Comments for Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com Thu, 10 May 2012 19:41:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on “And they’re off and racing!” by Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/04/and-theyre-off-and-racing/#comment-2142 Les Roberts Thu, 10 May 2012 19:41:37 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=991#comment-2142 Hi, Heather - VERY nice to hear from you. I'm working with a driver/owner at Northfield Park just south of Cleveland, and he's given me TONS of material! Some of it is indeed scandalous, most is the nuts and bolts of horse racing, and I'm having an absolute ball writing it. The tentative title is "Dead Money" (I'm sure you know what that means), and it will come out some time in 2013. Can't give you a more definite date because I'm only about 15% finished WRITING it! But please keep in touch with me and I"ll make sure you're up to date on everything. Alaska??? Much thanks, Les Hi, Heather -

VERY nice to hear from you. I’m working with a driver/owner at Northfield Park just south of Cleveland, and he’s given me TONS of material! Some of it is indeed scandalous, most is the nuts and bolts of horse racing, and I’m having an absolute ball writing it.
The tentative title is “Dead Money” (I’m sure you know what that means), and it will come out some time in 2013. Can’t give you a more definite date because I’m only about 15% finished WRITING it! But please keep in touch with me and I”ll make sure you’re up to date on everything.

Alaska???

Much thanks,

Les

]]> Comment on “And they’re off and racing!” by Heather A http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/04/and-theyre-off-and-racing/#comment-2140 Heather A Thu, 10 May 2012 18:22:43 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=991#comment-2140 Hi Les, I can't begin to tell you how unbelievably excited I am right now to find out there is actually going to be a Harness Racing Novel!!!! I spent the last 10 years racing these amazing horses, which changed my life forever. I worked and trained with some of the top trainers, horses and drivers on the East Coast, as well as owned my own horses. Harness Racing was not a hobby or a career it was a lifestyle. I lived it and was obsessed as anyone gets, who is involved in this business. Once you are involved in Harness Racing its in your blood for ever!! There are so many up, downs and ins and outs, I miss living that high roller life ; -). I'm sure I could write a book if I was a writer with all of the crazy stories I could tell about Harness Racing...lol. I hope you get to experience the true some times scandalous life of Harness Racing and get to know the people who keep it alive. I can't wait till the book comes out, I will tell all my racing friends! I have missed racing so much since I moved to Alaska, thank you so much for writing this book, i will be able to get my fix! ~Heather PS. When will the book come out? Hi Les,
I can’t begin to tell you how unbelievably excited I am right now to find out there is actually going to be a Harness Racing Novel!!!! I spent the last 10 years racing these amazing horses, which changed my life forever. I worked and trained with some of the top trainers, horses and drivers on the East Coast, as well as owned my own horses. Harness Racing was not a hobby or a career it was a lifestyle. I lived it and was obsessed as anyone gets, who is involved in this business. Once you are involved in Harness Racing its in your blood for ever!! There are so many up, downs and ins and outs, I miss living that high roller life ; -). I’m sure I could write a book if I was a writer with all of the crazy stories I could tell about Harness Racing…lol. I hope you get to experience the true some times scandalous life of Harness Racing and get to know the people who keep it alive. I can’t wait till the book comes out, I will tell all my racing friends! I have missed racing so much since I moved to Alaska, thank you so much for writing this book, i will be able to get my fix!
~Heather

PS. When will the book come out?

]]> Comment on Milan in the Movies: My Take by Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com/2012/04/05/milan-in-the-movies-my-take/#comment-2053 Les Roberts Thu, 03 May 2012 16:01:43 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=1045#comment-2053 Robert Mitchum was an astonishingly imposing presence onscreen---and off, too. I met him once, somewhere around 1970. I can't remember why, but we both found ourselves at an art gallery opening in Los Angeles (probably with our wives) and we both escaped the BS inside to go out and sit on the steps and have a smoke. A charming, very pleasant guy, and I refrained from telling him how much I enjoyed his work. I think he thought of himself as an ordinary guy and disliked being made a fuss over as a "movie star." I now have almost all of his performances on DVD and enjoy revisiting him in my living room. The other VERY interesting thing about Mitchum is that except for Westerns, I don't think he ever made a "costume" movie as did, say, Tyrone Power or Robert Taylor---wearing ruffled shirts and pumpkin pants or togas or tights, and brandishing a sword. He played private eyes several times---twice as Philip Marlowe and once in my all-time favorite film noir, "Out of the Past." (Kirk Douglas was the bad guy!) It's no wonder Robert B. Parker and I expressed interest in his playing the characters we created. He was very much a modern man, and both onscreen and off he was deep, complicated, and even at his most relaxed and pleasant moments, just a little bit dangerous. And one HELL of a fine actor! Robert Mitchum was an astonishingly imposing presence onscreen—and off, too. I met him once, somewhere around 1970. I can’t remember why, but we both found ourselves at an art gallery opening in Los Angeles (probably with our wives) and we both escaped the BS inside to go out and sit on the steps and have a smoke. A charming, very pleasant guy, and I refrained from telling him how much I enjoyed his work. I think he thought of himself as an ordinary guy and disliked being made a fuss over as a “movie star.” I now have almost all of his performances on DVD and enjoy revisiting him in my living room. The other VERY interesting thing about Mitchum is that except for Westerns, I don’t think he ever made a “costume” movie as did, say, Tyrone Power or Robert Taylor—wearing ruffled shirts and pumpkin pants or togas or tights, and brandishing a sword. He played private eyes several times—twice as Philip Marlowe and once in my all-time favorite film noir, “Out of the Past.” (Kirk Douglas was the bad guy!) It’s no wonder Robert B. Parker and I expressed interest in his playing the characters we created. He was very much a modern man, and both onscreen and off he was deep, complicated, and even at his most relaxed and pleasant moments, just a little bit dangerous.

And one HELL of a fine actor!

]]> Comment on Milan in the Movies: My Take by Jose Nogales http://lesroberts.com/2012/04/05/milan-in-the-movies-my-take/#comment-2042 Jose Nogales Wed, 02 May 2012 20:30:51 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=1045#comment-2042 Very interesting comment about Robert Mitchum. I once read that Robert B. Parker had him in mind to play Spenser. Very interesting comment about Robert Mitchum. I once read that Robert B. Parker had him in mind to play Spenser.

]]> Comment on “And they’re off and racing!” by Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/04/and-theyre-off-and-racing/#comment-2033 Les Roberts Wed, 02 May 2012 03:26:08 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=991#comment-2033 I appreciate that, Lynn. I'm learning more about racing, specifically harness racing, than I ever knew before. I guess one of the reasons I've kind of avoided writing a mystery about thoroughbred racing is because Dick Francis wrote more than thirty of them! He was himself a jockey in Great Britain, and his books were really wonderful. I'm getting so much help from friends who actually worked with trotters and pacers, and from a man who owns and drives several horses and is actually assisting me in writing the book. In fact, a few weeks ago at seven o'clock in the morning, I visited the backside (the barns, exercise areas, etc. that regular fans don't ever get to see) and got to feed and play with the horses and even took a mile-long ride around the track. It was an amazingly fun time for me, I practically filled up a recorder with my notes, and am enjoying putting so much of the business itself, and of the fascinating characters I met personally. Of course, I have to change their names or I'd be in big trouble---because every characer in my mystery novels is a suspect in the murder (or murders)---and whether or not they are the chief villain, they are all in one way or another corrupt. Sure, I'd be happy to join your book club some evening for a discussion. Just let me know where and when. I appreciate that, Lynn. I’m learning more about racing, specifically harness racing, than I ever knew before. I guess one of the reasons I’ve kind of avoided writing a mystery about thoroughbred racing is because Dick Francis wrote more than thirty of them! He was himself a jockey in Great Britain, and his books were really wonderful. I’m getting so much help from friends who actually worked with trotters and pacers, and from a man who owns and drives several horses and is actually assisting me in writing the book. In fact, a few weeks ago at seven o’clock in the morning, I visited the backside (the barns, exercise areas, etc. that regular fans don’t ever get to see) and got to feed and play with the horses and even took a mile-long ride around the track. It was an amazingly fun time for me, I practically filled up a recorder with my notes, and am enjoying putting so much of the business itself, and of the fascinating characters I met personally. Of course, I have to change their names or I’d be in big trouble—because every characer in my mystery novels is a suspect in the murder (or murders)—and whether or not they are the chief villain, they are all in one way or another corrupt.
Sure, I’d be happy to join your book club some evening for a discussion. Just let me know where and when.

]]> Comment on “And they’re off and racing!” by Lynn S http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/04/and-theyre-off-and-racing/#comment-2031 Lynn S Wed, 02 May 2012 02:25:40 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=991#comment-2031 Les, I'm a new fan but a native Clevelander. Although I started a book club six years ago, we have not yet read one of your books. Perhaps we'll read Whiskey Island and you could join us for a discussion? A story line with horse racing as a theme sounds wonderful. However, in all honesty, I'm partial to thoroughbreds! There's a big difference between a racehorse going 37 mph versus a trotter. And the history of the Ohio Derby could be celebrated in an intriguing plot. What do you think? Either way, it will be one terrific novel; looking forward to it. Thank you for your attention to Cleveland! Les, I’m a new fan but a native Clevelander. Although I started a book club six years ago, we have not yet read one of your books. Perhaps we’ll read Whiskey Island and you could join us for a discussion?
A story line with horse racing as a theme sounds wonderful. However, in all honesty, I’m partial to thoroughbreds! There’s a big difference between a racehorse going 37 mph versus a trotter. And the history of the Ohio Derby could be celebrated in an intriguing plot. What do you think? Either way, it will be one terrific novel; looking forward to it. Thank you for your attention to Cleveland!

]]> Comment on New book alert! “Whiskey Island” (#16 in the Milan series) by Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com/2012/01/11/new-book-alert-whiskey-island-16-in-the-milan-series/#comment-1917 Les Roberts Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:44:52 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=973#comment-1917 Hey, Glenn - thanks for the kind words. I intend to keep them coming as long as I can sit up straight in front of the computer. Currently writing a new Milan (coming out sometime in 2013, after "Whiskey Island,") and then I plan to do a follow-up with the protagonist, Dominick Candiotti, in "The Strange Death of Father Candy." Hey, Glenn – thanks for the kind words. I intend to keep them coming as long as I can sit up straight in front of the computer. Currently writing a new Milan (coming out sometime in 2013, after “Whiskey Island,”) and then I plan to do a follow-up with the protagonist, Dominick Candiotti, in “The Strange Death of Father Candy.”

]]> Comment on New book alert! “Whiskey Island” (#16 in the Milan series) by Glenn Gnabasik http://lesroberts.com/2012/01/11/new-book-alert-whiskey-island-16-in-the-milan-series/#comment-1914 Glenn Gnabasik Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:36:09 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=973#comment-1914 I am so glad to hear about the upcoming books. Just spent the last month catching up on all 15 Milan Jacovich books and can't tell you how disappointed I was to find I had reached the end of the list. You'll be happy to know that most of your books are still in the libraries of north eastern Massachusetts and local used bookstores. Can't wait till Whiskey Island is out. Great writing. Keep them coming as long as you can. You need to figure out how to put the "The Decision" in one of your books being the setting is Cleveland. I am so glad to hear about the upcoming books. Just spent the last month catching up on all 15 Milan Jacovich books and can’t tell you how disappointed I was to find I had reached the end of the list. You’ll be happy to know that most of your books are still in the libraries of north eastern Massachusetts and local used bookstores. Can’t wait till Whiskey Island is out. Great writing. Keep them coming as long as you can. You need to figure out how to put the “The Decision” in one of your books being the setting is Cleveland.

]]> Comment on April Fools by Jill http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/31/april-fools/#comment-1763 Jill Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:28:10 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=1094#comment-1763 I had no idea The Burglar was based on Lawrence Block's books. I love that series. Now I have to watch The Burglar... Thank heavens for Netflix. I had no idea The Burglar was based on Lawrence Block’s books. I love that series. Now I have to watch The Burglar… Thank heavens for Netflix.

]]> Comment on “And they’re off and racing!” by Les Roberts http://lesroberts.com/2012/03/04/and-theyre-off-and-racing/#comment-1669 Les Roberts Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:27:14 +0000 http://lesroberts.com/?p=991#comment-1669 Thanks, Teresa. Whiskey Island is a fictional take on the corrupt Cleveland politicians we hear about every day. Each morning when I read the paper, I'd see something else going on and say, "Oh, I've got to go put THAT in the book, too." It took longer to write than usual because I kept adding things---and then naturally I had to CUT other things because the novel would have been far too long. It's also written a bit differently than usual, since Kevin O'Bannion ("K.O." from "The Cleveland Creep") is in this one also, and will be a regular from now on. So I'm just getting started on the harness racing book, and will do much more research than usual---but I hope to finish it within the next six or seven months. I appreciate your support and am delighted you took the time to write me. Thanks, Teresa. Whiskey Island is a fictional take on the corrupt Cleveland politicians we hear about every day. Each morning when I read the paper, I’d see something else going on and say, “Oh, I’ve got to go put THAT in the book, too.” It took longer to write than usual because I kept adding things—and then naturally I had to CUT other things because the novel would have been far too long. It’s also written a bit differently than usual, since Kevin O’Bannion (“K.O.” from “The Cleveland Creep”) is in this one also, and will be a regular from now on. So I’m just getting started on the harness racing book, and will do much more research than usual—but I hope to finish it within the next six or seven months. I appreciate your support and am delighted you took the time to write me.

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