NOBLESVILLE — Forty people erupted in cheers as the last of 1,000 wristbands granting access to Sarah Palin were distributed outside the Borders bookstore at Hamilton Town Center at 11:45 a.m.

The cheers quickly faded as those who had made the cut hushed themselves out of respect for their not-so-fortunate line-mates.

The former Alaska governor and ex-vice presidential candidate will make an appearance at Borders tonight to sign an estimated 1,000 copies of her book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.”

By 9 a.m., about 800 people had lined up in front of Borders for the wristbands, which were handed out to the first 1,000 people to buy Palin’s book and which grant access to the signing event tonight at 6. Some arrived as early as 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and were forced to sleep overnight in their cars in the mall parking lot.

At 11 a.m., those who had waited to get in line kept their fingers crossed, hoping they weren’t too late.

Cary Hiers, 61, of Kokomo, had the distinction of being the last person in line to be promised a wristband.

Behind Hiers, 19-year-old Randi Last of Pendleton waited, knowing that she would likely not get a chance to see Palin tonight.

Hoping the count was wrong, she maintained her place in line, and so did around 20 other hopeful folks behind her.

“It’s my own beliefs mirrored in her,” said Last said, a Republican and fan of Palin’s values. Last hoped to get a book signed for herself and one for her sister.

She was one of many in line who used the signing as a possible Christmas gift for a family member.

Bob Donahue, 49, of Carmel, got in line soon enough to get a wristband, and planned to give his signed copy of Palin’s book to his son, whom he called a “new conservative.”

Look for continuing coverage of Palin’s appearance at www.theheraldbulletin.com and in the Friday print edition of The Herald Bulletin.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com