Hillary Clinton Fans Wait Through Night for Book Signing
Sean Brennan, 41, was first in line for Clinton book.
June 10, 2014— -- Hillary Clinton drew a "Harry Potter" sized line of fans waiting to get an autographed copy of her new memoir "Hard Choices" at a Manhattan bookstore today.
Hundreds of Hillary fans have camped out for hours, many overnight, outside the Union Square Barnes and Noble store to get one of the coveted wristbands which would allow them access to her first book tour stop today.
By the time people were allowed to inside the store around 8:30 a.m., the line was wrapped around an entire city block -- up Park Avenue, around 18th Street, and all the way to Broadway.
At the front of the line was Sean Brennan from Queens, N.Y., who arrived at 2:30 p.m. Monday with a camping chair, umbrella, and snack pack of apples and peanut butter. Brennan, 41, who started a nonprofit called the Brain Food Garden Project, said he didn't expect to be the first in line, but that he's definitely ready for Hillary.
By the time Brennan got inside the store, he was showing his fatigue.
"Ok, I'm ready," he sighed. "I'm ready to go home, curl up with the book, and go to bed." H estimated that he would finish half of the 650-page memoir before falling asleep.
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Also outside, is the Ready for Hillary Bus, which is making its debut today, and plans to travel with her on the book tour from town to town.
Inside the bookstore people were corralled by ropes wrapping around the store's top floor. There's also a giant wall filled from floor to ceiling with copies of "Hard Choices."
There are a lot of restrictions for those who put in the effort to get a book signed by Clinton.
Barnes and Noble staff has been distributing strict guidelines for the signing. According to the rules, Clinton will only sign one book per person, she will not personalize it or sign other memorabilia, and there will be "NO posed photography with the author."
Personal items like bags had to be left on the second floor and there is a security checkpoint on the third floor before finally reaching Clinton on the fourth floor.The
The guidelines suggest the wait could be a long one and states they "strongly recommend consuming food or beverages ... prior to entering the store" and using restrooms before getting inside.
If you have second thoughts about wanting Clinton's autograph, it may be too bad.
The instructions are clear: "Once you are cleared and enter the 4th floor, you are not permitted to exit until your book is signed."