Line runs out the door for Kate's Book Signing

GRANDVILLE -- As cable network TLC aired a marathon of Kate Gosselin's hit reality show Wednesday night, more than 1,000 people turned out to see the star of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" in person.


The Gosselin familyGosselin, the mother of twins and sextuplets, was at Barnes & Noble at RiverTown Crossings mall signing copies of "Multiple Bles8ings," the book she and her husband, Jon, wrote about their 10-member family.

The line for her book signing snaked through the store's aisles, out the door and down the mall's main walkway.

Linda Arnold Schuhardt, Barnes & Noble's community relations manager, figured there were at least 1,500 people with about "700 people (in line) just in the store. and the line out of here is all the way down to Sears."

"I'd say we maybe were a little busier with 'Harry Potter,'" she said. "But after that, this is the busiest. It's definitely rivaling 'Harry Potter.'"

Grandville resident Lois Hundley was first in line.

She claimed her spot Wednesday afternoon, four hours before the book signing started. The 68-year-old saved a space for her granddaughter, Haylie Edema, 11, with whom she watches "Jon and Kate Plus 8."

"This is just my favorite show, and my favorite baby to watch it with," said Hundley, patting Haylie on the shoulder. " I would have waited a lot longer than this to meet" Gosselin.

The Gosselins are parents of 8-year-old twins Mady and Cara and 4-year-old sextuplets Collin, Leah, Joel, Hannah, Aaden and Alexis.

The show began in 2007. Cascade Township-based Christian book publisher Zondervan released "Multiple Bles8ings" on Oct. 14, with more than 400,000 copies in print.

Kate Gosselin is in West Michigan to record the audio-book version of "Multiple Bles8ings," Zondervan spokeswoman Karen Campbell said.

Gosselin's 7 p.m. appearance spurred a buying frenzy for the book. Barnes & Noble ran out of its copies before her appearance, and sold out of the more than 400 extra copies Zondervan rushed to the store.

Among the mostly female crowd, 30-year-old Brandon Greer, of Kentwood, stood out. The Forest Hills Public Schools teacher got a book signed for his mother.

"One of her high points each week is seeing Kate on TV, so to get the book signed is completely worth it," said Greer, in line three hours before the signing. "I would have waited six more hours."

He had his picture taken with Gosselin, and said he was impressed with her cheerful demeanor.

"She smiled and laughed and said to say 'hi' to my mom. You could tell she's a very warm person, and really, really nice," Greer said.

Although the line still was spilling out the door at the 10 p.m. closing time, Barnes & Noble staff cut things off. They suggested those still in line attend Gosselin's book- signing at 6:30 p.m. today at Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave. SE, or in Lansing on Friday.

cut things off.

"People have been very gracious, very nice and well-behaved," Arnold Schuhardt said. "And Kate, wow, I can't believe how nice she is. She's personalizing every single book.

"You don't see other authors doing that. But she's got groupies. They're giving her gifts. I've never seen that before."