Kate and Gerry McCann are to consider writing a book about their anguish following the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.
The couple's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, revealed that a decision was by no means formalised but that the option had not been ruled out.
Numerous publishers are already understood to be interested in the potential signing, with some reports suggesting the deal could be worth up to £1m.
The parents of the missing toddler believe that giving the go-ahead for the book may help to raise funds for their Find Madeleine campaign.
Mitchell told the Daily Mail: "The idea of writing an official book at some point is appealing.
"It's a legitimate way of raising money for the fund, but would also give them [the McCanns] a chance to put across their side of the story."
This Saturday marks the first anniversary of the day Madeleine, then three years old, went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were made official suspects in her disappearance after being interviewed by Portuguese police in September last year.
The news of a possible book deal comes after the Portuguese police chief, Goncalo Amaral, said he intended to publish his own account of the case.
According to the Portuguese paper Correio da Manha, the former head of the investigation has given his account the working title Truth Of The Lie.
Referring to Amaral's publication, Mitchell added: "For a book of this nature to be published with such a prejudicial title by Mr Amaral would be frankly quite outrageous.
"It's reported that it will not be published until Kate and Gerry's arguido status is lifted. We are grateful to Mr Amaral for acknowledging that it will be lifted.
"Our lawyers will enjoy reading this book on its publication. We also expect Mr Amaral to adhere fully to Portugal's secrecy laws, as we have done all along."
Meanwhile, an independent television company has made a donation of £10,000 to the Madeleine fund in return for the couple's cooperation IN a two-hour documentary to be shown on ITV1 on Wednesday.
In the film, GP Kate, 40, says she still hopes her daughter is alive and describes the ordeal as "a long year of hell".
