First Lady Michelle Obama Writing Book About Garden

First lady Michelle Obama planted her spring kitchen garden on Wednesday, as Crown announced that she will author a book about her signature project. Obama, who will have a ghostwriter help her, the Sun-Times was told, accepted no advance for the book, and the proceeds will go to charity.

Obama has spoken extensively about the garden on the South Lawn of the White House and will offer new material for the book, the Sun-Times was told.

The book - so far without a title - also will take a look at school, urban and community gardens across the country. Publication is set for April 2012 - throughout President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

The announcement of the book by Crown was made just after Obama’s planting event -the third season for the garden -timed to maximize free publicity.

Attorney Robert Barnett represented Obama in the negotiation; he also clinched book deals for President Obama. Crown is really a division of Random House Inc., and the company said a donation from the proceeds will be made to a charity, though the statement the business released did not say what percentage of profits would go to charity.