Dunmore native J.C. Roberts at 62 writes first book of poetry

By Steve Svetovich

Most people at 62 start to think about retirement.

But not Dunmore native J.C. Roberts. He is starting a new career. And it’s his passion.

The 1980 Dunmore High School graduate recently published his first book of poetry, “The Cobblestones I Know.” The book was published by Foothills Publishing, Kanona, New York.

Roberts grew up in Dunmore and spent his youth and young to middle adult years as a “daydreamer” of sorts before dedicating his past five years to serious writing.

From his teen years, Roberts transformed his daydreams into poetry and prose.

His passion for writing led him to earning a master’s degree in creative writing from Wilkes University. He is currently pursuing his MFA at Wilkes.

Roberts recently was added to the Artists in Education Roster. He was published in other local and state anthologies and is presently a Fullbright Scholarship candidate to assist teaching English in Romania. He is currently in the process of writing another book.

Roberts previously worked as a gas contractor for UGI. He surveyed gas lines for 11 years until February of 2020.

Roberts previously attended Marywood University, but never graduated.

He began writing in 2020 after leaving UGI and applied to the Master’s creative writing program at Wilkes. He was accepted without a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree and began intensified work in creative writing earning his Master’s degree in 2022.

“I was accepted based on creative work and life experience. It was intense and involved a lot of writing, which is my passion. Now I am a Fulbright candidate at 62 to teach English in Romania.

“My friends tell me I am doing things backwards in life by pursuing my true passion and career interests in my retirement years,” Roberts reveals. “However, this is all about expression and creative healing. It’s not about the money.

“Literature is a love that moves you. It’s how you turn these feelings into an elusive observation. My purpose in writing is to bring out reading and creativity back to Lackawanna County.”

“I love Dunmore and much of my writing and poetry is based on my experiences growing up in the borough,” says Roberts.

The gas contractor turned writer said his experience at Wilkes University was the best in his life.

“I was exposed to so much creativity and great writers. We just wrote and wrote. It was so beneficial.”

Roberts currently works at Pride Mobility in Duryea. He works the 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. shift which gives him time to,pursue his writing projects and new career interests.

“I dedicated myself to writing. This job gives me the time to do that. They were very supportive of my journey.”

His book, “The Cobblestones I Know” was part of his Master’s thesis at Wilkes.

Roberts’ daughter Jessica Ehnot, Dunmore, graduated from  Wilkes University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. His son, Ian Roberts, resides in Falls. Both are Dunmore graduates.

“Ironically, I graduated from Wilkes after my daughter did,” he laughs.

Roberts said he will continue to enthusiastically pursue his passion for writing.

“It’s never too late to start doing what you love,” he said. “This is my retirement plan.”