One can only imagine the reaction among publishing executives when the manuscript for James Middleton’s new book—about his dead dog, Ella—plopped into their inboxes.
Did the brother of the Princess of Wales even need to pitch Meet Ella; The Dog Who Saved My Life, one wonders? Or did he simply announce, having gazed into the abyss of his soul, “What the world truly needs right now is Kate’s brother’s dog’s biography,” and wait for the contract to arrive?
Maybe that is unfair. Maybe the publishing execs at independent U.K. publishing house Pegasus really were so swept away (as they claim to be in a press release sent out this week) by James’ “wonderfully heartwarming celebration” of “human-animal connection” with his glossy black cocker spaniel that they offered him a deal on the spot.
