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Les Schmidt lives in Hershey, Pennsylvania with his wife and step-daughter. He also has seven daughters and twenty two grandchildren. Born and raised in Philadelphia in a loving family under the influence of a faith-healing church, he traveled to Camden, New Jersey for ten years to attend the church school.

Les’s dad worked in automotive body repair shops, and began taking him into those shops even before he reached school age. Around the same time his dad took Les hunting and fishing, and he developed a deep bond with nature.

He married a church girl at the age of eighteen. In his twenties, Les’s inner nature conflicted with the dogmatic teachings of the church, until one night it culminated in a crises-experience, and then he had an epiphany and realized that the Hell that the pastors had taught him to fear could be no worse than his present condition, and that death would be a relief. That night he released the psychological grip of the church, and fell into a deep sleep. The next morning he awoke refreshed in body, mind and spirit, intent on finding his own path.

From that day forward he followed the drive in his heart to experience all that life had to offer. That yearning led him on an adventure that included all the highs and lows he could ever have imagined. Les was consumed with the pursuit of financial freedom, to live life on his terms. His pursuit led to a low point that was so serious, that one night he was moved to reflect on his choices and where they had taken him, and he made a life-changing decision to become his personal best and a role model for his daughters.

In August 1985 Les moved with four of his youngest daughters to Central Pennsylvania to start over. He accepted a position in the body shop of a Nissan dealership. Six months later he was promoted to manager, and he led his department to record profits for three years.

In the twenty years since then, Les has managed 4 dealership body shops to a high level of success. He currently manages a Certified Goodwrench Collision Center in the largest Chevrolet dealership in Central Pennsylvania. He has been awarded the GM Mark of Excellence honors in 2003 through 2006.

Les attributes much of his success to his people and communication skills, and that inspired him to create a home study course, “Automotive Customer Care Profit Secrets” to help raise the level of service in the automotive industry. Next he adapted a version of the course for a more general audience and published it in paperback, titled “So, You’re In The People Business” and made it available for anyone who can afford the price of a fast-food meal.

Les’s first short story received excellent reviews from several editors, and in July, 2001 Fur-Fish-Game magazine purchased and published “Son Of A Buck Ridge.” That success encouraged Les to continue and ramp up his study of writing and publishing that included reading dozens of books, attending numerous workshops and seminars, and completing several courses to support his love of writing and publishing.

In his memoir “The Truth, How To Screw Up Your Life and Get Over It” Les bares his soul and weaves a story that is so compelling that it is nearly impossible to put down. “The Truth’ began as letters to his daughters, and evolved into extensive, soul-searching notes. When a Pittsburgh lawyer said, “Les, you should write a book,” the wheels were set in motion to write the best book possible.

Les has been written about and quoted in newspapers and industry publications, interviewed as an auto-repair expert on several local TV stations, and appeared as an expert witness in a homicide trial.

Les loves to travel and research, and to share what he experiences and learns through writing and speaking.

If you have a question for Les, contact him at: sagescriptmedia@comcast.net