Last week we discussed the Pippa Middleton situation, which grows more and more bizarre by the minute. Pippa got a HUGE advance to do a party-planning book called “Celebrate”. The only reason she got the book deal was because, let’s face it, her sister married Prince William. Secondary reason: the UK press really wants Pippa to be a “thing” because she’s single and she has an ass. And that’s pretty much it. Well, allegedly, Pippa decided to not do any American press to promote the book because she just didn’t want to answer any questions about her sister’s crumpet and boobs, which we have now all seen in grainy paparazzi photos which were published last month. It’s like there’s no media professionals around Pippa, I guess, and no one is telling her that there are ways around that.

But this is an interesting turn of events! In The Mail on Sunday (which came out yesterday, obvs), Pippa’s book was excerpted/promoted, and Pippa gave an interview to the publication. In an interesting sidenote to those of you who follow the comings and goings of the Middleton family, isn’t it “interesting” that Pippa’s first big interview was given to The Mail? The Middletons have historically used The Mail to put out their “side” of any story, and Mail columnist Katie Nicholl is pretty much Duchess Kate’s mouthpiece, and has been for YEARS. Anyway, here’s Pippa’s interview – it’s short, but the Mail fills it out with excerpts from the book:

She is the younger sister of the future Queen whose derriere became the surprise star of last year’s Royal Wedding. Now – in her new party-planning book – Pippa Middleton has acknowledged the ‘startling’ reality that she has achieved worldwide fame because Kate married Prince William… and because of the unexpected focus on her bottom.

Pippa, 29, admits: ‘It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom. One day I might be able to make sense of this. In the meantime I think it’s fair to say that it has its upside and its downside.’

‘I certainly have opportunities many can only dream of – but in most ways I’m a typical girl in her 20s trying to forge a career and represent herself in what can sometimes seem rather strange circumstances. I am by nature an optimist so I tend to concentrate on the advantages. One of the most attractive has been the chance to publish [this book] Celebrate.’

Exclusive extracts from Celebrate: A Year Of British Festivities For Families And Friends are reproduced in a special 24-page pullout in today’s You magazine. The book is party-planner Pippa’s guide to home entertaining and goes on sale at the end of this month.

In Celebrate, she acknowledges the effect her sister the Duchess of Cambridge’s fame will have on sales, saying: ‘I know many of you will pick up the book out of nothing more than curiosity. [But] I can assure you that it feels even stranger to me than it probably does to you to have seen so much written about me when I have done so little to paint a picture of myself. This is my first chance to do that and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The book is designed to be a comprehensive guide to home entertaining, based on my experience in my family’s business Party Pieces and work for London-based events company Table Talk.’

Last year it was revealed that Pippa – whose previous literary experience includes writing the online newsletter Party Times for the family’s business – had secured an almost unprecedented £400,000 deal for the book with publisher Michael Joseph. Further extracts from the book, which includes seasonal recipes for home entertaining, will appear in next week’s You magazine.

Pippa’s recipes are accompanied by glossy pictures of the author along with a selection of anecdotes recalling her childhood growing up with Kate in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

Talking about Bonfire Night, she says: ‘The unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes make this festival a particularly evocative one. I remember the noise of the bells ringing at school as the effigy of Guy Fawkes we’d prepared earlier was carried out on a canvas stretcher, hoisted on to the huge bonfire and set alight. Then the revelry would begin. My school friends and I would all have sparklers we passed around, lighting one from another.’

Pippa also reminisces about playing conkers at school: ‘We all used to get really competitive. The trick was to paint clear nail varnish on the conkers to make them very tough and less likely to break – outrageous cheating of course!’

[From The Mail]

I can’t believe she referenced her ass! HOW GAUCHE. I suppose it should be read as self-effacing (or ass-effacing), but it just reminds me of how dumb it is that her ass is literally famous. And that it might not have even been her real ass at her sister’s wedding! That being said, I don’t think Pippa comes across badly here. But I’m predisposed to like her anyway – I like the fact that she’s going off and doing her own thing and creating her own “brand” as opposed to shutting up and waiting for some rich dude to marry her. I really hope she ends up coming back to the US and doing some press. Come back, Pippa!

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.