The book deal was announced in May 2009 when Palin was still Governor of Alaska, with Palin stating that she wanted the public to hear her true story, "unrestrained and unfiltered".[5] She reportedly received an advance of $1.25 million[6] from the publisher, Harper Collins, with two projected additional payouts of between $2.5 million and $5 million each.[7]
Palin announced that although she would have a collaborator to help, she would be doing a lot of the writing herself, employing her journalism skills and the personal diaries and notes that she had kept throughout her life.[5] Nonetheless, critics speculated whether Palin was capable of writing a book.[8]
Responding to concerns that writing and promoting the book would interfere with her duties as governor, Palin stated she would only work on the book after hours and would promote the book "schedule permitting".[5] The Alaska law department issued a legal opinion which okayed the project, stating: "A book publication project is compatible with your position as governor so long as it does not interfere with your official duties."[5]
Conservative journalist and author Lynn Vincent worked on the book with Palin for several weeks shortly after she resigned the governorship in the summer of 2009. Palin then met with HarperCollins editors for intensive editing sessions in New York City. HarperCollins publisher Jonathan Burnham said that Palin had been "unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every stage", adding that the book was "her words, her life ... in full and fascinating detail."[9] HarperCollins had planned publication for Spring 2010, but later moved the date to November 17, 2009, as the book was completed earlier than expected.[9] The publisher attributed the speed with which the memoir was written to Palin devoting full time to the writing process after she left office.[10] Palin will release a second book, America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag, on November 23, 2010.[11]
