UPDATE: Here are a few audio excerpts from the interview with Lorenzo Benet, author of the new unauthorized Palin biography:

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage –

You saw the earlier post about Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton slamming the new unauthorized Palin biography, written by an assistant People magazine editor, as inaccurate.

Well here’s the passage she zeroed in, on page 185 of the 238-page book:

“Thought he baby was due in mid-May, the pregnancy certainly hadn’t slowed her down. She had spent the previous few weeks increasing her national profile; she had traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Governors’ Conference, where she met privately with John McCain and learned she was on his short list as a running mate.”

I had a long phone interview with the book’s author, Lorenzo Benet, this afternoon.

He said he doesn’t know if McCain actually told Palin she was on the list, but that he believes she had an inkling. An excerpt:

“The way it’s phrased in the book, I have to admit it’s a little confusing. But it’s more my belief in this particular situation. Where I feel, it’s in my heart, I think she knew after that meeting with McCain in February of 2008 that she was in the game. That she was under consideration.

“It’s not so much that McCain said, ‘You’re on my short list.’ But I think she knew she was on the short list even though she never said she was.

… “I see how it could be a little misleading. But just let me clarify, that’s a belief, it’s not so much a statement of fact.”

Update: Benet just sent this note in an e-mail: "Ms. Stapleton is also misinterpreting what I said. To say nothing happened on the VP selection until August ignores the fact that every time Palin did an interview, she was asked if she would consider running for VP. That was going on all spring and summer. I said she was in consideration, three sources I provided said as much prior to August and I believe she knew she was a player."

(Check back later for audio of Benet talking about the reporting process, who he talked to and what else in the book.)

Stapleton and Palin haven’t read the book, and don’t have much of an incentive to co-sign or cooperate with any of these new unauthorized biographies considering Palin wants to write a book of her own someday.

I mention this in the story on the main site, but Stapleton confirmed something that until now had only been anonymously reported: That Palin has hired D.C. lawyer Robert Barnett to talk to publishers. (Barnett’s a big deal in the publishing world. Check out this NYT profile.)

“I think she’s recognizing that it would be beneficial to be able to just speak unfiltered and have the opportunity to really introduce herself to America. Because she was thrown in there for a couple months and people are still saying, ‘Wait, who was that?’” Stapleton said.

That said, she said no deal’s been signed.

And finally, moments ago, Stapleton sent this statement from Heather Bruce, Palin’s sister, who was interviewed for the book and contributed photos. (Benet thanks her in the acknowledgements):

"On behalf of my entire family, it's troubling to read and hear Lorenzo Benet boast about his access to our family and my 'cooperation' with his recent book about my sister. Since Benet began writing this book in September, he has repeatedly misrepresented himself to me and to my family. In fact, the only time I 'cooperated' with him was in September when he told me the campaign wanted me to speak with him. That was disingenuous. I don't plan to read his book."