The former first lady tweeted yesterday that the book, to come out a week after the 2018 midterm elections, is called "Becoming." By Sunday night, her memoir was in the top 20 on Amazon.com.
"Writing 'Becoming' has been a deeply personal experience," she said in a statement. "It has allowed me, for the very first time, the space to honestly reflect on the unexpected trajectory of my life. In this book, I talk about my roots and how a little girl from the South Side of Chicago found her voice and developed the strength to use it to empower others.
The deal is believed to be well in excess of USD 30 million. "Becoming" will be released in the US through the Crown Publishing Group, a Penguin Random House division that has published works by both Obamas.
Memoirs by former first ladies usually sell well, with notable works including Laura Bush's "Spoken from the Heart" and Hillary Rodham Clinton's "Living History." Michelle Obama's memoir is expected to be a major commercial and cultural event. She is admired around the world and has never told her story at length.
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"As first lady of the United States of America, the first African-American to serve in that role, she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and around the world," Crown said in a statement.
Barack Obama, who has written the million-sellers "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," has not yet scheduled his memoir.
He is expected to focus on his eight years in the White House.