katie cusumano
@k-e-c.bsky.social
writing about culture and the outdoors. words in nyt, outside, longreads & beyond. 2025 Oregon Literary Fellow. based in portland, now. katherinecusumano.com
just another day realizing I'm writing a feature that boils down to how the only certainty in life is the absolute impossibility of knowing anything for sure
December 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
just another day realizing I'm writing a feature that boils down to how the only certainty in life is the absolute impossibility of knowing anything for sure
happy thanksgiving & happy anniversary to the most correct blog www.newyorker.com/culture/kitc...
The Perfect Thanksgiving Cocktail Is the Boulevardier
Helen Rosner on the Boulevardier, a classic cocktail dating back to the nineteen-twenties, made with whiskey, Campari, and vermouth.
www.newyorker.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
happy thanksgiving & happy anniversary to the most correct blog www.newyorker.com/culture/kitc...
Reposted by katie cusumano
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by katie cusumano
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
US firefighter detained on the job speaks out after deportation: ‘I feel betrayed’
Exclusive: Border patrol arrested José Bertin Cruz-Estrada while he was battling a wildfire in Washington. He is now in Mexico, separated from his family in Oregon
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
PBF!! attending this festival was one of the first things I did in portland after moving to oregon and it was an absolute dream to moderate this panel with aashna avachat and alex castellanos. already dreaming about next year 🧁📖
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
PBF!! attending this festival was one of the first things I did in portland after moving to oregon and it was an absolute dream to moderate this panel with aashna avachat and alex castellanos. already dreaming about next year 🧁📖
I'm moderating a conversation about romance, food, and FAKE DATING with two fabulous authors of YA rom-coms at the portland book festival this weekend
12:45 at the park tent — portland friends, hope to see u there 🍬📖
pdxbookfest.org/event/sweet-...
12:45 at the park tent — portland friends, hope to see u there 🍬📖
pdxbookfest.org/event/sweet-...
Sweet and Sour: Alexis Castellanos & Aashna Avachat - PDX Book Fest
Alexis Castellanos and Aashna Avachat join Katherine Cusumano in a panel on serendipitous and unexpected young love featuring all the juicy stuff including but not limited to: fake dating, handsome ga...
pdxbookfest.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I'm moderating a conversation about romance, food, and FAKE DATING with two fabulous authors of YA rom-coms at the portland book festival this weekend
12:45 at the park tent — portland friends, hope to see u there 🍬📖
pdxbookfest.org/event/sweet-...
12:45 at the park tent — portland friends, hope to see u there 🍬📖
pdxbookfest.org/event/sweet-...
"I have an absolutely perfect Katie story" there is literally (??) no greater privilege than to receive this text from an editor
November 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
"I have an absolutely perfect Katie story" there is literally (??) no greater privilege than to receive this text from an editor
sob what a beautiful night to be an alum of new york, greatest city in the world
November 5, 2025 at 2:48 AM
sob what a beautiful night to be an alum of new york, greatest city in the world
“I was just a maniac, saying yes to everything and feeling like I was going to be doomed at any point. … You should always bet on yourself. It always turns out well, making that investment.”
wendy red star by me for @thecreativeindependent.com
thecreativeindependent.com/people/visua...
wendy red star by me for @thecreativeindependent.com
thecreativeindependent.com/people/visua...
Visual artist Wendy Red Star on collaborating with your ancestors – The Creative Independent
Visual artist Wendy Red Star discusses how she approaches an archive, her MFA experience, and betting on herself.
thecreativeindependent.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
“I was just a maniac, saying yes to everything and feeling like I was going to be doomed at any point. … You should always bet on yourself. It always turns out well, making that investment.”
wendy red star by me for @thecreativeindependent.com
thecreativeindependent.com/people/visua...
wendy red star by me for @thecreativeindependent.com
thecreativeindependent.com/people/visua...
what a move to drop this on the second-to-last page of your doorstop book about 20th-century whale science (compliment) (from D. Graham Burnett, The Sounding of the Whale)
October 15, 2025 at 10:33 PM
what a move to drop this on the second-to-last page of your doorstop book about 20th-century whale science (compliment) (from D. Graham Burnett, The Sounding of the Whale)
Reposted by katie cusumano
people (me) are already calling it the literary event of 2026 www.finishinglinepress.com/product/pers...
My book PERSON UNDER has a cover 😭 and is available for preorder before its pub date in January!
@finishinglinepress.bsky.social is publishing PERSON UNDER and preordering a book plays an important role in turning a book into a book for small presses. I am full of thank yous.
Link in bio!
@finishinglinepress.bsky.social is publishing PERSON UNDER and preordering a book plays an important role in turning a book into a book for small presses. I am full of thank yous.
Link in bio!
September 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
people (me) are already calling it the literary event of 2026 www.finishinglinepress.com/product/pers...
at this point I am so sick of my own thoughts about oily sludge water ... essay to come soon 👀
September 14, 2025 at 11:49 PM
at this point I am so sick of my own thoughts about oily sludge water ... essay to come soon 👀
paige is seriously a genius of visual poetry. if you’re in portland and have even one (1) poem bone in your body, why haven’t you registered???
I’m back @literary-arts.org teaching this visual poetry workshop in October and y’all—this is beloved to me! I was floored by what created last time I taught this. I actually cannot believe I get to do it again.
@literaryarts also has a robust scholarship and access tuition program! Link in bio!
@literaryarts also has a robust scholarship and access tuition program! Link in bio!
September 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
paige is seriously a genius of visual poetry. if you’re in portland and have even one (1) poem bone in your body, why haven’t you registered???
realizing that if I just cut 200 words rather than writing 200 more ... the piece is done >>>>
September 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
realizing that if I just cut 200 words rather than writing 200 more ... the piece is done >>>>
hi
Photographer K.B. Dixon continues his series of cultural profiles with portraits of playwright and performer Brianna Barrett, composer and musician Luke Wyland, journalist and essayist Katherine Cusumano, actor and director Ted Rooney, and scenic designer and visual artist Alex Meyer.
The Cultural Landscape: Part 23 • Oregon ArtsWatch
Photographer K.B. Dixon continues his series of cultural profiles with portraits of playwright and performer Brianna Barrett, composer and musician Luke Wyland, journalist and essayist Katherine Cusumano, actor and director Ted Rooney, and scenic designer and visual artist Alex Meyer.
www.orartswatch.org
September 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
hi
"the seed tractor sank again, no surprise" is just such a good line
NEW: “At some point in time, don’t you ask yourself: Is this really economically the best way to spend our taxpayer dollars,” said a USDA official, “or would it serve us better in the long run if we spent money to take that ground out of production?”
The Federal Farm Policy Trap: Why Some Farmers Are Stuck Raising Crops That No Longer Thrive
Some farmers keep growing in flood- and drought-prone fields because subsidies soften the losses, while federal programs meant to help them change course have been underfunded and mired in bureaucracy...
www.propublica.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
"the seed tractor sank again, no surprise" is just such a good line
find me moderating a sweet YA panel at the portland book fest on nov. 8. a dream come true, truly !!
Announcing the 2025 #PDXBookFest author line-up. ☔📚
We will be joined by more than 80 authors to celebrate books! These authors include @staceyabrams.com, Rebecca Yarros, Nicholas Boggs, @emmadonoghue.bsky.social, @angelaflournoy.bsky.social, and @susanorlean.bsky.social
More on: pdxbookfest.org
We will be joined by more than 80 authors to celebrate books! These authors include @staceyabrams.com, Rebecca Yarros, Nicholas Boggs, @emmadonoghue.bsky.social, @angelaflournoy.bsky.social, and @susanorlean.bsky.social
More on: pdxbookfest.org
August 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
find me moderating a sweet YA panel at the portland book fest on nov. 8. a dream come true, truly !!
I'm using this @thecreativeindependent.com Q&A in a class I'm teaching tonight; every time I read it I notice something new.
"Having a really rigid artificial structure allows me freedom ... Having an alarm go off and saying, 'That's the end of my creative day,' that allows you to relax into it."
"Having a really rigid artificial structure allows me freedom ... Having an alarm go off and saying, 'That's the end of my creative day,' that allows you to relax into it."
"I want brilliant writers speaking to me all the time because it makes me feel less existentially lonely." 😍
thecreativeindependent.com/people/autho...
thecreativeindependent.com/people/autho...
Author Lauren Groff on allowing for time and space to create – The Creative Independent
Author Lauren Groff discusses being unapologetic about protecting creative time, why burnout is normal, and how writing from the self is limited.
thecreativeindependent.com
August 25, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I'm using this @thecreativeindependent.com Q&A in a class I'm teaching tonight; every time I read it I notice something new.
"Having a really rigid artificial structure allows me freedom ... Having an alarm go off and saying, 'That's the end of my creative day,' that allows you to relax into it."
"Having a really rigid artificial structure allows me freedom ... Having an alarm go off and saying, 'That's the end of my creative day,' that allows you to relax into it."
I don't even live in new york anymore and every adams headline still has me absolutely riveted
BREAKING: Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips
www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips
THE CITY reported the incident to law enforcement and was promptly contacted by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office.
www.thecity.nyc
August 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I don't even live in new york anymore and every adams headline still has me absolutely riveted
not my typical beat ... but when @oregonstate.edu alumni mag calls: I wrote a very fun, silly story about an alum's quest to make table saws safer. (huge thanks to my editor for publishing such sentences as "humans, like hot dogs, are good electrical conductors.") oregonstater.org/how-not-to-c...
How Not to Cut Off Your Finger - Oregon Stater
For this experiment to work, I had to become one with the hot dog — to believe in the hot dog as an extension of my own finger, both of us mostly salt and water merging into one salty watery body. I s...
oregonstater.org
August 20, 2025 at 12:56 AM
not my typical beat ... but when @oregonstate.edu alumni mag calls: I wrote a very fun, silly story about an alum's quest to make table saws safer. (huge thanks to my editor for publishing such sentences as "humans, like hot dogs, are good electrical conductors.") oregonstater.org/how-not-to-c...
hello it's me 😭 literary-arts.org/2025/08/meet...
Meet Katherine Cusumano, 2025 Oregon Literary Fellow
We’re thrilled to introduce the 2025 Oregon Literary Fellowship Recipients with individual features on our blog. Out-of-state judges spent several months evaluating the 400+ applications we received, ...
literary-arts.org
August 13, 2025 at 9:38 PM
hello it's me 😭 literary-arts.org/2025/08/meet...
tove takes something kind of twee on its surface and makes it lovely 🌳
It seems strange to have a memorial for a tree. But what if we took a moment to say goodbye to the natural world more often?
My latest for @earthislandjournal.bsky.social
www.earthisland.org/journal/inde...
My latest for @earthislandjournal.bsky.social
www.earthisland.org/journal/inde...
A Memorial for a Beloved Tree
Celebrating the life of an ancient oak.
https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/magazine/entry/a-memorial-for-a-beloved-tree##
August 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
tove takes something kind of twee on its surface and makes it lovely 🌳
Reposted by katie cusumano
Last fall, I attended the premiere of a film that meant a lot to me. In late January, all of its hundreds of planned screenings were canceled without explanation. For @defector.com, I went digging:
Why Did National Geographic Disappear Its Own Documentary About A Queer Climate Scientist? | Defector
If you’re not a particular kind of mountain sports nerd, you might not be familiar with the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. But for people who live their lives in the overlapping circl...
defector.com
July 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Last fall, I attended the premiere of a film that meant a lot to me. In late January, all of its hundreds of planned screenings were canceled without explanation. For @defector.com, I went digging:
me taking a quick break from my fact-checking job to read a little bit:
“I checked and double-checked, I corroborated, I mistrusted myself. I found it very hard to attain the condition of unshakable certainty we checkers called ‘checking sure.’”
Susan Choi remembers her days as a fact-checker at The New Yorker.
yalereview.org/article/susa...
Susan Choi remembers her days as a fact-checker at The New Yorker.
yalereview.org/article/susa...
Susan Choi: My Days as a Fact-Checker at The New Yorker
Susan Choi reviews Austin Kelley's The Fact Checker —and recalls her own early career as a fact-checker at The New Yorker .
yalereview.org
July 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
me taking a quick break from my fact-checking job to read a little bit: