Disqus - Latest Comments for KassiaKrozser

Re: From Keto to Whole30: A Sports Nutritionist Weighs in on Popular Diets

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 19:33:33 -0000

as i have celiac disease, eliminating gluten is essential to my health. and, of course, some people are gluten intolerant. if it doesn't bother you to ingest gluten, going gluten free isn't necessary from a health perspective, but many people avoid it for personal reasons, from feeling bloated to just feeling better without gluten. as with all trendy diets, people jump on the bandwagon, believing they have found a miracle solution for weight loss or health -- but this only works if your gluten-free diet follows the guidelines for any healthy diet (eat mostly plants, lean proteins, etc).

Re: From Keto to Whole30: A Sports Nutritionist Weighs in on Popular Diets

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 11:13:57 -0000

please note that the idea that a gluten-free diet is pricey, stressful, and contains limited whole grains is false. these elements *only* apply if you eat a diet of exclusively gluten-free specialty products (breads, cookies, etc). because meats, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, legumes, many grains / seeds are all naturally gluten free, it is possible to eat a very healthy diet without breaking the bank, feeling stressed, or limiting grain intake.

Re: Mountain lion suspected of killing 11 alpacas in Malibu area

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:05:02 -0000

count me as one who is appalled that the mountain lion can be shot for doing what mountain lions do. we've encroached on their territory. we've cut off access to territory. and now we can kill them because they are hungry (and the number of animals killed seems, um, very high for one animal). if you live in a region where mountain lions roam, then it seems like the responsibility to secure the animals lies with the human. i get that there are laws in place, but remain stunned that the animal's rights to survive are not considered (i assume that the mountain lion lobby was napping while these laws were being passed).

Re: Gluten-Free Pizza: A Love Story

KassiaKrozser — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:35:48 -0000

The Luggage Room in Pasadena, CA. Not a dedicated GF kitchen, but really good gluten-free pizza. Even my husband, a pizza dude from way back, says it's good (though he, ahem, prefers the non-GF version).

Re: 5 Non-Gluten-Free Foods That We Still Really Miss

KassiaKrozser — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 16:51:11 -0000

cheap chinese food! i don't crave much from the "before" days, but when that urge for cheap lo mein hits, nothing (nothing!!) can make it better. at least i'm not stupid enough to give in to the urge...

with regard to international cuisine, i've traveled quite a bit since diagnosis (mainly europe), and have dined quite well. countries like italy and spain are GF friendly. the UK was pretty good as well. and, of course, so many asian and latin american foods are naturally gluten free.

Re: I Love Breakfast Food (But Not For Breakfast)

KassiaKrozser — Sat, 31 May 2014 21:03:03 -0000

also, i'm not much for breakfast food in the morning. leftovers are my go-to meal, with cottage cheese as a substitute if i've devoured everything else.

Re: I Love Breakfast Food (But Not For Breakfast)

KassiaKrozser — Sat, 31 May 2014 21:02:22 -0000

chilaquiles -- which i love to make after parties due to leftover chips and salsa - don't require frying. easy recipe here: http://glutenfreeliac.com/c...

Re: Asian Ingredients I’m Grooving On Right Now

KassiaKrozser — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 12:47:28 -0000

fish sauce. i cannot live without fish sauce. also, my chile paste go-to is the red rooster brand. i put that stuff on EVERYTHING.

Re: Publisher margins today may be enviable, but it will be a big challenge to keep them that way

KassiaKrozser — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 19:28:52 -0000

A good analysis, which leads to a couple of thoughts:

1. This sentence disturbs me: "The advance is not expected to earn out (and, believe me, with advances calculated this way, they almost never do)." That's just bad business on the part of the publisher. I have a lot of experience with advances in another creative industry, and the amounts are generally calculated so that there is eventual earn-out for most (but not all, you can't predict success) titles.

Yes, the number of big ticket authors to whom this applies is relatively small, but if you're in a low margin industry, this type of approach seems short-sighted.

2. I may have missed it in your piece, but lower print runs equals higher print costs. The volume discounts negotiated by publishers get less generous as those numbers go down. Sure, you can reduce costs by moving to smaller warehouses and smarter on-demand production, but those aren't necessarily instant solutions.

3. Finally, all of this leads me back to the idea of sliding scale royalties (both ebook and print). I know it's less popular with some agents, but tying royalties to the performance of the book makes sense.

Re: Big publishers have reason to be happy about how the book market is evolving

KassiaKrozser — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:06:31 -0000

I tried to parse it, but was, as mentioned, brain dead. I do consider your ragged right thing when evaluating reading systems. It reminds me that different readers want different things, and dictating reader experience is a dangerous thing.

So, yes, I like the dedicated eInk device. I've read on everything possible over the years (including the Rocket eBook), and for the type of reading I do, it's my preferred reader. But if not available, I will go through the digital reading version of graceful degradation, falling back to the devices I prefer, in preferred order.

Re: Big publishers have reason to be happy about how the book market is evolving

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:04:18 -0000

Mike is correct (and I wish I saw this response before mine below). The truth is I have all the devices mentioned (except Android, though there are noises being made in that direction by the other member of my household), but I greatly prefer reading on my Kindle to reading on the iPad (the glare and weight are negatives for me). I read on my iPhone in interstitial moments. I read on my laptop all day. (And while I imagine we will be a two iPad family at some point, I'm not agitating for my own because it's not meeting my needs. Yet.)

Amazon allows, generally, downloads to 5 devices (or five downloads). This number is actually set by the publisher, not by Amazon or any other retailer, so may vary and may be hard to determine. I believe Apple is five as well. When I get my new Kindle, I will face the download limit for some books. For personal and professional (largely testing) reasons, some titles have been downloaded five times already, though mostly only read on one or two devices.

Re: Big publishers have reason to be happy about how the book market is evolving

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:56:09 -0000

Mike -- I think I am misunderstanding you (or just brain dead after a long day). The Kindle *platform* runs across all the devices you mentioned, quite seamlessly. Since my Kindle is out of commission, I picked up the book I was reading, where I left off, on my iPhone. I could then shift to the iPad if it weren't in use. Or my laptop. In fact -- and this is pure conjecture -- I'd wager most Kindle users have no real sense they are hindered by DRM because they can read their books on pretty much any digital device. It will be when they try to switch from the Kindle platform that they'll realize the limitations they've bought into (and the anger will be as much directed at publishers as Amazon).

Yes, I can only purchase from Amazon and those publishers who choose to sell unencrypted MOBI, but, right now, that means I have the best selection and mostly good prices (trust me: agency hasn't lead to great pricing, but it has created some unintentionally hilarious prices).

In fact, I have greater freedom than I would if I were locked into the ADE system.

Amazon's platform approach is being replicated by BN (slowly but surely) and Kobo. I would add Apple, but I'm not sure they'll extend iBooks across so many devices.

As far as color is concerned, it's a nice-to-have feature for me. I have a list of things I'd rather see first: better quality, better metadata, actual covers included in the file, more backlist, etc. I am of the belief that there will be a market for many types of devices. Maybe pure grayscale eInk will fade into the sunset, but the non-glare, dedicated reading device will remain important to a certain class of readers.

Re: Big publishers have reason to be happy about how the book market is evolving

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:10:50 -0000

DRM-free is the solution, but as you note, it's not likely to happen anytime soon. The fears of piracy are far too great, and it's near-impossible to convince publishers, much less authors, that DRM isn't doing anything to prevent piracy.

So readers are locked into the system they choose. The retailers have no incentive to open up their platforms. And consumers have every reason in the world not to switch. After several years of extremely extensive use and worldwide travel, I broke my Kindle in a stupid accident yesterday. Given my investment in the books, there is no way I would consider another device (and I live with someone who can hack the DRM if need be). In fact, one reason I didn't invest in a Sony Reader was my concern that it wasn't going to be around in the long run.

(I should note that only one publisher I've purchased books from since I got my Kindle offers me the option of redownloading my books in a different format. They subscribe to the "you buy the book, not the format" camp, and I buy unencrypted MOBI files from them directly rather than Amazon.)

Not to be overly picky (ha! you know me), but there isn't necessarily a correlation between the number of units shipped (as indicated in the Digitimes) artlcle and the number of units actually sold by the retailers. The article suggests Amazon is reducing inventory in anticipation of the Kindle 3. It's no surprise that the iPad is selling in huge numbers, but I'm wary of extrapolating those sales to book sales for any one retailer.

I think the ability to touch and play with the nook is contributing to its success, hence Amazon's move into Targets (nook and Sony are available at Best Buy). There is a lot of consumer interest and awareness, but people want to know what the experience is like. I tested a nook in-store recently and was less-than-impressed (and I wanted to love it because I think Barnes & Noble has a great strategy, at least on paper!).

Re: Like E-Books? Amazon Sells More of Them, for Less, Than Apple. For Now.

KassiaKrozser — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:30:02 -0000

Last weekend, my husband tried to read on his iPad while poolside. He gave up after approximately 30 seconds -- the glare was too great. My Kindle had no such problem.

In all the comparisons of Apple's iBooks versus Kindle, some key points seem to be neglected. First, of course, is that the Kindle platform extends far beyond the reader. It's in iPhones, iPads, Mac and PC desktops, and, I think, Android and Blackberry (if not, it will be there). Right now, iBooks is iPad and, soon, iPhone only. When it comes to choice for readers, Kindle wins.

The second thing is that the iBooks store is a mess. Limited content and horrible discovery. They don't even have a category for romance, a huge chunk of the fiction reading market. Finding books beyond the bestsellers is a challenge. Again, Amazon wins on discovery -- a major factor in book sales.

Personally, I don't think it's going to be an either/or choice. Hardcore readers -- who buy many books a year -- are more likely to prefer a dedicated reader, and circumstances dictate that reader must be associated with a store that offers plenty of product at reasonable prices. Casual readers will be fine with a multitasking device. Both kinds of readers will be far more focused on meeting their personal needs, reading-wise, than they are on trumped up "wars".

Re: Please point me in the direction of successful blogs that make money that aren’t about making money…. PLEASE!

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:26:27 -0000

Marian -- The entire Talking Points Memo empire (www.talkingpointsmemo.com). I've been reading them for many years.

Re: What will be the big digital issues in January 2011?

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:36:12 -0000

As I look in my crystal ball, I see a few key issues on the horizons. There are two I think are essential (and they are fairly large). Consumer experience -- buying, portability, ease-of-use, price, etc. There are a few publishers who put this at the forefront, and I think they're doing it very well.

The second -- and I'm sure this is already on the agenda -- is rights. There are legacy digital rights (a la William Styron), territorial rights (creating massive tension for, but not necessarily between, publishers and readers), digital rights (JK Rowling's refusal to offer her books in digital is leading to piracy), and even consumers rights (what does it mean to "buy" a digital version of the book?). And, of course, transmedia/enhanced rights -- there are rumblings of discord between agents and publishers on this point.

Re: Indignation

KassiaKrozser — Sun, 16 May 2010 13:32:01 -0000

I really took the Clay Shirky piece to heart, and I put the brakes on when I saw myself starting to undermine me in a negotiation. I considered what I really wanted and where I had flexibility (you have to give a little in negotiations), then I made my proposal. I've carried the Shirkyesque attitude into other projects.

And Debbie is right: nobody ever advises men to consider the life-work balance when they're negotiating raises or interviewing for new jobs. Pay equality is essential, absolutely (it kills me we are talking about this in 2010). One argument is that women take more time off to deal with family stuff. This is a cop-out I see many men doing the same, but because it's considered exceptional (even when it's not), it doesn't translate to salary considerations.

Re: Amazon Update: Penguin & Hachette See Problems; Simon & Schuster & HarperCollins Strike Deal - mediabistro.com: GalleyCat

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:23:30 -0000

This problem isn't limited to Amazon. See thenote from Books on Board linked below. Sony, Fictionwise, and others have also noted availability problems. Apparently, readers who have "agency" titles at Fictionwise were not able to download all their books due to the cutover.

(Yeah, I know Amazon is the big story, but this is impacting everyone.)

http://www.booksonboard.com...

Re: What’s so hard to understand about Random House’s strategy?

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:28:40 -0000

Hmm. I've heard from more than a few agents, and they're still trying to figure out what the agency model means for their clients. And one independent digi-retailer mentioned that the new model was not good for business. Granted, the deals are still being worked out between parties (and this retailer was blindsided by this shift).

I've gone back and forth on this. Initially, it seemed like it would consolidate power in the hands of the few. Over time, I came to believe it might level the playing field for independent booksellers. Now, I am not so sure. Removing pricing as a retailer tool forces independents to compete largely on consumer experience. I'd feel a lot better if there were less device/retailer interdependence, or if more effort were put toward lifting up non-device based reading systems (Ibis is leading the pack there because it's well-constructed and HMTL-based, meaning it on a range of systems).

The optimist in me hopes this works out as envisioned. The existing model wasn't going to work in the digital realm (and despite Amazon's current hardball reaction, they would have forced change at some point; publishers, by choosing to move now, at least get to take control of the shift).

Re: What’s so hard to understand about Random House’s strategy?

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:10:26 -0000

Mike -- Good thoughts. I think taking a wait-and-see approach is a smart move, and agree that if RH waits, it's not the worst thing for them. While I advocate for new models to reflect the reality of the new marketplace, it seems, based on what I've read/heard, that Random House is aware of the impact changing the model has on the various stakeholders. The books being (for lack of a better term) beta tested with the agency model were contracted with different expectations, both with authors/agents *and* distributors/retailers.

Which has me thinking about the Ingram issue, and wondering if my initial worries that going agency will consolidate power with a few (Amazon, BN, Apple) rather than making it easier for smaller players to move into the space. Splitting the 30% between distributor and retailer changes the financial model of both parties (rather unexpectedly on their part), making it less attractive for retailers to enter the space.

I'd also add that the iPad opens up more possibility for transforming the right stories into multimedia/enhanced books. Not sure it will be the ideal medium for my preferred reading format (narrative text). Will know that answer when it arrives in a week or ;)

(BTW, did you see the rumored screenshot of the iBookstore. NYT bestselling titles were priced at $9.99. Not unexpected, of course.)

Re: Amazon Customer Reviews Policy Debated by Authors and Readers - mediabistro.com: GalleyCat

KassiaKrozser — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:06:16 -0000

Just as piracy indicates demand, so do the one-star reviews. Granted, there are people who will adopt a mob mentality when it comes to things like the $9.99 boycotts or using the star reviews to state displeasure, but if you read the comments, there are quite a few people who, oh, want to buy books.

They are not cretins, they are not "Kindle fanboys", they are people who buy and read books. The publishing industry has some legitimate disputes with Amazon; I am not convinced that insulting people who buy books is the best way to express displeasure with a retailer. I've noted a real hostility toward people are very likely publishing's best customers, merely because they've made a format switch that works for their reading lives.

And, I'd argue, these readers don't have a venue beyond Amazon to express their wants, desires, needs, or even displeasure about pricing and availability. If you can point me to publishers that have implemented tools to talk to these readers and address their concerns (and, frankly, I think addressing the readers directly would really help), that would be lovely. And, no, Harlequin doesn't count <g> -- they've had their forums and readers conversations in place for over a decade.

Re: Best Book Reviewers on Twitter - GalleyCat

KassiaKrozser — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:11:23 -0000

Jason -- How about @dearauthor (aka @jane_l) and @smartbitches?

Re: Notes from a lecture by Professor Cader

KassiaKrozser — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:10:23 -0000

Mike -- I think your understanding is correct. Even though the description of the agency model seems to indicate that publishers will retain control of the file until the actual sale (what is, in essence, the scan-based trading model), the reality will play out a bit differently. No matter what, it's highly unlikely that this will result in retailers providing any sort of meaningful consumer data to publishers. Apple certainly doesn't do this for music or motion picture reporting, and -- to the best of my knowledge -- no other retailer shares consumer level data beyond unit sales.

Due to the difficulty of building infrastructure, it's not likely that publishers will retain actual control of the files being served to consumers anyway. Building and maintaining that kind of system would, in my view, be a horrible use of publisher resources (in addition to hardware, security, and software, they'd have to add human resources such as customer support). And, of course, if publishers truly retained control of the files, that would lead to even more contractual issues than we're likely to see raised in the next months.

I suspect the Apple model is similar to how files are being processed by Amazon already. Amazon has possession (of sorts) of the master book file, and serves, in essence, copies to purchasers. It's not buying -- at least I've never heard it is -- blocks of ebooks to sell. Of course, if it were, that would lead to some fun scenarios dealing with returns, no?

Re: Why are you for killing bookstores?

KassiaKrozser — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:08:47 -0000

"If you are for the most rapid possible adoption of ebooks, you are for killing bookstores faster."

Mike -- I know we've had this discussion before in other venues, but A does not necessarily equal B. First off, what does "rapid possible adoption of ebooks" mean? If we were talking about the textbook space, that's one thing. Trade space, it's another. Developing countries without any bookselling infrastructure, it's still another.

I personally believe that smart booksellers will figure out how to combine a good mix of print with the convenience of digital (I am heartened by the thinking of my own local bookstore, even if they are tied to the ABA system, limiting their potential). Digital discovery is only one method. As a species, we have different learning styles, and bookstores, in particular, appeal to at least two of them.

That being said, it's partially the responsibility of booksellers to be responsive to changing habits of readers (are they really changing, or are we seeing the industry finally addressing real needs of real readers?). I trust that my bookstore will accomplish this. But my bookstore, even with two branches and the acquisition of a new store, cannot possibly fit every book into the store. Nor should they. Using a smart mix of print and digital, they will meet the needs of customers, not all of whom want or need a print book...but need the guidance of smart curators, booksellers, gurus to point them to the right book. I am not convinced the best algorithms in the world will ever be able to compete with the human brain.

Final thought. I am reminded of a Twitter conversation from a year ago. An indie bookseller complained about the habit of bloggers of pointing to Amazon*. A blogger pointed out that independent bookstores haven't done much to support her reading style (genre fiction), so why would she point her readers to stores that didn't stock what they wanted to read? What ensued was a great back and forth, with the bookseller understanding one consumer group and the blogger making an effort to be more inclusive.

I don't hate bookstores, but I read purely digital, as you do. I still buy print books, but I am more selective about the print I buy. I still need the expertise a bookstore provides me, and I don't get that from Amazon. My desire to hasten the availability of ebooks does not mean I want to kill bookstores.

My concern is that bookstores aren't willing or able to meet my needs as a customer.

* -- And, frankly, given the difficulty of setting up IndieBound or Barnes & Noble affiliate accounts, you can understand why Amazon wins on this level.

Re: Gen Y Asks “Why Not”

KassiaKrozser — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:00:00 -0000

I read Marian's piece and compared it with Brian Napack's Digital Book World presentation. Marian expressed a reality, while Napack -- and I understand his position -- offered us a vision that put building a viable marketplace *after* litigation. His final point was to engage in public discussion, and it sounds like Marian did just that. It also sounds like the people who needed to hear her message the most weren't listening.

Which is a shame.