The office assistants felt the third chapter was slow.
Also it needs more dogs.
These are the encounters that make writers morose at parties, in case you were wondering.
Person at Cocktail Party: You're a writer? I love books! I bet I've read yours! Tell me some of your books!
Author: They weren't best sellers exactly. You really may not have heard of them.
Person ACP (apparently under the impression that there are only about 50 books published each year): Oh I read all the time, I bet I have.
Author: Names most recent book, favorite book, and the one that sold the best.
Person ACP: Oh, I guess I haven't heard of you.
Person Who Has Read Your Book: I just loved it! Have you thought of making it into a movie?
Author (who like every other writer on the planet daydreams ferociously about this): Well, of course, but it's not that easy.
Person WHRYB: My cousin works in Hollywood. I'll give him your name. He'll just love it. (He's on the crew of a reality show.)
Person Who Is Very Busy: I would write a book myself, but I just don't have the time.
Author: It does take time.
Person WIVB: I have a terrific idea though. No one else has thought of it. I'll tell you my idea and you can write it and we'll share the money.
Author: I have lots of ideas myself. And books don't make much money.
Person WIVB: This one will. It's a great idea. (Proceeds to explain it at length while author looks for another drink.)
Person Who Has Just Finished Your Book: I really dislike books with swearing in them. Or drinking. Or adultery. Or spiders.
Author: Oh dear.
In some ways I'm with this latter group. I won't read a book where the dog dies. (Although I did just kill a horse.) I usually don't tell its author that over the shrimp toast.
I am aware that this makes me look like a grump. Put it down to my writing it on election day.