Inside The Tower

"Jade Varden HAS to be one of the best indie writers and yes guys she blew me away again with her second book in the Deck of Lies series!"

"Just brace yourself for a jaw dropping storyline."

BookAThonFreak has posted a new review of The Tower (Deck of Lies, #2), and I want you to read it! It's spoiler-free, so feel free to go check it out. While you're there, watch the official trailer for The Tower at the bottom of the post.

Best Apps for Writers

Writers have always used the best technology possible to create their books. Do you think anyone welcomed the invention of the fountain pen more than the authors of the day, who had drawers filled with empty ink bottles and used-up quills? Do you question at all that writers were the first to try out typewriters, and felt deep longing the first time the electric typewriter became available? No! Technology is even more sophisticated today, and it's even more useful for today's writers. But app-hunting takes up some pretty serious time, and you need your time for writing. So I've hunted out the apps for you to make things a little easier.

Apps for Writers

Even web browsers have apps and add-ons, and there's no reason not to use them. Anything that can help you save time or get things done more efficiently is worth pursuing. 

• Blogging. You never know when you're going to get a great idea for your next blog post. The Blogger app is available on the Android market and through the iStore, so go download it. If you're a WordPress user, download that app for your browser and all your smartphone devices. Browser apps are especially useful because they give you quick, instant access to your posts. If you blog elsewhere, just get the Pages app. It's a handy little word processor that makes it easy to record notes or even create entire compositions. Get it from the iStore for any of your Apple products.
• Notes. But if you're a serious note-taker, you need a serious app for it. Get Chapters from the iStore to keep all your thoughts organized. You can even add password protection for extra-sensitive materials. 
• Words. I'm a big advocate of using appropriate reference materials, and that's why I love the Advanced Dictionary and Thesaurus app. It's available on Android and Apple products. A dictionary-only version is available on Blackberry. If you're using the same words too much in your writing, even a quick glance at the thesaurus can get the creative juices flowing again.
• Social. As every indie author knows, writing is only one part of the job. It's great to keep your notes organized and your words interesting, but you've got to do a lot of promoting work, too. That means you've got to get the Twitter app, the Facebook app, the Goodreads app and apps for every other social media site you use. They're available on just about anything you might have. Sync your smartphone to your author accounts for quick access. If you've got a Facebook author page, get the Facebook Pages app, too.
• eReaders. If you're downloading apps, you can't pass on the Kindle and Nook apps. Get them both so you can get an idea of how readers are looking at your work. You might end up being surprised at what you see. It's always a good idea to put yourself in your reader's shoes (or in their ereaders), so get all the ebook apps on all the devices that you use.

And because my blog is dedicated to self-published and indie authors, all of the apps on my list are free. You've got to save up your money for ebooks, covers, copyrights and all the other stuff that goes into creating novels. Get the free stuff that helps you save time and get more done, and write more novels!

Getting in Deeper with Death...

"Rain is down the rabbit hole again, seeking out the truth in the thicket of lies and secrecy."

"More twists, turns, and secrets exposed. It was a fun ride."

Death (Deck of Lies, #3) has been reviewed at Quirky Girls Read. Visit the blog to read the entire review. 

Use the links above the post to get the first three books in the series, and get caught up on the story before I release book four!

Writing 101: How to Write Objectively

If you're a writer, there are times when you have to learn how to leave your opinions out of what you're writing. Even fiction authors who largely focus on novels might be asked to write an article or blog post, and it's definitely a good idea to do so. Any piece of writing can help you promote yourself as an author and make more people aware of who you are. But if you can't write objectively, you may end up hurting your sales and your image instead. 

Shhhh...

Believe it or not, I'm very good at keeping certain opinions to myself. Sure, I've passionately talked about certain words and I'm very clear about grammar rules and how I feel about them...but you definitely can't tell me if I vote, if I'm religious or how I happen to feel about any issue outside of writing whatsoever. Authors have to learn how to write objectively not just in blog posts and articles, they've got to learn how to do it in social media and forum groups, too. There are lots of reasons you're going to have to write objectively. 

Do you know how? 

Writing Objectively

As an author, it's always a part of your job description to look at things from different perspectives. When you create certain scenarios and scenes in your books, some of them are bound to involve more than one person. You have to write for your main character and the entire supporting cast as well, and each one of them is bringing something different to your literary table. So you might be really great at expressing and imagining opinions, drawing conclusions and forming emotions.  

Having no opinion and no emotions is going to be a whole heck of a lot harder. But I feel strongly about most everything (I'll engage you in a 10-minute argument about closet doors any day of the week), and I've found ways to be objective just the same -- so I know you can, too. 

• Get opinions. Writing objectively isn't always about writing with no opinion whatsoever. More often, it's about showing all sides of a particular argument. You can try mental gymnastics, and use your author's creativity to put yourself in a dozen different pairs of shoes, and you should. But while you're at it you should also do some general research. See who else has written about your topic, and what they've said, and what opinions they've expressed. Reading what others have to say about a thing can really help you write objectively, because it can help you see something from many different sides. 
• Informative, not emotional. You have to learn how to be informative and not emotional when you're writing objectively. You're presenting something to readers, not expressing it. This in particular can be tricky for fiction authors, who are always so focused on painting complete scenes and putting emotion into every paragraph. You've got to turn all of that off. Think of each sentence as some new evidence you're putting out there. 
• Look at your adjectives. Re-read what you've written and find all the adjectives. In lots of objective writing, you don't need too many adjectives. It's not for you to say something is "small." Give me the dimensions, and I, as the reader, will decide that. Are you qualified to say that something is "beautiful?" Maybe I like pea green best of all -- is that your favorite color? Adjectives are really just traps in objective writing, because more often than not you should be presenting and not describing. 
• Don't engage. When it comes to social media, forums and other venues when objective writing isn't really practiced by anyone, you have to discipline yourself not to engage in certain conversations. Unless you are marketing books that are obviously religious or political, and obviously aligned with some faction therein, you will only be alienating readers by loudly shouting your opinion on these matters. When you're wearing your author persona, you are not a complete person. You're an objective, creative writing machine that turns out fantastic prose. Where you stand politically isn't any of my damned business, so don't make it my business. 

There are lots of reasons writers have to learn how to write objectively, and lots more reasons why that's incredibly difficult. Re-read your stuff to make sure you're looking at things from all sides, or no sides. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and you are too -- but you shouldn't necessarily be sharing it everywhere. Let your characters have the opinions, and all the glory, and you just continue to do your thing behind the keyboard. When you're not in author mode, continue being whoever you already are, and keep opinions where they belong.

Writing 101: Dealing With Other Authors

Every kid has a dream, right? Mine was to be a writer, and I spent a lot of time imagining how it'd be. I would sit in some beautiful room somewhere, in front of a window overlooking an idyllic garden perhaps, quietly tapping away on my keyboard at rapid speeds. No one would ever bother me. I would complete my books and send them off to some huge publishers, who would turn the pages into a perfect book with a fabulous cover and all of that. Everyone would buy the books, and I would continue writing. Now, I am a writer...and I realize how foolish every bit of that imagery really is. 

I hardly ever have the time to write. It's the last thing I add to the list and the first one I take off when things get dicey, the task I wish I could get to but rarely do. And some of the time I'm not writing and yet still fully engaged in the job of being a writer, I'm dealing with other authors other than myself. 

And if you're self-publishing, you're going to have to deal with them, too. 

Hey, There Are Other Writers Here

You're a member of the indie author community even before you self-publish your first book. Once you make a decision to self-publish, you're part of the group...and it's a huge group. You're going to need them right away, so that's a good thing.

• Reviews. Most all your early reviews are probably going to come from other authors if you're participating in the indie community. Review swaps can help you get your first reviews, and even if you don't swap you will find lots of indie authors who really want to review other self-published writers. Participate in forum groups (like the ones at Goodreads) to find them. 
• Networking. Indie authors share information with other indie authors. Participate in forums where you find useful links, and look for indie author blogs where writers share from their own experiences and provide resources. If you want more specific information, send a message to the author through social networking sites or through email addresses, if they're listed on the blogs themselves. 
• Supporting. Indie authors will support one of their own. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook, and they'll follow you back. What's more, they'll re-tweet and re-post your stuff when you're sending out links and information about your books. This is a great reason for keeping the indie author community on your side. 
• Opportunity. Speaking of indie author blogs, you'll be exposed to a world of opportunity when you participate in the indie author community. You may receive invitations to provide guest posts, join blog tours and participate in other special events that will help you promote yourself and your work. 

 Now, Deal With It

Any one of the reasons listed above is a compelling argument for participating in the indie author community, but in reality it's a whole lot easier said than done. Dealing with other authors in almost any capacity, especially indie authors, can be extremely trying...and there are times when you're going to need to marshal your strength in order to do it.

But a few tips can't hurt. 

• Reviewing Them

They'll be more inclined to review you if you're reviewing them, and it's always a good idea to read other self-published authors so you understand your own market. You want to know what your readers are reading, because they aren't reading your books alone. You may also be approached by other authors about doing a beta read, or looking over their work and giving them notes. Hang around in the community long enough, and you may end up giving out reviews.

And that's when things start to get dicey. You may be met with anger and unappealing behavior after giving a self-published author some well-meaning criticism. It's your job to stay professional and polite, and that's the beginning of the first thing you need to know.

• You're a professional. 

You're a self-published author. You're an indie. You are an entrepreneur, perhaps well on your way to full-time self-employment. That makes you a professional, and that makes your pen name a brand name, so at all times try to act like one -- especially when you're engaging other authors. Treat them with respect, politeness and some necessary distance at all times. They're not your best friends, nor are they your enemies. They are your colleagues, each and every one of them from Amanda Hocking to the Fifty Shades of Grey author to me, Jade. Think of them as business associates, and always remain polite to them even if they're lashing out at you in some way. We're all human, and writing is pretty emotional business. Outbursts are bound to happen, but you've always got time before hitting Send to take a deep breath and re-read whatever you've about to post/email/blog. Editing and reading is part of being a writer, right?

• Supporting them.

If you want to get support from the community, you should return the favor by supporting other self-published authors. Retweet, repost, share links, tell them things that you've figured out and don't be afraid to recommend their books if someone asks you about what you like to read. You should absolutely be reading other indie authors, and familiarize yourself with those who write in genres similar to your own. To be a part of the community, be a part of the community. Get it?

• Tolerating them.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by it all. I started following 7 groups on Goodreads, boards I picked with great care for well-thought reasons that were driven by logic. Now I'm a member of 30-something groups, at least, that quickly become overloaded with new posts in a matter of hours. I could pay an assistant a full-time wage to keep up with it. If I had an assistant. Or money for an assistant. The point is, there are so many self-published authors out there that you're going to get swamped. There might be times when you're receiving so many requests to do so much stuff, you want to swear off technology and swear at your ereader. I'm constantly reminding myself to focus on one thing at a time, instead of thinking about the long line of tasks awaiting me. I like to make a list, so I can check each item off one by one. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, and helps me stay focused on the particular thing I need to work on right now. Even if you have to comb through 30-something forum groups, it is doable if you avoid distractions.

• Reading them.

I used to love Patricia Cornwell books. You know, Kay Scarpetta? Anyway, I devoured them. She couldn't write them fast enough for me. Then one day I got to talking about books with an acquaintance, and without a bit of prompting she roundly disparaged Cornwell right in front of me. She said the books ought not to have been published, and went on to impugn Pat's writing with colorful language. I was stunned, affronted, shocked.

All readers don't respond to all writers the same way, and you're going to find lots of indie authors to whom you don't respond when you read their work. You might end up reading and reviewing an indie book that quite literally makes you miserable, or one so filled with errors it brings you to tears. They're out there, guys. I know where they're at, and you'll find them, too.

You might hate them, for that. You might hate them for those errors. You might, like me, go to the very brink of insanity because of repeated formatting issues (justification, justification, justification). You might hate yourself for agreeing to read something that turns out to be not worth reading beyond the first page. Everyone has hated a book produced by a major publishing house, too. I've found errors in mass-market paperbacks that could curl your eyelashes.

You might think to yourself, I'm not like them. I don't belong with them. I've seen, and been offended by, flowery forum posts that say pretty much this. There's a stigma associated with self-published authors, and believe me if you read enough of them you'll know why it's there. But there are fantastic indies out there, too, the discovered and the un-discovered who are just waiting for their words to catch fire (and they will). I've found them as well. Like every single other kind of author, self-published authors all have their own writing strengths and weaknesses, and you're going to love some and hate some. Do not become guilty of grouping them together the way the media and the numbers-crunchers do.

All books are books, and all authors are authors. They all write the same way, don't they? They've got the same standard keyboard as you, and me, and every other self-published author. They're on the same social media sites. They've got the same plot problems, and they roll their eyes the same way when it's time to start editing. They just have a few more people around them and a few more dedicated readers, that's all. The main thing you ought to know about being an author? You have to extend some professional respect to all other authors...and that's the best, and only, way you should be dealing with them.

Jade, Behind the Words

Why did I become a writer? What's my greatest weakness? And if I could live anywhere, where would I go? Get these answers -- and a whole lot more -- in my newest author interview!

Writing 101: It's and Its

The difference between its and it's is as tiny as a single apostrophe, and yet the punctuation is fraught with so much meaning. The words are said the same way, they're pretty much spelled the same way and they appear in just about every book. But writers still get them mixed up all the time. 

Apostrophes, No Rules Edition

There's a reason that its and it's are confusing, and one culprit is to blame: the apostrophe. Sure it looks benign, inviting even, but when it comes to its and it's the apostrophe breaks all of its own rules. 

Oftentimes, the apostrophe shows up to give possession to something. If I buy a purse, that purse is Jade's. But apostrophes serve a different function in it's: they represent a missing i. And when it comes to possession in it? There's no apostrophe at all. 

Confusing, right?

It's

It's actually means it is or it has. It is a pretty common expression, but it is sounds a little formal in some narration and dialogue so many writers change it is and it has to it's. The apostrophe is there to represent the letters which aren't being spoken. 

Its

Looking at the word its is enough to make you fearful. It looks like the plural of it, and suggests that its are going to start leaping out at you from everywhere. But its is a word that's unique unto itself in that it breaks a grammar rule simply by existing. See, its is actually the possessive of an object's ownership. There's no apostrophe, and that's why its is so very dreadful.

Think of its as the neutral version of his and hers. It gives possession, ownership, to any object (or animal or person) that has no known gender. A few examples: 

She balanced the pencil to stand on its own tip.

He brushed the leaves off its face to reveal the neglected watch.

Maybe the money wandered off on its own. 

Knowing the Difference

It's not easy to tell when to use its and it's, so double-check them every time. Know what the sentence means, and read its and it's as it is and it has to see if they make sense. Remember that you're really using two words every time you put the apostrophe into it's, and just one word when no apostrophe is there. 

Books on Film: Freaky Friday

I was lucky enough to discover the book version of Freaky Friday first. It was in my school library, and the title seemed interesting enough. Little did I know that through the years, I would eventually become exhausted with what's become one of the most over-used plot devices in the whole of fiction writing. But when I first read the book, it was brand-new and unique. I think that's how author Mary Rodgers intended it.

The Book

Freaky Friday was published in 1972, and adapted into film almost immediately. The story quickly caught on with young readers. They probably identified with Annabelle Andrews, like I did. Annabelle wakes one Friday morning after arguing with her mother, and discovers she now is her mother -- at least, she's in her mother's body instead of in her own.

Freaky indeed. Now, Annabelle has to run the house and take care of her brother Ben, whom she calls Ape Face. As it turns out, being a homemaker is one adventure after the next, and Annabelle really has no idea what her mother does all day to keep everything running smoothly. She ends up getting aid in the form of Boris, a neighborhood boy with whom she's secretly in love. Instead of being in her own awkward teenage body, with teeth covered in braces, she's in her mother's gorgeous body and Boris is more than willing to hang around. She doesn't tell him who she really is, of course.

It's not Annabelle's intention to spy, but through no fault of her own she does obtain surprising information as the day wears on. As it turns out, Ben actually adores Annabelle and craves her friendship. She also learns that Boris's real name is Morris; he just has such terrible congestion he can hardly be understood.

Meanwhile, Annabelle has no idea where her own body is. She's got little time to think about this problem, however, as the house is practically falling down around her ears. But she can't help but think about the argument she had with her mother, and realizes that it was by Ellen's doing that their bodies mysteriously switched. 

And the bodies switch back again. When Annabelle finds herself back in her body, the braces are gone and her hair and clothes are different. Mrs. Andrews has been quite busy! But both have a new understanding and respect for each other after the switch, and the mother-daughter relationship is much closer. 

It's a great little read, so don't let my summary keep you from reading it. But even if you haven't, you're probably pretty familiar with the story. After all, Disney's turned it into a movie three times.

The Film

The very first film adaptation of Freaky Friday was written by the book's author and helped propel one Hollywood leading lady into lasting fame. It was made in 1976 with Barbara Harris as Mrs. Andrews and a young Jodie Foster as Annabelle. Foster made two other films that year, and won the most notice and acclaim for Taxi Driver, but did get a Golden Globe nod for her turn as Annabelle Andrews.

Rodgers greatly expanded upon her own story to create the film. This time, mother Ellen Andrews was a protagonist along with Annabelle, and watchers get to see how she's faring in the wilds of High School while Annabelle is struggling with the responsibilities of running a household. Annabelle was also given a talent for waterskiing, and set the stage for the two to have a comical switch while Ellen-as-Annabelle is trying not to break her neck while hanging onto the back of a boat. 

In this version of the story, viewers actually get to see the switch happen. Barbara Harris is fantastic in her role of Annabella-as-Ellen, and Foster is equally exceptional acting like a grown, married lady while in the midst of a bunch of lackadaisical teenagers.

This time, we see Ellen-as-Annabelle leaving school to go to her "father's" office, where she asks for his credit card and intimidates the heck out of his young, attractive secretary. The movie ends with an allusion that Mr. Andrews and Ben, the younger brother, might be on the brink of switching places themselves.

The film was a big commercial success, and both the leading ladies were nominated for awards...so Disney decided to do it again in 1995. This time, Freaky Friday was a made-for-TV movie starring Shelley Long as Ellen Andrews and Gaby Hoffmann as Annabelle. This time, the switch between them is actually explained -- a pair of magical amulets causes it all to happen. Lots of changes were made in this version. Annabelle is now a diver, Ellen isn't even married and Bill is her boyfriend, not her long-time husband and Annabelle's father. Boris/Morris is reduced to a cameo character, and Annabelle's love interest is now a guy named Luke. The dynamics of her life at school are greatly expanded upon. This time, the cast includes a principal, teachers, and the school's Queen Bee.

In 2003, the story changed again. And again, Disney did the changing. This time, Freaky Friday starred Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman and Jamie Lee Curtis as her mom. An enchanted Chinese fortune cookie causes the switch this time, because that's not stupid at all. Anna is now into rock-n-roll, and she's given a little brother again (Harry, played by Ryan Malgarini). She's in a rock band, and her mother (now named Tess) completely disapproves. Dad/husband died three years ago, and the family is still trying to adjust. Anna is also failing English and has a terrible time getting along with her mother. Tess has a wedding rehearsal occurring the same night Anna wants to go to a band audition, and it starts a huge argument while they're at the Chinese restaurant. A magic fortune cookie later, and the stage is set for a freaky Friday.

After making the requisite attempt to switch their bodies back immediately, the two are forced to carry on in each other's bodies and lives. Tess finds out why Anna is getting bad grades in English and confronts the teacher in front of everyone, thus taking care of the problem. Meanwhile, Anna has to try and fake her way through work. Tess goes on to give Anna a makeover before the two go back to the Chinese restaurant together. The two learn more about each other, Tess discovers how important the band is to her daughter, blah, blah, blah, they switch back. By this point, Freaky Friday doesn't look anything like the original book.

What Got Adapted? 

In the original movie version, Annabelle continues to narrate the story in Jodie Foster's voice. This is because the book is told from her point of view, and the film maintains that flavor. The movie actually takes watchers into Ellen's day as Annabelle, something we didn't get to see in the book, and it's a nice addition. We learn that Annabelle plays field hockey, marches in the band, has a ton of friends and even water skis.

Annabelle-as-Ellen loses control quite a bit more in the movie. In the book, she manages to hold it together until the very end. In the movie, she ends up firing the maid and causing one calamity after the next.

Body-swap stories are turned into books and movies all the time, but it wasn't Rodgers who started the trend. The book Freaky Friday is quite similar to the 1882 book Vice Versa: A Lesson to Fathers. In this story, a father and son switch bodies. A magic stone causes the switch, and as the story goes they end up with a deeper understanding of one another.

The best film adaptation of Freaky Friday is the original, and this is the only one written by the book's author. It actually does what film adaptations should do: it expands on the original story, and gives readers even more. That's why the 1976 version of the story is a can't-miss adaptation, and a great representation of its inspiration.