Coming soon to Jim Hinckley’s America! We are always looking for new ways to inspire road trips by telling people where to go, and to share America’s story.

Ideas that allow us to proclaim “coming soon” are birthed by our overactive imagination, and with input from followers and fans. Some, such as the Coffee With Jim podcast on Podbean, transition from idea to reality. These provide a service to an international community of road enthusiasts. They also provide the  occasional profit and a great deal of personal satisfaction.

A weekly video series with interviews and community development brainstorming sessions went down in flames for a number of reasons. Other such as the In Search of Lost Highways series on our YouTube channel are developed in fits and starts before getting off the ground.

Coming Soon

So, with that as an introduction, what is simmering on the back burner at Jim Hinckley’s America? What is coming, soon?

Well, the Route 66 anthology is now in the hands of the editor. I am eager to see the finished project, and to begin the books promotion. This has been a most interesting project as it allowed me to work with good friends that are also esteemed associates.

Counted among the other contributors are Cheryl Jett, an author and developer of the annual Miles of Possibility Conference. Joe Sonderman of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and an acclaimed author wrote the chapter on the Show Me State. He also provided lots of materials from his private collection to use as illustrations.

Dries Bessels of the Dutch Route 66 Association has added a different perspective on Route 66. Likewise with Greg Hasman and Rhys Martin. Martin is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, and a photographer of renown. Work from his Cloudless Lens collection will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma.

Other Projects

One of the more unusual projects has been an adult coloring book. The focus is Route 66. I have submitted an extensive photo file, and when a list of approved images is completed I will write extended captions.

I know that these type of coloring books are rather popular. But aside from that, my knowledge is limited. Perhaps you can provide some insight about the appeal and popularity of adult coloring books.

And I am also assisting with the development of a heavily illustrated Route 66 centennial historic atlas. This project has been plagued with fits and starts. Still, as everyone involved with this endeavor are  professionals with a long list of successful projects, I am not overly concerned. I am, however, just a bit frustrated as we are about six months behind schedule.

I took a step back on the Coffee With Jim podcast. The two week hiatus that included attendance of the AAA Route 66 Road fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma was needed for perspective. Now it is time to get it back on track, and make the needed improvements. Here too your input would be appreciated.

Coming Later

The In Search Of Lost Highways video series is on hold. This was a much more labor intensive endeavor than anticipated. The anthology was a priority. So, with completion of the first draft I should now have time to devote to series development.

Route 66 Road fest opened the door for other interesting projects. This includes discussions with a University of Oklahoma professor about development of Route 66 centennial marketing intiatives.

A conversation that centered on education program development took place with a professor from Tulsa Community College. I am eager to see where these discussions lead. Development and work with educational programs has been a passion since classes were developed for Mohave Community College in Kingman, and I had the opportunity to address classes at a German school.

And I also developing a new series of programs aboout the great American road trip. Currently scheduled is a program for Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona.

Also on the calendar is program to be presented at the Miles of Possibility Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois this coming October. This program will be about the marketing and promotion that transformed U.S. 66 into an icon that is an attraction for legions of domestic and international enthusiasts.

Stay tuned! As always we have lots of projects and intiatives in development.

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