Sarah Brown is to follow her No 10 predecessor Cherie Blair in publishing her memoirs on life behind Downing Street's black door
The market is set to be flooded with New Labour memoirs – Tony Blair's The Journey is out in September, Peter Mandelson is penning his "mixture of autobiography, personal reflection and political history", and former spin doctor Alastair Campbell has updated his account of the explosive feuds at the top of the leadership – but the former first lady appears to be aiming for a different market.
Her autobiography is to be published to coincide with Mothers' Day next year, Ebury Press has announced, and will reveal "what it is like to be a woman, wife and mother in somewhat exceptional circumstances".
Brown is well poised to exploit a fresh readership. She has attracted more than 1 million followers on Twitter, overtaking the ubiquitous comedian and presenter Stephen Fry to become the most followed Briton on the micro-blogging site.
And it was on Twitter that she revealed the news to her followers, saying: "Just agreed with my publisher Ebury to write a book – working title Behind the Black Door – so chained to laptop from Monday morning."
The PR turned PM's wife is renowned for her discretion. So fans must wait to see if the shackles of her husband's political ambition are now sufficiently loosened for her to divulge details of her tricky relationship with Cherie, or her thoughts on the machiavellian Mandelson.
Cherie Blair's own account more than hints at rivalry between the two women, in particular her gripe that Sarah had a better public image than herself because she had a bigger PR team working for her; "four people, whilst I had two".
Ebury Publishing managing director, Fiona MacIntyre, said of the forthcoming book: "Sarah achieved much in her own right during her time in Downing Street, with opportunities that allowed her to meet a wide range of women of all ages.
"People like and admire her and, for many, one of the defining images was Sarah leaving Downing Street with Gordon and their two small sons with such grace and dignity."
The memoirs will reflect on "what it's like to shop with Special Branch; overcome stomach-churning nerves at your first major charity event, or cope with a bad hair day when Carla Bruni's in town", Ebury said.
She is also expected to reveal her heartache at the death of the couple's first child, Jennifer Jane, a premature baby who died after 10 days. Their son John was born in October 2003, but the couple faced another challenge when James Fraser, their youngest child, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Insight too is expected into her decision to speak at the 2008 Labour Conference, introducing Gordon Brown as "my husband, the leader of your party, your prime minister".
Ebury Press said it would be a "very personal memoir … intimate, reflective, surprising and funny".
It may not be the first book to emerge from the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency. Husband Gordon may also publish his own memoirs.
