Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Jacinda Buchmann

In addition to meeting people I’ve known for a while online, I also met some new lovelies at UtopYA. That’s part of the beauty; knowing we all share a love of YA & NA. Jacinda Buchmann was in a booth directly across from mine at the event. 

During a quiet moment, we started chatting about our books and life. It was so much fun! 

Jacinda, thanks so much for hanging out with me today.

Jacinda:  Thank you for inviting me! This was my first year attending UtopYA and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was looking forward to chatting with fans about my books and meeting one of my good friends in person,  Author Natasha Hanova, because we had only chatted online. We lucked out and ended up having tables next to each other, so that made it even better. But then I ended up making so many other friends, including you, so now I'm even more excited to attend UtopYA next year. Not only will I have a new book to share, I also have so many new friends that I can't wait to see again :-)

It was my first as well! Next year is going to rock! 
When did you first know you wanted to write a novel?

J:  When I was in second grade! No kidding, LOL :-) I knew I wanted to be an author since I could write. My poor teachers in school...any time they'd assign a "short" story to write, I would write a "short novel", ha ha! Looking back, I sometimes wish that I made majored in English or something "author" related when I went to college, but at the time I was too practical and followed a career path where I knew I would have a guaranteed job and paycheck. It wasn't a huge paycheck - I became a teacher, lol - but it was a job I thought I would enjoy. And I did enjoy it for a time, but my desire to be an author was too strong, and I finally reached a point in my life where I could follow my dream and write full-time, and since I've been writing full-time I've never been happier!

What a gift to know; that's how I felt about writing. Your Indigo series features twin brothers as the main characters. I think it’s admirable to write from an opposite sex perspective. Were you worried? What research did you do—or what personal experience do you have—to make sure you captured the male teenage voice?

J:  I was an eighth grade English teacher for two years and later I became a middle school counselor, so I've spent a lot of time working with teenage boys and discovering how they "think", lol :-) Besides my personal experience though, when I get a character in my head, I tend to "hear" them, so regardless of whether I'm writing from the viewpoint of a sixteen-year-old boy, a seventeen-year-old girl, or a nine-year-old autistic boy (a character that can also be found in the trilogy), when I write I close my eyes, picture myself in their head, and then simply write what they think and say :-)

I can’t wait to read the first two books—they sound amazing! When can we expect Book 3? Can you share anything about it yet?

J:  I am currently working on Book 3: Indigo Infinity, the final installment in the trilogy. I haven't announced the official release date yet - though I will soon. I can say that it will be out in time for Christmas :-) During the first two books, Indigo Incite and Indigo Instinct, the characters are on the run from a secret government agency that wants to exploit them for their supernatural powers. Throughout the first two stories, there has been a lot of foreshadowing of events to come. In book three, the characters decide they've had enough once and for all as all of the clues begin to fall into place.  Throughout the trilogy, some relationships have slowly developed while some hearts have been broken, but in the final installment, we will see how they are ready to take control of their futures and decide on their own destinies.

I met so many wonderful people like you at UtopYA. What do you think makes this conference so special?

J:  UtopYA stands out from other conferences I've been to because the authors and readers are given opportunities to mingle throughout the weekend. Instead of just sitting behind my "author table" for hours on end and then packing it all up at the end of the day, I was able to mix with authors, bloggers, and readers. At the end of the weekend, I walked away with so many unexpected new friendships :-)

Quick Questions…

Favorite Punctuation Mark: Ha!! I don't know about favorite punctuation marks, but I love using italics. Some of the characters in the Indigo Trilogy speak to each other telepathically, and these conversations are conveyed through italics - so much fun!

Ocean or Mountains? That's a tough one. I lived in Seattle til I was 13 so I grew up near the ocean, but then I moved to Montana! I love both, but I think the mountains speak to me a little more :-)

Favorite Alcoholic Beverage:  Moscato - I love a sweet wine.

Favorite Dessert:  I LOVE dessert!! Either a warm brownie topped with vanilla ice cream or strawberry rhubarb crisp topped with vanilla ice cream :-)

Shower or bath? Bath?? You mean TIME to relax away from kids?? I think I remember what those were like ;-) These days it's a shower - as fast as possible. Someday though...someday many years from now, a bath would be fantastic :-)

Sweet or Sour? Sweet for sure! I don't like sour...at all. 

I love Moscato and adore all things sweet! I hope I’ll see you at UtopYA2015, so we can hang out more! 

J: Yes! I will definitely be at UtopYA 2015. I have my table reserved, and I'm counting down the days...well, eventually I will be. First, I get to go to Phoenix ARC in October, Tucson ComicCon in November, The Novel Experience in Las Vegas in April, Signatures in Salt Lake in May, and then....YES! UtopYA in June! I can't wait! See you there :-) 

More about Jacinda...

Jacinda Buchmann lives in Arizona with her husband and three children. She graduated from Carroll College, in Helena, Montana, with a B.A. in elementary education and later received a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, in school counseling. After spending several years as a teacher and later a school counselor, she now spends her time writing, any free chance she can get, that is, when she’s not spending time with her family or creating a new concoction in the kitchen.

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Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.