Palin book signing event over

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has finished signing books at the Maysville Road Meijer store in Fort Wayne. An estimated 1,300 people were on hand hoping to get copies of "Going Rogue" signed.

The first 1,000 fans with a copy Palin's new book "Going Rogue" and their Meijer receipt received a wristband to meet Palin. Officials started distributing the wristbands at 10 a.m. Thursday. 

The book signing lasted until 3 p.m.

By about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, about 700 people were already in line. Some fans traveled from as far away as Michigan and Illinois.  One gentleman said he came all the way from Florida, but it wasn't a major inconvenience because he always comes to Indiana everything Thanksgiving, so he moved up his travel plans by a few days.

Some people even slept in the aisles, with blankets and pillows during their down time.  That's because they had waited in line since about 11:00 p.m., which is when Meijer started forming a line.  Other people had been around the store since about 6:00 pm.

A Marion woman already has a special connection to Palin.  She sent the Republican a bracelet with a prayer enclosed.  The prayer was specifically for Palin's son who is in the military. The jewelry maker says she has seen Palin wear the bracelet on a number of occasions, most recently on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Another woman, who also has a special needs child, brought a puzzle for Palin's son who has Down's Syndrome.

Meijer officials say the line runs from the Christmas tree section to the outdoor items.  Overflow crowds are in the patio area.

The national media was also on hand; crews from NBC were at the store by 6:30 a.m.

At 7 a.m., about 1,000 fans also started lining up at a Borders store in the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville to see Palin.  She's scheduled to sign her book there at about 6 p.m.