Governor Sarah Palin is the latest politician to mint a sweet book deal. She's signed a deal with Harper Collins who will co-release the book with its subsidiary, Christian publishing house Zondervan (the company that published Rick Warren's mega-seller "The Purpose-Driven Life"). Reporters have been chattering about the inevitability of a Palin book for months. The deal was negotiated by DC lawyer Robert Barnett, whose literary client list includes Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The financial arrangements haven't been disclosed, but your Gaggler is thinking big bucks. (And probably more than Bush scored.)
Palin, who will work with an as yet unnamed writer, has agreed to talk about the Katie Couric interviews, Bristol's pregnancy, family, religion and politics. "There's been so much written about and spoken about in the mainstream media
and in the anonymous blogosphere world, that this will be a wonderful,
refreshing chance for me to get to tell my story, that a lot of people
have asked about, unfiltered," Palin told the Associated Press. "Being a voracious reader, I read a lot today and have read a lot
growing up. And having that journalism degree, all of that, will be a
great assistance for me in writing this book, talking about the
challenges and the joys, balancing the work and parenting, and, in my
case, work means running the state." Barnett says the book will be explore the melding of her roles as soccer mom and political operative.
Although Palin has never written a book before, having done so is almost a requirement for a presidential bid these days, and choosing Barnett to negotiate is perhaps an interesting sign. In terms of style, Palin says she enjoyed Katherine Graham's prize winning bio "Personal History" and just finished reading Clinton's "My Life". The book is slated for release in 2010. There will be several new Palin books on the shelves by then, including one from Gaggle pals Shushannah Walshe and Scott Conroy, former TV embeds who traveled extensively with Palin during last year's campaign.
