No, this is not another beer commercial. Cleveland's most interesting man in the world happens to be local author, Les Roberts, who has written twenty-three novels, and eight screenplays.
Certainly writing books has made Roberts interesting, but it is his myriad of other accomplishments which set him apart from the ordinary. Roberts was the first producer of a little known television show, Hollywood Squares, and over a twenty-four year career wrote for and produced for, I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, and Man From U.N.C.L.E. and others.
Roberts, a Chicago native, first came to Cleveland to produce the television show Cash Explosion Double Play, and when it came time for him to find a new home he chose Cleveland. Roberts said, 'I like Cleveland because no one fights with me.' In Hollywood there was always someone looking over his shoulder and wanting to change his ideas.
Roberts started his writing career as a six-year-old writing short stories about a boy and his dog. Roberts said his mother absolutely loathed cats and dogs, so he didn't have pets which led to his writing about them.
Roberts reads about one hundred or so books a year, some of which he reviews for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, those books of course are the murder mysteries.
Roberts' most loved character is, Milan Jacovich, a Cleveland private detective who has solved murders in fourteen of Roberts' books. Roberts is about half way through the fifteenth edition, which when it is published will please his fan base.
When asked about his writing Roberts said, 'Writing is terrifying', you have to produce, no one does it for you. He also stated that he likes to put some of his favorite causes in his books, like animal abuse, and the destruction of teenage female lives by prostitution.
Roberts will be in Avon Lake in May to discuss his book King of the Holly Hop.
If you have any questions or suggestions for interviews feel free to contact me.
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