Need good fodder for a book? Then maybe you should hitchhike across the country like John Waters, the writer and director of Hairspray. Recently his thumb and scrawny physique were spotted on highways across the country.  Actually, we're pretty sure he was waving cars down and not standing there waiting with his stoic thumb. We don't know Walters personally but um, hello, have you seen Hairspray?

In the last couple of days, local papers have excitedly written that one of their very own--such as a couple from Illinois, a legislator from Maryland, and a band in Brooklyn graciously offered Walters a ride. But no one knew what he was up to, until now.  Today, the New York Times reported in its Art Beat blog that the hitchiking trip that lasted 8 days and 15 rides with strangers was research for a book that will be published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.  He's titled the book "Carsick" for now.  He said to the New York Times that the trip gave him a good glimpse into life in the U.S.A. " "Pot smokers, cops, I got everybody. And everybody was lovely." 

So what's the book about?  Take a wild guess and we're pretty sure you'll be right unless of course you're stumped by what you think might be a trick question. The book is about hitchhiking, but naturally.  Walters says he's beeen hitchiking since he was a kid and before setting out on this trip, he'd written some preliminary chapters of the book to recount his days on the road in the car of a complete stranger. Speaking of the strangers he's met over the years, he did say he'd never ran into a creep, which explaing why he's still at it and turning his experiences into a book. Well, if he had a creepy encounter, it would also make for a good book (but we're glad he didn't have one of those and he and his wit are still here with us today)

No word on when the book will come out and what the tone will be. But when we find out, you'll be the first to know.