6:12 p.m. — Kind and generous

People who met former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tonight at a Noblesville Borders, to get her autograph on her new book, came from the bookstore beaming about her kindness and generosity.

Starstruck, they said the former vice-presidential candidate shook their hands and made small talk with them.

Karen Chappell, 52, Indianapolis, said Palin was just wonderful. Chappell arrived at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday and sat in her car all night so she could be one of the first in line to get a wristband to have “Going Rogue” signed tonight.

She said Palin’s autograph was worth a sleepless night in her car.

“This is the chance of a lifetime,” Chappell said. “She’s going to be big.”

A line of hundreds still waiting to see Palin snaked into the parking lot outside the store’s main entrance. They wore wristbands with codes on them to put people into groups for the book signing, which was expected to continue through 9 p.m.

Various security officers were standing at the main entrance to Borders, but reporters were unable to see from outside the store what type of security searches people were undergoing once they entered the book seller.

The store’s manager had planned to keep the store open to shoppers not seeking Palin’s autograph, he said Wednesday, but tonight the store has been shut down to them.

5:45 p.m. — Palin arrives

Best-selling author Sarah Palin pulled in the parking lot of Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville at 5:40 p.m. to a crowd chanting her name.

“Sarah, Sarah, Sarah …”

She got off the bus holding her youngest son, 19-month-old Trig. At the podium, she thanked everyone waiting in the rain for her arrival. People had initially been in line starting around 7 a.m. today to get 1,000 wristbands, used to limit the number of people getting books signed. They lined up again about 3 p.m. to prepare to enter the store. She called them good hard-working Americans, the people from whom she wrote her book “Going Rogue.”

The Republican said she was excited to be back in Noblesville after last year’s event at nearby Verizon Wireless Music Center, which had 24,000 people show up during her vice-presidential campaign.

“It’s really good to be back here in Hoosier territory,” she said.

Organizers were keeping a tigher-than-expected grip on news media coverage of her visit. Reporters were not being let inside the store to witness Palin signing books, and photographers were being let into the store only two or three at a time to photograph the event.

5:29 p.m. — Hundreds await Palin

A sea of umbrellas will greet Sarah Palin when she pulls into a Noblesville bookstore to start signing books this evening.

The former Alaska governor plans to speak to the hundreds of people — at least 1,000 obtained wristbands earlier in the day to participate in the book-signing — gathered outside the store to purchase her book and have it signed.

A group of news media members herded to a specific area outside the store were told Palin would speak from a podium and microphone set up at the main entrance to the store.

Some news reports indicated Palin’s bus had trouble in Fort Wayne, but organizers of her bus tour told the media that she only remained in northern Indiana longer than planned to sign more books, and the bus was on schedule.

11:20 a.m. — Palin crowd growing too large?

NOBLESVILLE — Disappointed Sarah Palin fans soon will be turned away from Borders at a Noblesville mall.

More than 1,000 people lined up this morning for wristbands that would allow them into a Palin booksigning this evening.

More than 1,000 wristbands will be given out, and the supply is nearing its end, said Tommy Holmes, director of mall marketing and business development for Hamilton Town Center.

Borders began distributing the wristbands around 9 a.m., and the line already had wrapped around the parking lot.

Rosanne Weldon, 42, Greenfield, was toward the end of the line when Borders started handing out the wristbands. She was hopeful she would get one.

Weldon said she often thinks that people who come out and wait in long lines for events like this are crazy, but she couldn’t pass up Palin.

“It’s not too bad,” Weldon said of the experience. “This is usually something I wouldn’t do … but this is a good cause.”

Despite the large crowd, Holmes said no one got out of hand.

“Everything has been very well controled,” Holmes said.

About 700 people were already in line at 7:30 a.m. today at a Meijer store in Fort Wayne where the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate was scheduled to sign copies of her bestseller, “Going Rogue,” for three hours starting at noon.

8:55 AM — Crowds line up for Palin visit

NOBLESVILLE — More than 750 people were in line this morning to see former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at her book-signing today.

Heavy coats were required as the line of people snaked around the mall, and umbrellas were being passed around during occasional bursts of light rain. Paradise Cafe employees were wheeling a cart through the Hamilton Town Center parking lot selling coffee and hot cocoa. Some people sat in lawn chairs; others had spread blankets on the paved parking lot, sitting with family members and even their dogs.

Jenny Feller, 31, Carmel, had to miss work at a bank because she’s sick, so she decided to try to get Palin’s signature. She got in line about 6:15 a.m.

“I have lyringitis, but I’m here," she said.

Feller has made friends with Peggy Martin and Amy Martin, sisters-in-law who are big Palin fans.

Peggy Martin said she likes Pailn for her conservative values, especially her pro-life stance. She said, beside the temperatures in the 40s and occasional sprinkles of rain, she was talking and laughing with other Palin fans.

“It has been a lot of fun,” Peggy Martin said.

Stan King, 69, Greenwood, got a place near the front of line about 6:30 a.m.

“I thought I’d come out and get the book, and see what all the fuss is about," he said. “I never miss the chance to see a pretty lady.”

Expecting a crowd in the thousands, the Borders bookstore has already begun handing out bracelets that will later determine who gets to see Palin first. She’s expected to sign copies of her book about 1,000 people.

7:02 AM — Crowds line up for Palin visit

Hundreds of people lined up before dawn for a chance to meet former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and have her autograph her new book.

Palin is not scheduled to be at a Noblesville bookstore before 7 p.m., but her excited fans ventured into the morning cold to show their support.

“She is a rising star in the Republican, conservative party, and she’s new, she’s refreshing, she talks about common things, and things I’m interested in,” Joy Tindall, told WTHR (Channel 13), the Star’s news gathering partner.

Folks lined up early today for a chance to get one on 1,000 wristbands giving them access to former Alaska governor.

“We’re going to come as early as possible so we will not miss seeing her, " Pat Chapman, told WTHR. “We wouldn’t miss it for anything. This is a real celebrity.”

EARLIER — Patience needed to see Palin

The Borders bookstore at Noblesville’s Hamilton Town Center is bracing for a barrage of Sarah Palin fans today.

The former vice presidential candidate will sign copies of her new book, “Going Rogue,” from 6 to 9 p.m. at the bookstore, 13145 Levinson Lane, off I-69 Exit 10.

General Manager Marty Beck expects 2,000 to 3,000 people to show up to see Palin.

Noblesville police will be at the mall to help direct traffic, and Borders enlisted extra security for today’s event.

A large section of the parking lot was barricaded Wednesday and an area for people to line up was formed. A few fans waited in the parking lot late Wednesday.

Palin tailored her tour stops to places where she has a devoted following, including Noblesville and Fort Wayne, where she is scheduled to stop this afternoon.

Hamilton County, a Republican stronghold, has welcomed her before. Palin attracted more than 24,000 people during a campaign visit last fall at Verizon Wireless Music Center.

The hype surrounding the book — released Tuesday, but already topping the best-seller lists — could be an additional draw.

Eager fans camped overnight to guarantee her autograph Wednesday at a Barnes and Noble in Grand Rapids, Mich., the first stop on Palin’s tour.

The Noblesville store wouldn’t allow any camping, but people can begin lining up at 7 a.m. for wristbands that allow admission to the signing, Beck said.

Borders employees planned to begin handing out wristbands at 9 a.m. The first 1,000 people to buy “Going Rogue” or prove that they bought a copy at Borders or its Web site are eligible for the wristbands. Each person can have two copies of the book signed.

Though some fans might be tempted to stay at Borders all day to wait for Palin, Beck said that’s not a good strategy.

Around 5 p.m., everyone in the store will be asked to exit and go through security checks before coming back in. People will then line up for the signing as they go through security, Beck said.

“No one will be in line without a security check,” Beck said.

Shoppers who are not part of the book signing also must go through the security checks to get into the store.

Beck’s advice to shoppers and Palin fans was simple.

“If they want to be part of this, be patient.”