BDD: tell us more about FlingGirlLA: 
Fling Girl LA is a comedic online graphic novel about love and dating in Los Angeles. The first issue comes out end of November and each month a new chapter will be available to read for free on our site. We also have cool discounts and giveaways for subscribers, people can ask dating questions, and we’re starting DATING DRAMA where readers can submit their own crazy, funny, ridiculous dating stories and each month we’ll publish 2-3 on our site. We also really want this to be a love letter to the city, corny as that sounds. People always romanticize NYC or even Chicago, but Los Angeles is such an easy target for jokes. We want to incorporate the places that make this city so great into the story -MOCA, Hollywood Bowl, certain restaurants and architecture. There is culture here, and it does have it’s own unique charm, so LA really is a character in our story.
BDD: where did the idea come from?
Last fall I wrote basically the book version of Fling Girl LA about a girl learning to be single after being in a long relationship (based on real experience – write what you know right?) and Amy Saaed (Fling Girl’s illustrator and co-creator) and I got together and had the idea to turn the book into a graphic novel, so that’s what we did. It has been a real labor of love and we’re excited about it. It also seemed like the time was right for a story like this because so many people (men and women) talk about how crazy dating in LA is – it has it’s own brand of insanity.
BDD: what are three things that you would share about dating LA with a friend who just move to LA?
Oh man. Well, there are a LOT of flakey people, so be prepared for that. And keep an open mind, there are plenty of models and Ryan Goslings and Johnny Depps walking around but those probably aren’t the guys to focus on – no offense to the hotties but it’s just a fact. And finally – try and have fun and keep your sense of humor about it all, that’s probably your best defense.
BDD: What’s the number one advice you would have for newly single people?
Stay busy, see your friends, surround yourself with people who make you feel good – the transition can be rough, but you’ll be just fine.
BDD: What’s the number one mistake you see people make?
Putting someone on a pedestal when they don’t necessarily deserve it. I’ve done it, I think most people out there have. You meet someone and you make them into this incredible person in your mind, you put energy into wondering why they’re not calling or texting and before you know it they’re way cooler than they actually are. In retrospect I think you realize it was a lot of wasted energy. So I think being careful not to do that is important.
BDD: What’s your favorite idea for the first date?
Something simple like coffee or a drink, if you like each other you can be spontaneous and do something else, go to dinner, go on a walk or whatever, and if it’s not going well you’re not locked into sitting there for hours! I was asked to go on a bike ride on a first date once and that did NOT seem like a good first date to me. You can’t really talk and you can’t wear cute shoes – maybe it’s the Southern Belle in me but a bike riding date should come later.
BDD: What’s the best way/place to meet people in LA?
Through friends I think. Be social, go out to events, parties, art galleries, things like that. If you think you’re going to meet an amazing non flakey person at a club on Hollywood Boulevard – more power to you. You might – but it’s doubtful. I really think meeting through friends is the best way.
BDD: What’s your take on online dating?
I think it works for some people and that’s great. I have friend who are married with kids who met online. I tried it and it wasn’t really my thing, it felt a little forced and odd, but I didn’t give it a lot of time. I think if you’re single and want to meet someone it’s probably good to at least try it out – the main thing about being single is you really should have an open mind. There’s no one best way to meet someone, and there’s no “right” person. The ideal person you have in your mind might not be the right person for you at all. So stay open to the possibilities.
BDD: Dina, thank you for your time!
Dina Gachman
Twitter @TheElf26
http://www.flinggirlla.com/
http://bureaucracyforbreakfast.tumblr.com/
Dina Gachman writes the blog “Bureaucracy for Breakfast,” and is the Writer/Co-Creator of Fling Girl LA. Her comic book about Elizabeth Taylor will be published this fall by Bluewater Comics. You can find her on Twitter @TheElf26.