The Alabama Securities Commission interviewed author Harper Lee about her upcoming book - and presumably whether she is of sound mind to make decisions about the release of it - and found no reason to intervene.

"We traveled to the nursing home to talk to Ms. Lee at the request of the Alabama Department of Human Resources," said Steve Feaga, a lawyer with the securities commission. "We have since closed out files on the matter."

Feaga said confidentiality prevents the agency from commenting further, but in the wake of a New York Times story that mentioned the investigation, complete silence would be worse.

DHR would typically alert the securities commission if there were a question of whether an elderly person was of sound mind to handle his or her finances, or if they were thought to be at risk of financial abuse.

Questions about Lee's state of mind have arisen since it was announced that Lee, author of the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," would publish another book involving Scout Finch under the title "Go Set a Watchman."

The Times story details the debate. You can read it here.