My Latest Writing

You may notice I haven’t posted at my site for a while. I am currently posting stories almost daily at the Medium. I have a publication there I call NoMudNoLotus, Writer. Some of the best clarity arises from the darkest clouds, the muddiest waters of confusion. Follow me.

Protected: An Unconditional Woman

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

The Dharma Buddies of Auroville

Here’s a story about my visit to Auroville, February, 2018. Serenity personified. 

My Personal Peace Movement

(Appeared in SKIRT!, August, 2009) In late 2006, I arrived in Buenos Aires with hair under my fingernails and blood in my eye. I was down and out after a long relationship ended. I had done the unspeakable—pulled the other woman’s hair. Along with three suitcases, I had brought my chagrin, broken heart and adequate […]

Tango with a Stranger, NGT

Now and then in Buenos Aires, I have the urge to rub against a man I’ve never met. When that occurs, I usually go to La Boca, the barrio that throbs with the afterglow of Italian immigrants who

The Heart of the Matter

February 14th, 2006–10, I was living in Buenos Aires, dancing tango every day. I knew that on Valentine’s Day none of my beloved tango partners would make any gesture of recognition of our love—even if it was platonic. But, don’t cry for me, I told my North American friends. Come July, in the tango dance […]

Protected: The Oil Man Cometh

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Three new tango books—a novella, travel essays, and reportage on teaching tango in Africa.

https://camillecusumano.com/uncategorized/three-new-tango-books/

The Serenity of Influence

As Molly read last night, I found that little compartment of my brain that is ever alert for messages from the muse taking in ideas for writing short stories. Her story read like European cinema, her style was so refined and well-crafted I felt I imbibed it like a cup of calming herbal tea. Harold Bloom, a crusty but respected literary critic might call this The Anxiety of Influence (a 1967 academic oeuvre). However, no one writes in a vacuum (oh, except for James Joyce, but that’s another story). I call it The Serenity of Influence.

Wilderness Begins at Home, an excerpt

From the memoir, Wilderness Begins at Home, Travels with my big Sicilian Family, to be published in 2016 Chapter 1  La Familia Tutti Bene in Sicilia, 2006 A family reunion in the old country—it had such a nice ring to it. But when I read my brother Tom’s email suggesting our clan meet in Sicily […]

TANGO: Celebrating 7 lucky years on the Book Shelf!

“What a wonderful connection you will be sharing with readers: the present moment, communion with another soul, letting go, passion, strength and femininity. I am very excited for your book!”

2015 Tango on Mt. Tamalpais, Oct 24

Details are here 2015 Tango on the Mountain (Tamalpais)

Oh là là! Stories with a French Twist

FREE! Sunday, October 4th at 4 P.M at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera, CA Savor a moveable feast of travel stories with the accent on all things French. Mill Valley author Lisa Alpine hosts this effervescent literary afternoon featuring a cadre of très magnifique authors including: • Erin Byrne is author of Wings […]

Travel Writing Workshop

September 12, 2015 1–5pm • $95/person •  limited to 10 participants 1650 Jackson Street, San Francisco Instructor: Camille Cusumano, award-winning travel writer since the 1980s and former food & travel editor at VIA Magazine. REGISTER WITH PAYPAL BUTTON: “Travel writing is one of the oldest forms of literary endeavors.” Everybody travels today and many write […]

Protected: True North, Alaska Bachelor Auction

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

A Sultan in Palermo, Tariq Ali, review

Sultan in Palermo, A: A Novel by Tariq Ali My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you think Islam beats out Christianity for brutality, you will think again after reading this historically accurate novel by British-Pakistani historian/novelist Tariq Ali. It takes place around 1150 in Sicily during the period when the Normans had accomplished a […]

Furaha (Joy) Guest House, Nairobi, Kenya

Furaha Guest House in Gigiri, Nairobi is wonderful.

My Tango Teaching Credentials

I earned an official Argentine Tango teaching certificate in 2006 through the teacher training course with Christy Cote. The training is DVIDA approved. But my real knowledge and understanding of the dance  came with miles and miles on the dance floors everywhere, but most especially in Buenos Aires during the nearly four years, I called […]

Writing as Refuge Workshop

Anyone who writes experiences how it taps a different brain from the everyday one. Invariably, the writing space, entered as in meditation, allows loss and submerged pain to float to surface. Writers often face these feelings, along with the joyful ones, as signage to meaningful, redemptive stories, taking refuge in the practice. Consider this daylong workshop, a safe haven for personal writing—about loss or gain. We will write, chat, and work on crafting your precious material, with occasional personalized “soft” critiques.

TEDx Talk, Tango, the Dance, the Journey, the Transformation

Para mis amigos quienes hablan español: LA TRADUCCION – por Demian Gawianski (demian@tangospanish.com) Conferencia TEDx en Lower Eastside sobre “Tango: el baile, el viaje, la transformación”, 25 de octubre de 2013 Había una niña que pescaba con un anzuelo recto. La gente se reía de ella. “¿Por qué estás pescando con un anzuelo recto, niña […]