A year ago, former Missouri Tourism director John Drake Robinson wrote that he had "found 32,314 stories on the road" as he traveled "along Missouri's back roads (to) find interesting stories waiting to be discovered."
But his 2012 book, "A Road Trip Into America's Hidden Heart: Traveling the Back Roads, Backwoods and Back Yards," only had 42 chapters.
And, even though some of those recounted more than one story, Robinson had plenty of tales left to be included in his follow-up work, "Coastal Missouri: Driving on the Edge of Wild."
Robinson, who now lives in Columbia, will be signing copies of the new book today, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Jefferson City's Downtown Book and Toy, 125 E. High St.
"Thanks to Missourians, good and bad, who gave character to these stories," Robinson wrote on his "Acknowledgements" page that also serves as an introduction to the new work.
Story titles in the 196-page collection include:
• "Not All Aboard," about problems with a ticket on an Amtrak ride.
• "Belching Steam," a ride on an elegant steam-powered riverboat.
• "Rafting the Mississippi."
• "The Real Ozarks."
• "Good Water Gone Bad."
• "Skating on Thick Ice."
• "Bad News at Painted Rock."
• "Sail Missouri."
• "Loose Creeks, Ferry Ghosts & Frankenhogs."
• "This Land Is Your Land."