But most first-time authors wouldn't get such a huge advance.
I have to agree that, if Pippa wasn't Kate's sister, she probably wouldn't get that publishing deal. There are thousands of such books on the market.
Mirabel is quite right. No one would have been interested in Pippa Middleton if it had not been for Catherine.
Members here talk about the fact that Pippa works in party planning etc. etc. I can advise that the company she works for is NOT a well known 'Society' party planning organisation. That is not to say that the company is in any way bad; that is NOT the case at all. The point is that nobody would have been very interested in it had it not been for the Catherine connection.
The main 'Society' party planners in London include:
Lady Elizabeth Anson's Party Planners, [Lady E is related to the Late Queen Mother]
The William Bartholomew Organisation [ Founder W.B. is the husband of Princess Diana's former flatmate Caroline Pride]
The Jonathan Seaward Organisation
Juliana's Party Planners
Peregrine Armstrong-Jones' Bentley's Party Organisers [note the Armstrong-Jones connection!!!]
I am sure that Pippa will produce a perfectly nice book, but I am quite sure that without the Catherine connection it would not have seen the light of day, and neither would she have been offered such an ENORMOUS advance. So far as I am aware, of the London 'Society' party organisers, only Lady Elizabeth Anson wrote a party planning book; it was actually quite good [although unintentionally humorous at times!] and I am sure that her own 'royal' connection helped her book [and for that matter her business], but even so, her book did not sell many copies at all and I picked up a remaindered copy [pre-Amazon days] at 15p. [ about 10c]. Exactly!!
Of course, to your humble Diarist, the real fun begins in the run-up to next Christmas, when Pippa's book is meant to be published. She will no doubt be required by the publishers to do extensive 'roadshow' promotions, and I am sure that we can all see what people are really wanting to ask her: will it be about party tips or will it be about her famous sister and the Family that she married into? I wonder!!!
Incidentally, I would not place too much reliability on all those stories that BP etc do not mind about Pippa's book. Knowing how the Queen hates exploitation of the BRF name, I am quite sure that she is not that enthralled with Pippa's plans....
It's like all those pictures of Pippa 'out and about' that keep appearing. It is one thing to blame the Daily Mail and other assorted tabloids, but the fact is, these events that Pippa attends are in fact almost entirely PR bashes organised to launch and promote products etc. It is not what I would call a 'normal Society life', it is almost entirely commercial. And I can guess why she keeps on being invited.....
Sorry to sound so negative, but I feel a bit disenchanted with Pippa. Behind the 'it's not my fault ...it's nothing to do with me' etc stance, IMHO, Pippa is pushing the Catherine connection for all it is worth.......
Just my thoughts based on my own experiences,
Alex