UPDATE: Jenny Sanford to release “inspirational memoir” in May

First lady Jenny Sanford is writing what its publisher describes as an “inspirational memoir”, which will describe “the emotions, confrontations and heartbreak behind the headlines of her story” as the estranged wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

After returning from a secret trip to Argentina in June, Gov. Sanford admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife. His behavior before and after the scandal received international attention.

But Jenny Sanford’s handling of it all received almost as much praise. She has not appeared with him at any of his news conferences. She and their four boys moved out of the governor’s mansion in August. But she has also said she’s trying to work on their marriage.

Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, will publish the book in May 2010. The book doesn’t have a title yet and the financial details have not been released.

In a release from the publisher, Jenny Sanford writes, “Since June, I’ve been urged to tell the story of who I am, what I believe, and how I came to solidify those beliefs in my life, specifically through my marriage and the political life that has paralleled it.  I would like to show others how important it is to stand firm on one’s principles, stay true to oneself, and respond with grace and honesty to whatever hurdles may come.”

The book will cover more than just the recent scandal, though. She’ll also write about her choice to give up her career to focus on being a wife and mother, the blessing of children, the mixed blessing of being married to a politician and the pressures of living in the public eye.

Joan Mobley of Columbia was excited to hear about the new book, saying she thinks Jenny Sanford has handled herself tremendously under the circumstances. “I am proud of her, proud to say that she’s first lady of the state and I will definitely read her book,“ she says. “I think it has a lot to say. I think it might have a lot to say to women, in particular, about how you live your life in the public eye.“

Linda Bates says she doesn’t think she’ll read the book, but admires the first lady. “She’s doing what she should be doing in taking care of her own life and raising her children to be responsible human beings in spite of all that’s gone on,“ she says.

But Jeff Richards of Columbia says he won’t be reading the book because he’s already heard and read too much about the scandal. “I am fatigued of it. It’s been in the news nationally, obviously locally, but internationally as well. So I’m just tired of it,“ he says.