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Allison Larkin

Internationally Best-Selling Author

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Here, there, and everywhere

March 11, 2009 Filed Under: here and there

– I’ve been busy editing my book as per my amazing editor’s suggestions. This doesn’t just mean I’m putting commas in the right place. I’m taking my book apart and putting it back together again to make a better book. I really enjoy editing (because I am strange), but it requires me to keep an entire set of “rules” for this story in my head. Move a scene, and you have to remember to adjust the impact it will have throughout the book. For example, you can’t have a character drive away in their car if they didn’t drive to that destination in the first place. I’m finding that I’m very happy dealing with all things book related right now, but super distracted when I try to deal with anything else. This too shall pass, and it’s not like it matters if my socks don’t match each other, right? Thankfully, J is just fine eating soup, salads, and sandwiches for dinner for the next few weeks, because I’d most likely burn the house down if I tried to cook anything right now.

– We’re considering putting up a fence in the backyard. I’d rather move, but that’s not going to happen instantly, and in my current state of work, the last thing I need is to start a project of that magnitude. I can, however, manage to interview a few contractors and see a fence is an affordable option. I hope it is, because I am totally dreaming of a summer of sitting on the patio and writing while the dogs play, without the neighbor kid yelling, “Hi Argo’s mom! Hi Argo’s mom!” over and over and over again before he rides his scooter through my strawberry patch. If we get a fence, I want one of the stockade fences with no gaps between the boards so the neighbor kid can’t even see me when I’m outside. And I think it might be easier to sell our house eventually if the backyard doesn’t have a view of The Crap Garden.

– It’s so windy today that our garbage can blew from the side of our house to halfway down our driveway. When I first moved up here, I was amused by the “high wind warning” signs in the groceries stories, reminding people to corral their shopping carts. But I can assure you, high winds are no laughing matter. If I never post again, it’s because our house blew away with me in it.

13 Comments

Comments

  1. Howling Hill says

    March 11, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    That dog, who’s named after an Irish alcohol, is fantastically well behaved.

    You’d be well behaved if your punishment was an electrical shock.

    Regarding the fence, if you’re planning on leaving Stella and Argo outside behind it it’s better for them to be able to see. Closed fences like that cause dogs huge anxiety so I’ve read.

    Gardening…soon! Soon! I can’t wait!

    Reply
  2. Allie says

    March 11, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    Ugh. You know, I was afraid it was electric shock. I kept telling myself it was just some fancy clicker.

    I would never leave the dogs outside by themselves, fenced yard or no. German Shepherds are way too smart and way too co-dependent to be left outside like that. I just want to be able to keep them in the yard (and the less than dog-savvy neighbor kids out of my yard) while I’m outside with them. And then I can take them out with me while I garden or write or read in the yard without worrying about them running off when I’m not giving them my full attention.

    Reply
  3. JMS says

    March 11, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    I want one of those stockade fences, too! Remember Frost’s Poem, Mending Wall? “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?” That’s so true. I could keep out the strange little rat terrier named Blue that stands in the street or at the edge of our yard and barks at us when we’re playing or working in OUR yard. I could keep out the druggies behind us. The scary pit bull that masquerades as Houdini. I could keep out the…well, the world if I so choose.

    It’s MY world on MY property and I want to keep it to MYself. Selfish am I? Maybe, when it comes to my family.

    Jennifer @ Random Ramblings

    Reply
  4. Thomas says

    March 11, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    Nice blog so far. I have enjoyed the last 20 minutes reading it.

    Reply
  5. Kirsten says

    March 11, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    Funny — I just stumbled upon the following quote while working on a Screenwriting course — I’m sure you’ve heard it before :)

    “A good writer is not someone who knows how to write – but how to rewrite.” ~ William Goldman

    Happy editing!

    Reply
  6. Neil says

    March 12, 2009 at 12:17 am

    What if your editor was named after an Irish alcohol? Would you get an electric shock every time your character drove a car that didn’t exist?

    Reply
  7. Reluctant Blogger says

    March 12, 2009 at 4:37 am

    I know i have said this before but it is just so weird that you don’t all have fences. IN the UK all gardens are enclosed (well, front ones aren’t always) and it is rare to be able to see into someone else’s garden without standing at the wall/fence/hedge and peeping over.

    I would not be able to relax if I knew the neighbours could see me and I would be on permanent high alert if they were prowling in and out of my garden, or if their children were. OH dear me, I would be stressed!

    Def get a fence.

    Reply
  8. 3carnations says

    March 12, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    The summer before my son was born, we put a six foot wood privacy fence in our yard. We did it ourselves – and it was still expensive. You might consider doing the work yourselves. It was so worthwhile, though. We also had the neighbor boy who had to yell hello to us repeatedly while outside (my son is that age now, and he does not do that).

    It was very hard work, but totally worth it. Has your property been surveyed?

    Reply
  9. equa yona(Big Bear) says

    March 12, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    We a chain link fence put in when we moved here. It was only down two sides of the yard and it cost 1200 bucks! If you do the work yourselves you will save a bunch, but won’t a stockade fence cast a big shadow? How do you garden with two dogs?

    Reply
  10. Dingo says

    March 12, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Can you get a fence that’s electrified and has a motion detector from the other side? That way only the strawberry patch neighbor kids gets the shock and the motion detector lets you know when they are nearby so you can run inside before they see you. I think it’s the perfect solution.

    The shock collars are horrible. I know a dog trainer and every time one of her clients suggests a shock collar she makes them try one one and get a shock (on the lowest level) themselves. None of them ever purchase the collar.

    Reply
  11. courtney says

    March 12, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Fences make the best neighbors, you know. Especially 10-foot-high ones with barbed wire on top, like they have around prison courtyards.

    Editing your book sounds complicated yet rewarding. I’m glad you’re so into it!

    Reply
  12. Mickey says

    March 12, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    How would a shock collar be better than a leash? More convincing, perhaps? So lazy.

    Reply
  13. The Modern Gal says

    March 21, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    Maybe you should introduce Crazy Lab Lady and Amazing Lab Lady?

    I think a fence is a grand idea.

    I’m impressed you’re enjoying editing. I always hate that process so much, of course until I find that the finished product is better than what I started with.

    Reply

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One of the people I keep, my dear friend @bakirkwo One of the people I keep, my dear friend @bakirkwood — who I’ve known since my freshman year at Ithaca — who read several drafts of my book about April over the years and kept telling me how much she believed in me — printed out the coloring sheets and made some art with her daughter Abby! (Brenda said they didn’t need to be included in the giveaway, but wanted to share). It made me so happy to see their covers! I’d love to see yours too! And if you tag me when you post or email me photos of what you create with the cover design (info at allielarkinwrites dot com) I’ll enter you in the giveaway for a signed paperback of The People We Keep, a book mug from @erinkillianpottery & some coffee from @caffe.appassionato! Link to download the coloring sheet is in my bio. Thank you so much, Abby & Brenda! Love you! ❤️
Lying on the floor, I come undone #weezerlyrics #d Lying on the floor, I come undone #weezerlyrics #dailyroxydog #huskymix #chihuahuamix
I had the most amazing time celebrating the paperb I had the most amazing time celebrating the paperback release of The People We Keep at @townecenterbks in Pleasanton last night! I’m so thankful for everyone who came out and especially for Judy, Stacy, and Mala for creating such a beautiful outdoor space for our chat and snack! And to @carriemedders for the pictures (goodness, it was good to see you, Carrie!)! We all had such a fun and heartwarming conversation about the book and writing and creativity. I am so appreciative of the chance to connect with kind, thoughtful readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! #thepeoplewekeep #townecenterbooks #bookstagram #authorevents
✨Paperback Day Giveaway✨ Gallery Books created ✨Paperback Day Giveaway✨ Gallery Books created a beautiful downloadable coloring page of the cover of The People We Keep! (Thank you so much, Bianca!) and I’m hosting a giveaway! I have a copy of the paperback of The People We Keep, a gorgeous book mug handmade by @erinkillianpottery, and some of my favorite coffee from @cafe_appassionato to send to one lucky reader! Download the printable coloring page (link in bio) and get creative! Color the page in your favorite colors, use it to tell us about the people you keep, or share something about how you’re feeling right now. Tag me in an Instagram post or Reel with your creation (make sure to tag me not just @ me or I might not see it!). I’ll share some of your art and on Tuesday, July 19th, I’ll pick the winner! Unfortunately, I can only ship this prize within the US, but I can share coloring pages from anywhere in the world! Happy coloring! #thepeoplewekeep #coloringtherapy #bookstagram #gallerybooks #paperbackgiveaway #bookgiveaways #coffeegiveaway #erinkillianpottery #bookclubofinstagram #bookcommunity #bookcoverdesign
Friends! It is paperback release day for The Peopl Friends! It is paperback release day for The People We Keep! I do love a paperback, and @gallerybooks did an amazing job making this one beautiful. There’s also a wonderful reading group guide in the back to give you questions and discussion topics for your book club. To celebrate the book release, I have an outdoor event with @townecenterbks in Pleasanton, CA this evening (join us!) and I’ll be posting again a little later today with a giveaway and an art project! 💖#bookstagram #thepeoplewekeep #paperbacks #dailyroxydog #huskymix #chihuahuamix #reading
Tear it up. All of it. #dailyroxydog #huskymix #ch Tear it up. All of it. #dailyroxydog #huskymix #chihuahuamix #fluffthepatriarchy
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