Dear Melanie Haupt of The Austin Chronicle,
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to review my book, Bake and Destroy: Good Food for Bad Vegans. I 100% accept your criticism that perhaps some of the recipes are “too fussy” - not everyone wants to spend all day in the kitchen. I’m glad to read that you did enjoy some of the simpler recipes, however.
I do feel the need to respond to a rather snarky comment you made, though, about my branded “crockery” and the fact that I sell Bake and Destroy merchandise on my website.
It’s safe to assume that the copy of my book you received was free from my PR agent, so perhaps you failed to notice that my book itself is for sale. This single fact seems to obliterate your notion that vegan food goes hand-in-hand with some kind of anti-consumer culture. (I also noticed that the other vegan book you reviewed was written by a restaurateur, and you don’t seem to mind that she makes money from her craft.)
Regardless, I would like to point out that the crockery you’re referring to is made by Circa Ceramics, an indie ceramics business based out of Chicago and run by my two friends Nancy and Andy. I asked them to make these pieces for my book, which they did - for for free - and in exchange, I told them to go ahead and sell them in their shop, which they do. I don’t get a cut of those sales, it’s just my way of paying them back for making the photos in my book extra special.
I think you may have judged me harshly without really knowing what you were talking about, but considering you also referred to me as “a walking tattoo,” it seems like maybe that’s your thing.
It’s true that I do offer branded merchandise on my website - I know this is a novelty in the punk rock world as you will never see a piece of merchandise with a Ramones, Misfits, Black Flag or Dead Kennedys logo on it, am I right?
Anyway, thanks again for the exposure.
PS If anyone would like to support Nancy & Andy’s indie ceramics you can buy their gorgeous pieces from their Etsy shop!
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
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