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Allison Larkin

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  • Home
  • Books
    • Home of the American Circus
    • The People We Keep
    • Allie Larkin
  • TrueHearts Collective
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  • Writer Resources
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    • Contact
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100 Things – 95-97

March 29, 2011 Filed Under: 100 Things

95. I was obsessed with 21 Jump Street reruns in junior high school and secretly wanted to be an police officer like Judy Hoffs - a confession that makes people who know me well laugh hysterically.  Despite the fact that I have horrible aim and am prone to bouts of impressive clumsiness, I still think I'd have made a kick-ass undercover cop.  Plus, since I still get asked when my mom will be home by the meter man, I totally could have had a long career doing drug busts in high schools. 96. I had a crush on Doug Penhall, not Tom Hanson.97. I finished my taxes last week due, in part, to coffee, … [Read more...]

3 Comments

100 Things – 91-94

March 9, 2011 Filed Under: 100 Things

Oh my gosh! I didn't mean to disappear from my blog like that.  Since I've made Tuesdays and Thursdays writing-only days, I've had a little trouble trying to cram the rest of the week into Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  But I am getting tons of writing done.  Which is good, since I'm, you know, a writer and all.  I am, however, a writer who does not have a single clean towel in the house at the moment. Anyway, to get back into the swing of things, here's a few more items for my 100 things list.91. When I'm putting away dishes, glasses have to go in the cabinet upside down and mugs go in right … [Read more...]

4 Comments

100 Things – 87-90

February 11, 2011 Filed Under: 100 Things, book clubs are awesome

Yeah, I'm still kind of boring over here, other than the fact that I got to have dinner with the #7 Book Club this week to chat about STAY, publishing, and the writing process.  They were eager for a sequel and full of opinions as to what Diane might be up to these days.  It was awesome.  And I got to hear a very funny story from one of the members about trying to replace her library copy of STAY after it fell in the bathtub. The #7 ladies (who have been meeting for about 15 years!) are amazing and hysterical, and I had a lovely time.  I love the way meeting with fellow book lovers always … [Read more...]

2 Comments

100 Things – 80-86

February 7, 2011 Filed Under: 100 Things

So, here's the thing. I'm kind of boring when I'm writing. I can't tell you what's going on with my characters right now, and that's really the bulk of what's going on with me at the moment. But I realized the other day that I started the 100 things meme and stopped at 79 in May of 2009. I think it's time to get back to it!80. I compose e-mails in my head while I'm away from the computer.  Which is great, until I think I've actually sent the email when I haven't.  I wish there were a way to just download my thoughts and send them.  I've tried dictation software, but it's not effective for … [Read more...]

5 Comments

100 Things – 71-79

May 6, 2009 Filed Under: 100 Things

71. I rarely spell the word biscuit right on the first try. 72. I played Noah in a summer camp production of a musical about Noah's Ark when I was 13 or so. Spirit-glued beard and everything. 73. I hate the sound of birds chirping. I'm kind of embarrassed by this, but it's the truth. Like nails on a blackboard. There are tons of birds around our house b/c Mrs. Gnome feeds them, and I wish they'd just shut up already. And also, it would be nice if they'd stop pooping on our bedroom window.74. I really, truly, and deeply love being 32. 75. I've always thought it would be fun to drive a … [Read more...]

8 Comments

100 Things – 65-70

March 30, 2009 Filed Under: 100 Things

65. Spiderman is my favorite superhero. I loved the Spiderman shorts on The Electric Company as a kid (and yes, that's Morgan Freeman as the vampire). Something about his silence is appealing and comforting.66. I don't like chunky peanut butter. J does. I vaguely remember losing a tooth while eating chunky PB as a kid, and I always associate the chunks with teeth. For awhile, I compromised by buying chunky ever other time. Finally, I realized that life is too short to suffer through the chunky stuff, so I buy us separate jars.67. I hated the ending of the series finale of Battlestar … [Read more...]

6 Comments

100 Things – 56-64

February 25, 2009 Filed Under: 100 Things

I realized that it's been a long time since I've added to my 100 Things list, so here goes.56. I got tired of being blonde. Now I'm stripey. (And I think this picture is funny, because it looks like I'm slightly annoyed at having my picture taken, but I took the picture).57. I love Reel Big Fish. I realize that listening to Reel Big Fish annoys everyone in my general vicinity, but they have a kick ass horn section and they curse a lot, and when you've had a bad day, it's very satisfying to dance around like an idiot and sing along. Sadly, I realized in 2002, the last time I saw RBF live, … [Read more...]

12 Comments

100 Things – 46-55

November 21, 2008 Filed Under: 100 Things

Here's a pic from the hike Argo and I took the other day. I'm obsessed with the yellow/blue dusk combo that was going on in the sky and in the reflection on the creek. It only sort of showed up in the picture. Figured I'd get back to my 100 Things list46. I hate the sound of our doorbell, so I unplugged it.47. I'm not good with tradition. I have a hard time doing something simply because that's how it's been done in the past if it doesn't make sense to me.48. I used to have a sweet tooth that would put Willy Wonka to shame, but I've pretty much conquered it at this point.49. I think there … [Read more...]

5 Comments

100 Things – 36-45

October 22, 2008 Filed Under: 100 Things

36. I need the shirts in my closet to be lined up in color order. I would rather leave my clothes crumpled in the laundry basket than put them away wrong. J's side of the closet makes me cringe.37. I'm messy. I can clean the house from top to bottom and have it looking showroom perfect, but an hour later, messes start exploding around me again.38. I have a very low tolerance for jobs that will be quickly undone, like making the bed, doing the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.39. I have a houseplant named Slartibartfast. He's a potted palm, and I've managed to keep him alive for over a year … [Read more...]

10 Comments

100 Things – 31-35

October 7, 2008 Filed Under: 100 Things

I have a ton of stuff I want to tell you all about, but right now I'm tired and crabby and I can't quite get my brain around the things I want to say, so I'll just tell you more random things about myself.31. When I was younger, I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up. I still can't say I'd turn down the opportunity now if it were to present itself.32. I hate it when people make anyway plural. It is not anyways. It just isn't. Stop it.33. I hate tissues. It's not even just about the fact that they aren't eco-friendly. Tissue lint makes me sneeze, and I hate the way tissues feel on my … [Read more...]

6 Comments

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Allison Larkin

allielarkinwrites

Internationally bestselling author of three novels as Allie Larkin and THE PEOPLE WE KEEP. Look for HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS @gallerybooks May 2025

“Larkin abandons the typical story arc in favor “Larkin abandons the typical story arc in favor of a more naturally flowing up-and-down journey that basks in beautiful moments like a slice-of-life story. Whether it’s banter at the bar Freya’s working or a leaking roof that is simply one more thing than she can possibly handle right now, the characters and their experiences are so real and pure that their joys and sorrows are amplified tenfold.” 

So honored by this AP review of Home of the American Circus! 

https://apnews.com/article/home-american-circus-allison-larkin-book-review-79ea3d1fdb69ef16232a8dfb7d148ad6

#homeoftheamericancircus #booksbooksbooks
I’ve seen a bunch of references to Home of the A I’ve seen a bunch of references to Home of the American Circus as my second novel. It’s actually my 5th! Before The People We Keep, under the name Allie Larkin, I wrote three books: Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Here they are in their various editions with some of their translations! (And @justjuliawhelan also narrated Stay and Why Can’t I Be You, if you’d like to listen!)

Fun fact: That gorgeous dog on the hardcover of Stay was actually our dog Argo, and I took that photo of him when @duttonbooks couldn’t find the perfect photo of a black German Shepherd. #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
Pub Day Part One. The thing is, it’s really hard Pub Day Part One. The thing is, it’s really hard to be a creative person in the world, and the blessing, the salvation, the joy of it is the community around art: the writers who will call an emergency novel Zoom meeting when you’re stuck on a draft, the ones who roll up their sleeves and make sure your words are saying what you intend to say, the one who writes an interview to promote your book in the local paper, the reader who captures pictures of the event and makes a reel, the bookstore saints who plan a meal based on the story and serve blue and yellow cupcakes and sing happy birthday to your book on launch day, the readers who show up and get books signed and ask great questions and tell stories about their lives. That’s book magic. And thanks to @townecenterbks (especially Judy and Stacey although I know there are bookstore saints behind the scenes too) and @reneewritesnovels and @woolfmania and @cassandra.a.dunn and @lindalattelessons @aneedleinmybookstack and everyone who showed up to Read it and Eat, I will never ever forget the pub day for Home of the American Circus. You all made it so special. Thank you! I love you. I’m so grateful to be part of the community of writers and readers. ❤️🐘
@deborahblakeauthor RIGHT BACK AT YOU! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will be back on Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will be back on the grid tomorrow! I love you all so much and I’m so grateful for your support! 😘😘😘 #homeoftheamericancircus
Well, here we are on the eve of Pub Day for Home o Well, here we are on the eve of Pub Day for Home of the American Circus! 

You know that classic bit of writing advice about how you’re supposed to write the book that scares you? Well, for a long time the thought of actually writing and sharing Home of the American Circus scared the heck out of me. I spent many many years collecting ideas for this book, terrified by the thought of how deep I’d have to dig to tell this story the right way. The book is firmly fiction, and the characters are all my imaginary friends, but the setting and themes are literally and figuratively close to home for me. Freya’s story isn’t mine, we have different life events and demographics, but I understand her sense of grief and loss and floundering and hope on a cellular level. And of all the characters I’ve ever written, the way her mind works is the closest to how I think and feel. It takes place in the town where I grew up. And I think when you read this book, you won’t know my life story, but you will know the tenor of my heart. I grew up as a kid with undiagnosed ADHD in a place where I didn’t fit, frantically trying to look normal, believing it was the only way anyone would love me. Always falling short, terrified of failure. And then in my early twenties, I dropped out of college and worked at a biker bar and made such a huge mess of my life that I was forced to build myself up again brick by brick—this time knowing that failure isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a person. That as long as you can find the strength to try again in one way or another, falling flat on your face is not the end of the world. And I learned that the only way to truly feel loved is to be yourself and see who’s up for loving you in your natural form. The people I keep taught me that. And even though it scared me, this was a book I needed to write, it’s the work I’m most proud of, with characters I love the most. So sharing it doesn’t feel like the end of the world at all. Just the end of the world where I have not shared this novel set in ny hometown with a character who has a heart like mine. #misheardlyrics #rem #homeoftheamericancircus #awkwardguitar #itstheendoftheworldasweknowitandifeelfine
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