Hundreds wait for Palin at book signing

KILLEEN, Texas (AP) - Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Sinnott pre-ordered Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue" because he wanted to hear her story in her own words. He never imagined he would meet her.

But on Friday, Sinnott was among hundreds waiting in the main exchange at Fort Hood for the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate to arrive as part of her book-signing tour.

Around fifty fans started waiting in line last night at the Army post about 150 miles southwest of Dallas. Palin's visit was to come a month after a shooting spree killed 13 and wounded dozens more there. An Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Hasan, has been charged with premeditated murder and attempted premeditated murder. He remains in a San Antonio hospital, recovering from wounds that left him paralyzed.

Palin's Facebook page said she would be donating royalties from the Ft. Hood book sales to the families and victims of the shooting along with the following message:

"Ready and anxious to see America's finest at Ft. Hood tomorrow. My heart is with every military mom, dad, spouse, child, grandparent... every supporter of our proud men and women in uniform."

She did not speak to the media during her three hour stay. The first 500 to receive a wristband were guaranteed an autograph. Another 250 tickets were handed out to fans hopeful Palin would keep on signing.

Sharon Blair, from Oklahoma opened the front cover of her book and read the personalized note out loud after meeting Palin. "From one maverick to another."

The strong supporter gave Palin a bracelet and a necklace she had made to help pain in her hands and neck from signing so many books. At a stop in Indianapolis Palin's staff had pass out stickers after her hand started cramping.

That was not the story in Texas. Before stopping in Killeen, about 1,500 people lined up at the independent Legacy Books store in the Dallas suburb of Plano to see Palin, who left office July 26 - about 17 months before the end of her first term. Some die-hard fans showed up before dawn in near-freezing temperatures.

Some believe a run in the 2012 presidential race is in Palin's future, but the author has not confirmed that and is keeping her focus on selling books.

Since the book was published two weeks ago, Palin has sold more than one million copies.