I’m a writer and author originally from North Carolina, currently living in Indiana.
My latest historical fiction novel, THE NIGHT WITCHES, tells the story of WWII’s real-life all-female flying regiment. It will be published by Putnam at Penguin Random House in April 2027. You can find preorder links HERE.
My debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF THE GREENBRIER, is a multi-generational saga about a Jewish family living near the iconic Greenbrier resort in West Virginia (order HERE). My second novel, THE LOST GIRL OF CRAVEN COUNTY, is a historical mystery set amid the “Little Jerusalem” community of New Bern, North Carolina in the 1930s (order HERE).
As a journalist, I’ve written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Outside, Smithsonian, the Atlantic, the Atavist, and many others. My nonfiction book, Homeward Bound, a cultural history of so-called “women’s work,” was published by Simon & Schuster in 2013.
I’ve also contributed to dozens of Lonely Planet travel and culture guidebooks. I’ve taught writing at the University of North Carolina and the University of Hong Kong. I have a bachelors degree in English from Harvard University and a masters in applied linguistics from the University of Hong Kong.
When I’m not working, I like to hike, cook, garden, try new foods, and travel with my husband and two sons.
Follow me on Instagram at @emilymatcharwriter, send me an email at ematchar@gmail.com, or fill out THIS FORM if you’re interested in having me speak with your book club.