NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — A damp afternoon did little to deter the hundreds who lined up outside Borders bookstore for Sarah Palin’s book signing Thursday.

Palin arrived at 5:40 p.m. Thursday to cheers and chants of her name, and addressed the crowd briefly before entering the bookstore to sign about 1,000 copies of her book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.”

“It is really good to be back here in Hoosier territory. I had a great time a year ago in Indiana, but I think I’m having even more fun now though,” Palin said after emerging from a bus painted to replicate the cover of her new book with her youngest son, Trig, propped on her hip.

“Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for being here and for just being great residents of this wonderful state and more importantly for being great Americans who care about our country and care about those people who want to fight for what is right. I’m thankful too that, you know, you’re going to have an opportunity to read my story, my words, unfiltered. I appreciate the opportunity and God bless you guys.”

Palin’s quick address to the audience was exactly what Anderson resident Linda Schroeder was hoping for. Schroeder and her sister, Darla Crabtree, didn’t know that they’d need to line up at 9 a.m. Thursday for a wristband in order to get a book signed by Palin. The two Anderson women arrived at the Hamilton Town Center where the signing took place at 3 p.m. and quickly discovered they wouldn’t get their books signed.

Instead of going home, the women decided to wait it out, confident that they’d at least get to see Palin, hoping the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate would make a speech. “She’s from Alaska. She can handle this weather. She’s a tough gal. She’s too much of a down-home everyday person, she wouldn’t let people down.”

Jamei and Kent Kramer of Pendleton did arrive early enough to get a wristband along with their four children and the children’s grandparents, Susan and Jim Myers of Pendleton.

The Myerses saw Palin during her campaign stop in Noblesville’s Verizon Music Center this summer. “I like what she stands for,” Susan Myers said.

Her son-in-law, Kent Kramer, said it was important for his children to attend the event. “It’s for historic value, to see someone who ran for vice president.”

Shelli Marshall of Middletown said she believes in Sarah Palin and would vote for her for president in 2012. With family in Alaska, Marshall said she knows Palin is a capable leader. “She’s done wonderful things for their state.”

Anderson resident Brock Glaze clutched two copies of Palin’s book, hoping to get one signed for himself, and one for a co-worker.

Although he considers himself a Libertarian, Glaze said Palin is an exemplary Republican. “I think she’s absolutely brilliant. She’s the only one with the guts to say what needs to be said. Her gender has absolutely nothing to do with it. She has more guts than most of the men in her party. I think she’s not afraid to stand up for her conservatism, her

Christianity, for pretty much everything that’s necessary for a free nation.”

Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4845, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com