… while I tried to make a go/no decision, Autopolis posted a really good article yesterday on the first generation 1963-1965 Buick Riviera, with at least a bit of (I think) European perspective—the reference to the “enormous” 6.6 liter V8 is a hint. A reminder that others are getting things done while I am dithering.
Author: JJM3
A Little More About The Potential Book
The book/not book I’m working on is a complete study of the 1963-1999 Buick Riviera, attempting to place it within its times, context, and competition. I’m currently at 16,300 words/49 pages, and trying to make a decision by the time I get to 20,000 words.
Update: it’s a go!
Status Report
The book/not book is at 15,000 words and 46 pages—and I’m still not sure if there’s “any there there.” I’m pushing back the go/no go decision to 20,000 words.
Outtakes: The First Day Of Spring
(this particular passage never made it into A 21st Century Road Trip, largely because I couldn’t figure out how to clear the rights to the lyrics)
For me, hearing a particular song can key off visceral memories …
… it is the mid-2000s. My wife and I are in our 2003 Corvette convertible, top down, moving fast somewhere out in the mid-west. The bruising (little if any refinement) Bose stereo is on and turned up, meeting (superbly) the only real design brief it ever had: to be heard clearly at 80 mph with the top down.
The CD changer (remember those?) has the title track from Simple Minds’ Real Life on, and Jim Kerr is singing:
All my love, you’re the best,
Every little thing that I possess,
It’s all emotion when you take control,
I can feel wild horses running in my soul.
The wind whistles and buffets us and the small block LS1 rumbles gently and the trick paint glistens in the bright sun.
Quit dreaming this is real life baby
Uncertainty At 10,000 Words
Not nearly as chastening as Nightmare At 20,000 Feet, but I got to my 10,000 word phase gate on the book I’m not sure I’m writing … and … well … I’m still not sure. So, I’ll keep writing and hope it’s clearer by 15,000.
Progress Report
Update on the test write of the automotive book that I’m not sure I’ll end up completing: it’s been reasonably easy to get 5,000 words, so I’ll pursue it. The next phase gate is 10,000 words, at which point I’ll make some design calls.
A New Project?
After some thought, I’ve started a new book project, but it’s not fully formed. It’s an automotive book, which will be at least somewhat of a change—my previous three published books (along with one uncompleted project) were all travel books, if with an automotive theme. So, somewhat uncharted waters.
Why A Second Edition?
A second edition of Lincoln Highway 101 seems at least somewhat pretentious, but I felt that I needed to make another run at this particular story. After I had completed another Corvette-centric travel book (Slightly Slower 66) in late 2015, it became painfully obvious to me that I had missed many opportunities for optimization in the first edition of this book—at least somewhat because it had been so long (eight years) since I had published any book.
In raw numbers, this second edition has 14 more pages than the first edition and over 13,700 additional words (about 66% more). There are also over 65 added images with every one of the photographs included having significantly better color correction. Finally, there are vastly improved and far more detailed maps—there are now 27 of the particular Lincoln Highway route taken where there were previously only four. More importantly than the numerically measured increases, I believe this version of the book is notably more coherent and leaves far less out.
It’s Finally Out!
After almost two years in the works, Lincoln Highway 101, Second Edition is officially out today, with printing thanks to IngramSpark. It’s up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. My sincere thanks to Vern Yoneyama, who made substantial attempts at editing this much-revised edition.
Welcome!
J3Studio Press is a small publisher of automotive and travel books. This blog has been a long time coming, but it’s finally here as our third book publishes its second edition. I hope you enjoy it.
J3Studio Press 