Interview with Les Roberts

Les Roberts has been around a while - some of you may remember the name from Hollywood Squares fame. He took a few minutes of his busy schedule to chat with us before his latest mystery sends him into another whirlwind tour.
Author's website - Feature by PJ Nunn.



PJ NUNN - Les, you know I’m a diehard fan of Milan Jacovich. Without spoiling anything, tell us a little about The Indian Sign.

LES ROBERTS - It's a bit of a departure from earlier books in that Milan is working two separate cases at once, completely unrelated except by theme. I'm a bit freaked out by the fact that even though I finished writing this in April 1999, it shares many characteristics of the Elian Gonzalez situation in that Milan has to make some hard moral choices regarding a child.


I love the news that BEST KEPT SECRET and CLEVELAND LOCAL will be audio books recorded by you! Are any of the others also out on audio?

Only COLLISION BEND, also recorded by me.


For those who’ve read the series, Milan seems like part of the family by now. Do you find it challenging to keep coming up with situations that are realistic but not too devastating?

Coming up with ideas is no problem. It's sitting down and writing that's tough.


What’s next for Milan?

Already completed and due out in 2001 is THE DUTCH. And I also have the next one in my head.


I remember hearing talk of a movie or television series option, I believe it was on the Saxon novels. Any word on that?

All the Saxons and four of the Milans have been optioned at one time or another, but right now nothing is happening, which is fine with me. I could use the money but I don't need the aggravation.


Do you ever get the urge to write something totally new and unrelated?

Yes! Right now I'm 1/3 finished with a new stand-alone not featuring Milan Jacovich nor set in Cleveland. I don't want to burn out on Milan and I felt the need to stretch some new muscles. But I'll never abandon Milan; he's my bread and butter.


How has your writing changed over the years?

Writing changes as writers change. I hope my writing has gotten better. I try to learn something with every book and strive mightily not to make the same mistakes twice - there are so many good new ones out there just waiting for me to make them.


Has your writing won any awards?

AN INFINITE NUMBER OF MONKEYS won the St. Martin's/Private Eye Writers of America Best First PI Novel Contest in 1987. I've been nominated for an Anthony and several Shamus awards. I've won the Cleveland Arts Prize for Literature (along with Bruce Catton and Toni Morrison, to name a few) and have been voted Cleveland's Favorite Writer. Awards are nice, but basically meaningless. I write for me, not for award committees.


Who are you when you’re not writing? What kind of work do you do? What are your hobbies?

My writing IS my work, it's how I make my living. My hobbies are cooking, going to the theatre, concerts and playing the piano (I used to play jazz professionally). Who am I? I'll let you know when I find out. I guess I'm part Milan and part Saxon, but many more parts just me.


Who or what has most influenced your writing?

As a kid I was exposed to the great 20th century writers - Hemingway, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Pearl Buck, Dorothy B. Hughes, John O'Hara, Chandler and Hammett (and later John D. MacDonald). I suppose it was when I read THE GRAPES OF WRATH that I decided that was what I wanted to do with my life - write good stuff.


As a writer, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I'd have no problem being right where I am ten years from now. Of course we'd all like to make more money and be more visible, but I am truly blessed with my career. Think of it: My office is 42 feet from my bed, I don't have to dress up, fight traffic, drive in the snow, punch a time clock, or take nonsense from anyone. I do what I love, and every few months I put some papers into an envelope and send them to New York, and they send me back money. I'm the luckiest man in the world.


What do you enjoy most about writing?

The process of course, solving the puzzle of the story. And naturally, those few-and-far-between moments when I write the perfect sentence, phrase, or even the perfect word that is the greatest high a writer can have.


What do you find most difficult?

The same thing - the process. Writing is anguishing and addictive, but if it's not difficult, it's not very good. My mantra is what Tom Hanks said to Geena Davis about baseball in the film A League of Their Own: "Of course it's hard! If it was easy everybody would do it. Hard is what makes it great!"


Best advice for new writers?

Write! Stop talking about it, anguishing over it, researching it, taking classes about it, workshopping it, and chewing it up until it's an unrecognizable pulp. Just sit down and do it! Don't worry that it won't be perfect, just worry that it won't be at all. The only difference between writers and non-writers is that writers write! Which do you want to be?


Where can readers find your website and info about your previous publications?

My website, you'll undoubtedly be stunned to know is www.Lesroberts.com which will be updated as soon as I get the jacket art for THE INDIAN SIGN. I've published eighteen novels, numerous short stories, and written and/or produced more than 2500 half hours of network and syndicated TV programming. Surely you don't want the whole list? I hope not, because frankly I can only remember about 5 per cent. The rest I have blessedly forgotten.