Dan Rice, owner of the 66-to-Cali souvenir booth on the Santa Monica Pier, will start a book-publicity tour next week for his new biography, “End of the Trail.”
“End of the Trail” (The Way Things Are Publications, 242 pages, $24.95 retail) tells of Rice’s eight-year ordeal to recover from traumatic brain injury incurred during an automobile accident, and how his interest in Route 66 helped lead to his eventual recovery.
The curious part of the tour is Rice apparently has very few book-signing events at this time. However, a number of media appearances scheduled, with more likely coming. Perhaps Rice’s publicist feels he has a better chance at selling books with television and radio spots than at bookstore events.
Even without the book-signings, Rice and his wife Jessica are visiting relatives in the Midwest. So it’s not as if his road trip has just one purpose.
Also, if Rice is near your town, he said he’ll be happy to meet roadies if logistics and time permit. His e-mail address is danrice27(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Here’s the itinerary for Rice so far. Links for the stations are listed where applicable:
- Monday, March 28 — Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Tuesday, March 29 — Santa Fe, N.M.
- Wednesday, March 30 — Tulsa. Rice will be on the “Pat Campbell Show” at 6:05 a.m. on KFAQ-AM, plus “Good Day Tulsa” at 8 a.m. on KTUL-TV.
- Thursday, March 31 — Springfield, Mo.
- Friday, April 1 — Chicago.
- Saturday, April 2 — Chicago. He’ll be on NBC Chicago Weekend Morning News.
- Monday, April 4 — Detroit.
- Tuesday, April 5 — Flint, Mich. (TV appearance likely, but no set at this time).
- Wednesday, April 6 — Lansing or Saginaw, Mich.
- Thursday, April 7 — St. Louis.
- Friday, April 8 — Oklahoma City. With reporter Stan Miller on KWTV.
- Sunday, April 10 — Lubbock, Texas, at Live Oak Community Church.
- Monday, April 11 — Amarillo, Texas, on KFDA-TV with anchor Larry Lemmons.
- Tuesday, April 12 — Albuquerque, KDAZ-AM at 8:40 a.m., and “Good Day New Mexico” later on KOB-TV.
- Wednesday, April 13 — Flagstaff.
- Thursday, April 14 — Book-signing and speech at Santa Monica History Museum.
Thanks Ron for the mention. Yes, you are on the right track with my publicist. The main goal for the book is to get the word out that full recovery from brain injury is possible, and the best way to show that is in a visual medium in some big news markets that reach a lot of viewers/potential readers who can influence the thinking of others.
If viewers see that after a couple years of rehab, I am still fine a decade later, then the long term prognosis remains good for anyone who might be inspired to start their own treatment. Work hard in rehab and never give up and there is no limit to how good your life can become again. Mine is actually far better than it ever was, especially with my involvment in Route 66 (and how that came to be is all in the book too).
The more people we can impact with that message of hope, the more lives we can change and ultimately, the more lives we can save. I agree that having book signings would be great and I hope that happens at some point, but right now, he’s focused on the media appearances first. Beyond TV, he’s also connecting me with radio and print interviews. When people see or hear I am okay, they will be able to see that they or their loved ones can be okay too. And that’s really the message we’re trying to send: A message of hard work, faith, determination, and hope.
Anyhow thanks again Ron, for helping to spread the message. I’m grateful for your kindness and I hope to speak with you soon.
Your pal on the pier,
Dan Rice