This week’s guest is CJ McGroarty (Clara in a Time of War, Atmosphere Press, September 2022). We talk at length about the world-building inherent in writing historical fiction, a genre that requires the author to not only pay attention to historical facts and real-life events but also be attuned to more subtle details like language, word choice, and style of dialogue and the existing norms of gender roles and codes of conduct in a particular time period. CJ also shares her thoughts on the value of MFA programs and how in-person events are often the best way to make a connection with lifelong readers.

C.J. McGroarty is a former reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer with an MFA in Creative Writing. A Pushcart Prize nominee, her short fiction has been published in a variety of magazines and journals. Her debut novel, Clara in a Time of War, was released in September 2022 by Atmosphere Press. When she isn’t writing, C.J. gardens, reads, sings, and serves as a tour guide at Historic Waynesborough, the lifelong home of Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne. She lives in Chester County, Pa., with her husband, Jim, and their cat. C.J. recently completed work on her second novel, The House on Chambers Road, a supernatural mystery set outside Philadelphia.

To learn more about Cynthia, click here.