Lindy Dale's Blog

I've recently completed the process of re-branding (or branding) myself as an author and because I write across a few different genres, I wanted to make each one distinct while still keeping the new author name of Lindy Dale.
The first thing I did was to change my name from L.A. Dale to Lindy Dale. This was not an easy decision. Other authors told me my readers would not know where to find me but I looked at a lot of authors I love to read. Not one of them had initials as a first name, so I decided to join the crew. Lindy is more suitable to the Chick Lit/Women's Fiction market, don't you think? Plus, it is my real name and when I become famous (haha) interviewers won't have to call me L.A.Of course, when I began writing, the initials suited my needs well as I wanted to remain anonymous for various reasons. All that has changed.A note though: The paranormal romances will remain written by L.A. Dale is this fits that genre.  There are a number of paranormal authors using initials.So what else did I do?
First, I updated my bio to sound friendlier and more personable.  Chick Lit is quite a chatty, girlie genre. I like humour in a story and I wanted my bio to reflect that. You can read the new bio HEREI also uploaded a more casual headshot that fits the brand. This was a big dilemma for me. I've had an avatar until a few months ago for the same reason as the one I was writing under L.A. Dale. I also look horrendous in 98% of photos, so don't expect that one to be updated any time soon :)The next thing I did was to engage the services of the fabulous Scarlett Rugers to redesign my existing covers to show a distinction between the CL and the WF.  She works out of Melbourne so I thought she understood the "Australian-ness" of my work. She also did me a very good package deal! Have a look at some of the new covers. They carry the same author name but the vibe is completely different, don't you think?The next task was to take the branding across the board, so I now have a website, blog, FB and Twitter all carrying the same Avatar/logo.I also set up an email list, where I give away a free copy of Daisy Darling Meets A Man to those who sign up.  This has proved invaluable already as I got 11 reviewers by sending out a newsletter blast asking for reviews in return for a free copy of the new book, A Cupid Kind of Day.So what about you? Do you have a brand for your work? Can readers recognise you instantly? What did you do that makes you stand out from the crowd ~ because that's what this is all about. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Click to buyA Cupid Kind of Day has been available for a few days now and I'm over the moon about the fantastic reviews it' getting both in the US and the UK. Here's a sample ......

'Readers will find an instant affinity with Lily and no doubt recognise something of themselves in her. L.A. Dale cleverly draws you into Lily's world and envelops you in wistful romance and down to earth, practical complications. Guaranteed, you will have to read this wonderful novella in one sitting. 5/5.' ~ Daisy
'The story is full of good old fashioned Hollywood style romance. The plot of the story is as sweet as a box of chocolate and not nearly so hard on the hips. I found myself really enchanted by both the story and the characters, despite the short length of the story; the writing is that engaging. And the ending is simply adorable.' ~ Tiffany's Bookshelf
'From the very beginning Lindy Dale pulls you into the story. Never once was it slow or boring. The characters were real and enjoyable. If you like real Romance, not the really mushy non-believable stuff, you'll love this story.' ~ J L Hackett
HOW AWESOME IS THAT??? It's got me more fired up than ever to finish the next novel. After I finish watching the reruns of the Gilmore Girls, that is. Then there's Hart of Dixie, Bunheads, Smash and Chicago Fire. Gosh. I might never get it done. *kidding* ;) xoxo

This week, the lovely Samantha Stroh Bailey shares with us her Top 5 .... and what a Top 5 it is!! Samantha, pictured left, is the author of Finding Lucas.  I wonder if he's styled on any of these hotties?

TOP 5 CELEB MEN WHO MAKE ME GIDDY
Every writer needs inspiration, and though, of course, the men in my novels are inspired by some of the fabulous people in my life, I also imagine some of these gorgeous and talented male celebs when I create my characters. And if my novels are ever optioned for film (Hollywood producers, I’m waiting patiently), I can totally see these guys filling some of the roles.
Bradley CooperOh, Bradley. With those piercing blue eyes, that sexy smirk and confident swagger, he is the top of my list of hot celebrity men. I also love that he’s close to his family and seems to stay away from the scandalous drama so inherent to a Hollywood life. He can do humor and drama and has the hint of the bad boy about him. In fact, if I were to cast Derek, the bastard in Finding Lucas, Bradley would be my number one pick. And I’d certainly have to help out at readings.
Matthew McConaugheyThat drawl, those dimples, the body! I have had a little thing for Matthew McConaughey ever since I saw him in “A Time to Kill.” Though I definitely loved him in “Dazed and Confused,” he wasn’t on my radar until later. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” is one of my favorite movies, and I can watch Matthew tool around on his motorcycle and run shirtless on the beach until my eyes pop out.  
Channing TatumNormally, a muscle bound guy wouldn’t do it for me, but it’s his eyes that speak to me. Intense yet sweet and full of charm, Channing Tatum is delicious. Watching him danceBrad PittTo some, Brad Pitt might not hold the same attraction he did ten years ago. And I’m forever ignoring that ridiculous Chanel perfume ad he did. But for me, Brad Pitt will always have a place in my heart. Not just hot, he’s also an excellent actor and a humanitarian, to boot. My favorite “Friends” episode will always be his Thanksgiving visit when he revealed the “club” he and Ross formed (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0583642/).Chris Cornell of SoundgardenHere’s where you find out about my dark side. I do like pop, hip hop and R&B, but the music that really gets me is alternative. Wait, do people still call it that? I was in high school and early university when grunge exploded on the scene, and though now a mom of two young kids, I am still a diehard fan of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine and of course, Soundgarden. I think Chris Cornell has the sexiest voice, and when he screams, well, I’m toast.
So, there you have it. I’d love to hear who your top celeb men are! Do any of mine make your heart pound? 
Finding Lucas can be found on Amazon by clicking the linkies below
Amazon ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Lucas-ebook/dp/B007VIIU6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359996545&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+lucasAmazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Lucas-Samantha-Stroh-Bailey/dp/0988020424/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1359996545&sr=8-1Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Finding-Lucas/book--wfpLcDV6keHZR-T80qCUg/page1.html?s=qexbDnBnv06jGecn09acxA&r=1You can stalk Samantha too! 
Blog: http://samanthastrohbailey.blogspot.ca/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Stroh-Bailey/420736011289684Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13641194-finding-lucasTwitter: @perfectpen

Hmm, that would be a LOT!!!
I read this over two days on my kindle and while I knew exactly how it was going to end, I couldn't stop reading. If you're a fan of wit, sarcasm, great writing and a funny love story, you'll absolutely love this one!

What happens when the one that got away comes back?
Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. It was them against the world. 

Until it all fell apart.

It’s been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away. From the moment they met they’d been a gang of two; partners in crime and the best of friends. 

But life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is definitely not. In fact, the men in her life make her want to take holy orders…Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she’s never been able to mend.

If you love David Nicholls and Lisa Jewell then this is the book for you. Hilarious, heartbreaking and everything in between, you’ll be hooked from their first ‘hello’.

RELEASE DAY FEBRUARY 1OTH 2013!
Lily Appleby was down on love.  Her dreams trampled on, her belief in romance shattered, she was about as happy discussing Valentine's Day as a vegan discussing meat options.Then, she met Damon in a cobbler's shop, of all places, and over a near death incident with a hairy spider and a mix up over shoes, a bond was formed. For Lily, the attraction was instant and beyond chemical.  She felt as if someone filled her veins with champagne and the fizz was overflowing. For Damon, it was just as strong. So strong, in fact, that he was prepared to go to all manner of lengths to ensure that Lily ~ the girl he barely knew ~ had the best Valentine's Day ever and that her faith in love would be restored.Or would it?
Will Lily fall hopelessly in love over a CD and a Crunchie Bar? Or will she choose NOT to love again?
WANT A FREE PREVIEW COPY?Sign up for the February Newsletter in the side bar to find out how.Happy Reading :))

This month's book is by new author, Sarah Pearce.  It's receiving good reviews and I must say, the main character, Amy, sounds like a girl I can relate to, liking a wine as I do *wink*
Why not pop by and grab a copy?
Out Of The Mouths Of Babes takes a light-hearted peek beneath the seemingly smooth surface of Amy’s life - A housewife with a delightful nuclear family, comfortable home, pleasant daily routine, cordial circle of friends. An altogether composed existence - or so it may seem. From the moment Amy casually mentions to best friend, Becky, that she fancies a bit of excitement in her life, trouble is inevitable. If her attempts to spice up her sex life with husband, Ben, don’t land her in enough hot water, problems just seem to snowball from there. With the unexpected arrival of several individuals from her past - some more welcome than others, the discovery of one or two secrets she’d rather not know about and the everyday trials of bringing up two young children, Amy finds herself frequently in need of a glass of wine - or three.
You can find out more about Sarah on her Twitter page  or by looking her up on Facebook

Im a very lucky girl.  I have a study that was purpose built for me to write in.  When we built the house it was one of the first things I asked for. The first photo shows my desk area.  As you can see, I'm busy planning my goals for 2013 ~ with the use of multiple coloured highlighters, of course. I love them. I also like Post-Its, in case you hadn't noticed.Behind my laptop is a limited edition photo that I bought for Big G of our trip to the Rugby World Cup in 2003. It's a view of the 80,000+ crowd and we were in it! I can even see us!On the left are our season passes to the WEstern Force games.  I look after them because Big G is hopeless at that sort of stuff.There's also a card from Princess ~very funny ~ and my Madonna D&G sunnies, plus my Shop-a-holic Day Planner.
This photo shows part of my bookshelf ~ next to the desk.  Most of my books are still packed away as Big G would give them to charity if they were out.  He doesn't like clutter :)  As you can see, I like a bit of a decorating book when I'm not reading Chicklit.  The plate was given to me by Big G for Christmas one year. It's got very dainty little flowers all over and is antique. I have quite a collection of them but they're packed away as our house is a bit modern. Behind the plate it a pic of me when I was four and one of G and his naughty trio of brothers.  SO CUTE!So what do you think of my room?  What do you have in your writing space?

In my last post I told you about how I've decided to set a number of goals for myself this year and that to achieve them I have to break the tasks into manageable portions.  Well, from the Year Planner I've devised ~ with help from free online calendars *wink* ~ it looks as if I'm set to have a very busy year.  And I haven't even got to the working at home part yet ~ starting a chalet business!My Goals for this year are as follows ~I will reach my goal weight by the end of April.  Unfortunately, my efforts with the 12 Week Body Transformation thus far have been pathetic.  Though I thought I was doing everything right and have even begun to exercise again, it appears that I cannot move my weight!!! GRRR. Even after being careful and not drinking on NYE I still managed to put on a kilo!To achieve this, will mean writing down EVERYTHING though because I have a sneaking suspicion that even though I may have thought I was being good, I'm not. Either that or I just give up eating!I will publish a set of 3/4 novellas based around the holidays ~ Valentines, Easter, Christmas.  This gives me a deadline for release as holidays/events never change! It also means I can book the marketing well in advance.I will publish two full length novels. One in June and the other in September. i would like to say 3 here but the goals have to be realistic and if I'm aiming for quality 2 is more realistic.By July, I will have a part-time tutoring business.  I've already begun this process and have gone into partnership with another teacher.  My aim is not not be in the classroom anymore as I want to be more flexible. Unfortunately, it means I will have to tutor on my day off and after school for the moment, but I figure that's a good way to see if I like it.The blog will get an upgrade.  I want the blog to be more informative, fun and read by more people so I've devised a plan of attack here already (that's all the orange you can see in the photo). I'm going to have three regular posts on featured books/new releases, A pictorial post showing different authors writing spaces and another fun post for authors to write top 5 lists.  Of course, I'll still be doing giveaways and telling you about my writing journey too. All the authors will be Chick Lit or Women's Fiction based and I hope the blog will become a really fun informative place for readers, as well as a promo opportunity for authors.By the end of 2013 I am going to be well on the way to running Writer's workshops and Retreats, Fitness Camps and Rustic Weddings from our home venue.  At the moment this, is the hardest to achieve because of financial requirements. So the first thing I'll need to do is go with Big G and take a visit to the bank! Once the funding is organised, we can put some plans in place ~ and believe me we have a lot!!!

<<----- My Mantra for this year "MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE!"
I've been reading a lot during the break about marketing, becoming more professional and developing my brand as a Chicklit author so today, I thought I'd share some of the things I've learnt ~ or forgotten that I already knew :) ~ with you. Hopefully, this might help you if you've been pondering your goals. GOALS ~ We all need goals, it gives us something to work towards.  Last year, due to my brush with the bitch-formerly-known-as-Cancer, many of them went flying out the window. Sort of like my hair is doing know because of the medication!  I MUST WRITE DOWN MY GOALS AND REVIEW THEM. The time has come to stop talking and start doing.  At the moment my dreams are just that. By writing them down and giving them a deadline, I'm one step closer to making them real.I NEED TO SET DEADLINES FOR MY GOALS and not just those airy-fairy things like "I'm going to lose weight by winter," or "I'm going to publish 5 novels by the end of the year." My goals have to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. It's known as the SMART goal setting technique.I NEED TO ORGANISE & DIARISE: Doing the 12 Week Body Transformation has taught me this.  If I buy all my food for the week before hand, I'm not tempted.  If I have an exercise session booked, I stick to it ~ well, unless it's 40 freakin' degrees like it has been for the past week, I'm still struggling with that. So I guess, if I get organised in the other areas of my life, do my research and plan, I should be able to achieve what I want this year ~ depending on the funding, that is.  I may need a goal to figure that one out. IF I BREAK MY GOALS INTO MANAGEABLE PIECES BASED ON TIME, I CAN SUCCEED.  It's all about baby steps.  Small pieces that lead to the whole.So what are my goals this year?  Well, you'll just have to read the next post. *wink*

In 2013, I'm going to give the blog a makeover to make it more interesting, engaging and professional. As such I'd like to know what you'd like to see in my posts ~
what would make you read and engage?Below is a short survey about bloggy-type things. I look forward to hearing your views!
Take part in the online survey 

 *mwah*