Other books & Writings
My books cover food, travel, personal essays, fiction (family mythology), and tango. I am drawn to creative non-fiction, which once seemed to be the Purgatory for the souls of the faithfully departed fiction writers. Now it seems worthy.
The Last Cannoli is a work of fiction inspired by my growing up in a large Sicilian American family – ten kids, two parents, a few pets here and there (very few survived for long with us, I don’t know why exactly . . . something to explore later). If you are looking for a strongly plot-driven novel, don’t bother with this one. If you like character-driven literature and a dash of the potent spice, magical realism, read this book. Especially fun to read if you grew up in New Jersey/New York area and know places like Rahway, Jersey Shore . . . which you thought would never be uttered in the same breath as literature. The book, wrote former San Francisco Poet Laureate Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “attests to the power of storytelling to hold life together through all its diasporas.”
Here's a link to just a few of my many Published Articles.
France, a Love Story
France, a Love Story, edited by Camille Cusumano, Seal Press, Emeryville, Calif.What is it about France that so captivates the imagination? For many Americans, a love of France and all things French started in school, while mastering the seductive sounds of the language. Others were fascinated by the idea of France’s exalted culture; for them, it represented above all a different way of life, filled with luxe, calme et volupté. Later on, when they made summer trips or settled there, they came to appreciate how fully the French character resounded with their own sensibilities.
In this poignant collection, twenty-five contemporary women writers share their firsthand experiences with the people, landscape, flavors, history, art, culture, and particular joie de vivre of this enchanted land. These stories tell not just of a deep love for France, but also of the pain and joy of discovering new dimensions to their very selves. The voices represented in France, a Love Story are varied, witty, and inimitable. They include, among others, M.F.K Fisher’s colorful description of her first days in Dijon, Ayun Halliday’s irreverent account of her visit to a Parisian fashion show, and Alice Kaplan’s funny and sexy story of a summer fling with a young Frenchman. In her own unique way, each contributor seeks to express what anyone who has been there knows: that there is something about France that always stays with you.
Greece, a Love Story
Greece, a Love Story, edited by Camille Cusumano, Seal Press, Emeryville, Calif.Greece, it has been said, is where art became inseparable from life. The country evokes a richly embroidered tapestry of images, from old monuments rife with history to idyllic isles of glass-blue sea and blinding white stucco dwellings. Greece enchants its visitors with its beauty, tradition, and spirit.
In this eloquent collection, women share firsthand experiences of the people, history, and landscape of Greece. Their essays go beyond ordinary travelogue to capture the ways in which Greece has shaped lives or influenced decisions. In expressing their love for the country, these women share stories as visceral as they are poignant, as entertaining as they are endearing.
Whether they are seasoned travelers or armchair adventurers, Greece aficionados or those just beginning to learn about the country, readers of this compelling collection will gain a better understanding of Greece and how experiences abroad can impact their lives.
Mexico, a Love Story
Mexico, a Love Story, edited by Camille Cusumano, Seal Press, Emeryville, Calif.Mexico has long cast a spell over its neighbor — and alter ego — to the north. Americans share its history, exalt its food, and honor its artistic luminaries. They cross the border in droves, heading to warm waters, busy city centers, open-air mercados, language classrooms, cousins’ living rooms, and majestic temples. Mexico inspires passion and adventure — and love. In this eloquent collection, women share firsthand experiences with the people, history, and landscape of this rich country. Transcending the ordinary travelogue, these articles capture the ways in which Mexico has shaped lives or influenced decisions, how it has affected each woman in profound ways. In expressing their love for the country, these diverse writers share intimate stories as visceral as they are poignant, as entertaining as they are endearing. This compelling collection offers a new way for seasoned visitors, armchair travelers, and anyone interested in Mexico to appreciate an old friend.
Italy, a Love Story
Italy, a Love Story, edited by Camille Cusumano, Seal Press, Emeryville, Calif.Legendary for fabulous food, persistent men, and a lyrical language, Italy has inspired many great love affairs-with the country itself. From the notorious occupants and cuisine of Sicily, to the ancient marvels of Rome, to the couture of Milan, women throughout the ages have invented and reinvented adventure in this diverse and voluptuous land. In this thrilling and layered new collection, women from Barbara Grizzuti Harrison to the neo-Tuscan Frances Mayes to Mary Simetti Taylor explore and describe in loving prose individual infatuations with a land that is both complicated by and adored for a rich tradition.