Querying Author: Jessica Bucher

Happy Monday, one and all! Today we have with us the lovely querying author Jessica Bucher!

Jessica Bucher

blog: www.jessicabucher.com

twitter: @JessicaB_writer

How long have you been writing?

I've been more of a story enthusiast than a writer all of my life.  Once upon a time, I nearly attended film school to be a film maker or screen writer.  That didn't exactly pan out, so I switched gears and threw myself into novel writing.  I switched my major to Creative Writing, and dedicated myself to becoming a full-time writer.

What inspired the project you’re currently querying?

I honestly cannot remember what inspired this novel.  I just know that it's been a story in my mind for over a decade.  It wasn't really until I started writing it that I discovered my characters and their story. The whole idea just came from this notion that love has no boundaries, not even death.

What’s your elevator pitch for the project you’re currently querying?

Nin can't remember her death. She remembers her cruel boyfriend, troubled father and absent mother, though she'd like to forget. 

Dylan doesn’t need to remember his death to know that he deserved it.  He expects the worst in the afterlife, but he doesn’t expect to meet Nin, a girl who makes him hope that it’s not too late. Given the chance to change the past, they must decide if saving themselves is worth losing each other.

What are you working on in the meantime to keep yourself from checking your email every three seconds?

I have a completely different project in the works.  It's still YA but more steampunk and fantasy.  It was inspired by a trip I took to Prague last year.  It's about a band of magic-wielding street performers, and a fiddle player who falls in love with a living statue. It's a trilogy, and the first book is currently in revisions.  I can't wait to query this project.  It's so fun and quirky.

What are three books that have shaped you as a writer?

The three books that have shaped me as a writer are actually just novels that taught me what real story telling can do.  The first is My Name is Memory by Ann Brashere.  That book showed me that a powerful love story doesn't have to be cliche or cheesy.  The second is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  That book taught me about imagery and creating a world so fantastic that I refuse to believe it's not real.  And the third is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack.  That book taught me about voice and the power of perspective.

Are you a plotter or a pantser or an all-of-the-above-er? What is your writing process?

I'm a plotter, through and through. My plotting process is intense, color-coded and all.  I create binders for each of my novels complete with character cards, timelines, back stories and more.  I learned the hard way with my first novel.  That thing was all over the place, and it took me twice as long as it should have to wrangle it all back together. 

I also use Scrivener to plot. I love the notecard option and the binders to keep all of my inspiration and loose thoughts. I do sometimes stray from the course, but it's important for my method to have a roadmap to keep me on track. 

What advice would you give to a writer about to take the plunge into querying?

Persistence is key.  You can do all the research in the world and read a million different versions of do's and don't's, but at the end of the day, the only thing that will work is persistence.  Keep writing, keep querying, keep reading, keep learning.  It's a discouraging business, but it's discouraging for everyone, not just you.  So keep going!

How do you take your caffeine?

 Coffee in the morning and tea in the evening.

Best of luck to you with your querying, Jessica!! Thanks so much for stopping by!