Writers may slave over a manuscript for a year or more, yet it is possible to put together a book and get it on the shelves before the public's interest in a given topic wanes.
It's no surprise that Sarah Palin's memoir is complete. HarperCollins has even moved up the lay-down date to capitalize on all the free publicity that is the 24-hour news cycle.
Ms. Palin finished within four months of inking a deal with the publisher, going all out to get her memoir complete and ready for publication before she's forgotten. The American public has a short attention span.
HarperCollins will print 1.5 million hard-cover copies, and hold off on releasing the e-book until after the holidays. The electronic version, being cheaper, would otherwise siphon off profits at the crucial Christmas gift-buying season.
If that number sounds familiar, it is. Twelve also printed up 1.5 million copies of Senator Ted Kennedy's memoir, just in time for buzz generation prior to the mad rush in December.
Pundits will follow the BookScan numbers closely. At book shops across the land, both physical and on-line, voters will declare their favorite candidate. Liberals will snatch up Mr. Kennedy's words; Ms. Palin's conservative supporters will buy her book, and who will sell through? Who will be the more popular author? Which view of the world will reign supreme under the Christmas tree (or the Hanukkah bush)?
Or, is it merely a question of which political side has more readers with enough money to buy a hard-copy, 400 page book?
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