Yesterday afternoon, former First Lady Michelle Obama visited Seminary Co-op Bookstore to celebrate the publication and sign copies of her new book, Becoming (Crown). The event--in the city where Obama was born and raised--was the first on her #IAmBecoming tour.
Fans waited in a line that stretched out the door for blocks. Wristbands for the event sold out within four hours on Sunday and were distributed to 500 people, each of whom was given the opportunity to purchase two copies of Becoming; 803 books were sold at the store within 24 hours.
"We are truly honored that Mrs. Obama wanted to spend publication day at Seminary Co-op, where she and her family shopped when they lived in Chicago," said Seminary Co-op director Jeff Deutsch. "We appreciate her supporting the independent bookselling community by having her first in-store event at her hometown bookstore."