Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich announced a “six figure” book deal with Phoenix Books this afternoon. It will be published in October.

As GalleyCat reported, the deal comes after weeks of speculation among publishing folks. Phoenix Books, publisher of books by rock star Gene Simmons and television host Larry King, is run by publisher Michael Viner. Agent Jarred Weisfeld brokered the deal.

Here’s more from Glenn Selig, the former governor’s publicist: “The governor chose to go with a large independent company because he wanted to tell his story without any restrictions over content that might’ve come with a major publishing house … He simply did not want to accept constraints or conditions on what he could say in this book.” (Via Salon.com)