51% and having AI as the antagonist.

· His advice for someone who wants to break into writing for TV or movies?

· Common mistakes rookie writers make and how do we fix them?

· What is the best way to market your book?

· How do we create ‘superfans’?

· What was the best and/or worst piece of writing advice he ever received?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Go to Matt's website to learn more about him and his work.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon.

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a writer for a hit television show? I think it’s safe to say that many of us dream about our work being on a weekly T.V. show where millions of viewers get to enjoy it. Well, on today’s episode Author, Screenwriter, and Playwright Matt Witten takes us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how it’s done.

Matt has had a career of ups and downs until he hit it big as a writer on the hit TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, Law and Order, my favorite, House, and many other high-profile shows.

It was a pleasure chatting with someone who has written scripts for shows that I have enjoyed so much. I hope you find this episode entertaining, informative, and maybe it gives you the inspiration to never give up and write what you love. Part Two will go live next Sunday.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· When Matt was 17 years old and facing a life-threatening illness, he made a promise to himself.

· How he knew he would be destined to be a writer.

· The support and positive influence of his wife, Nancy.

· How he never gave up during the lean years.

· How can writers and other creatives get away from the “starving artist” mentality?

· How he landed an agent.

· What was it like teaching playwriting at a prison, and what it taught him.

· How he wound up writing freelance episodes of Homicide and Law & Order?

· How Matt dealt with rejection being in an over twenty-year career in Hollywood?

· What was a typical day in a Hollywood writing room, and how much influence did the actors have on the scripts?

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Go to Matt's website to learn more about him and his work.

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon.

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show