Eliza Scidmore hit the road a century ago as an intrepid journalist, capturing the romance of travel for Americans back home. Adventures in Japan inspired her obsessive quest to give Washington its cherry trees.
“At last, the bold and adventurous Eliza Scidmore has the biography she deserves! Inspiring and well-researched, this book is a thrilling look at an incredible woman and a fascinating era in history.”
—Amy Stewart, New York Times best-selling author of The Drunken Botanist
About Diana
Long-time writer and former journalist Diana Parsell has worked in Washington, D.C., and Southeast Asia for publications, websites and science organizations, including National Geographic, NIH, AAAS and The Washington Post.
Author Events
Since the release of Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Woman Behind Washington's Cherry Trees in March 2023, Diana has spoken about the book to diverse audiences, both in person and virtually. Hosting organizations have included Politics & Prose bookstore in D.C., GWU Museum, U.S. Arboretum, University Club, Falls Church Mary Riley Styles Library, American News Women's Club and Trust for the National Mall. Visit the Events page for more details.
Latest Blog Post (Categories Below)
I owe Biographers International Organization (BIO) a lot in getting me to the finish line of my newly published book. For years, biography was a neglected stepchild of the literary world. A mashup of history, literature, area studies and other disciplines. Most people had no idea how you…
Media coverage of my book has included interviews with NBC's "Today" show and the Japanese network NHK. Other coverage has come from The Wall Street Journal, Washingtonian, Library Journal and other outlets, plus Q&As with literary bloggers. Links to media coverage are available at this site's News & Events page.
