Q&A with Barbara Glickman

Barbara Glickman, author of “Capital Splendor: Gardens and Parks of Washington, D.C.,” has been an avid and active member of the D.C. gardening community for many years. Her extensive travels have taken her to gardens around the country and the world. She holds a Bachelors degree in English from Franklin and Marshall College, a Masters degree in public health from the University of Michigan, and an MBA in marketing from George Washington University. She worked in health care administration for 20 years and has lived in the Washington area for more than 30 years.

What are the best books you’ve read recently?
Some of the best books I have read are “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and “Shadow Divers” by Robert Kurson. I am currently reading “The Razor’s Edge” by Somerset Maugham. I generally enjoy classics and English novels.

What was your favorite book as a child?
My favorite books as a teenager were “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte. I loved the descriptions of the English countryside and could not wait to see the heather and the moors on my first trip to England. It is one of my favorite places to travel to, and II have been to their home in the town of Haworth;  it is especially bewitching when the fog is moving over the moors, and you can practically picture yourself as a character in the novel.

Why do you enjoy attending book festivals, either as a presenter or audience member?
I have attended this festival several times and I enjoy hearing the authors talk about how they create their stories and charactes. I even went to a small writing seminar held at the festival the first year, when I had the idea for my book.

Have you been to the D.C. area before? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
I have lived here for almost 33 years and it is the best place. I enjoy the cultural events that the city and its neighboring cities have to offer, and I like the natural attractions that are reasonably close by. I bike a lot and it is only an hour away to get to beautiful farmland or mountains.

What is the most difficult, or challenging, aspect of being a writer?
The most challenging aspect of being a writer is to capture the best words to describe each unique garden, and in a minimal number of words.