New “Cars” video game being produced

Author and Route 66 expert Michael Wallis, who portrayed the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the hit Disney-Pixar movie “Cars,” provided some interesting news to me this week via e-mail:

This week I spent several hours in studio recording a brand new CARS video game featuring the Sheriff, Mater, Lightning and many of the other film characters. I cannot say too much about it, but we were able to do the work from a Tulsa studio, hooked up to Burbank and Emeryville (Calif.). From the gist of the script I worked from, I can tell you the action takes place after Lightning is comfortably settled in Radiator Springs and there is more Ghost Light material, etc.

All of us on the hookup had a great visit about this Sunday night and our joint hopes for an Academy Award victory! Not too cocky, but I for one am feeling pretty good about our chances.

We’ll report more details on this video game as soon as we get them.

Wallis has quite a few other irons in the fire.

An Oklahoma Centennial edition of his book, “Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation,” has just been updated and reprinted by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Wallis’ newest book, “Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride,” is shipping to bookstores now and will be on sale March 19. A second printing has already been ordered. And for you roadies, Wallis says much of the action takes place “in Route 66 country.”

Six major book clubs have purchased the book, foreign and audio rights have sold, Diane Rehm of NPR fame and severlal other major national radio/TV shows have booked me, big pieces coming in American Heritage, True West, NY and LA Times.

A 20-city book tour for the Billy the Kid book will begin next month and continue through April. Wallis says stops will include Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

His next book, “The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate,” with photographer Michael Williamson, will be out in July. There will be a book tour for that volume as well.

(Photograph of Wallis by Redforkhippie.)