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Allison Larkin

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You are here: Home / book clubs are awesome / Photos from Lake Austin

Photos from Lake Austin

May 31, 2011 Filed Under: book clubs are awesome, Lake Austin

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Two weekends ago, I was lucky to have an event at Lake Austin Spa Resort as a part of their For the Love of Books Club.  It. Was. Bliss.

So blissful that I NAPPED!  I read somewhere once that it’s common for people to crash and sleep a lot during their first day at a spa, and even though sleep for me is an elusive, complicated thing, I did just that. I let everything go and slept like it’s easy. I don’t think I realized just how noisy my life is until everything was suddenly calm and quiet.

And it didn’t hurt that my room was the stuff dreams are made of.  Seriously, wouldn’t you kill for a bathtub like this…

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…overlooking the most perfect little private garden?

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I wrote by the pool.

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Until a flash thunderstorm chased me to the library.  It’s an amazing spot to watch lightning over Lake Austin. And to watch the sun come out after the rain stopped.

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I’m pretty sure I’m spoiled for life now.

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On Saturday evening, we had a great book club chat about STAY.  We talked about the writing process, and did a writing exercise together.  It was lovely to have quality time with people who love books as much as I do.

Oh, and the majority of the veggies and herbs served in the dining room come from absolutely gorgeous organic gardens on the grounds.  It’s inspiring to see just how beautiful vegetables can be.

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I spent some time at up at the spa, took yoga, somatics, and foam roller classes, and went on a boat tour of Lake Austin.  I ate five course meals every night (I’m still dreaming of the stone fruit gazpacho), and had a wonderful time chatting with staff and guests.  I’m so thankful for my time at Lake Austin, and hope to visit again!

Also, my imaginary dream home now has need for a red chandelier.  I’m completely in love.

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P.S.  If you’re looking for a good excuse to get away, Claire Cook will be at Lake Austin in August for a Reinvention Workshop!

4 Comments

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    June 1, 2011 at 1:58 am

    That sounds lovely!

    Reply
  2. The Modern Gal says

    June 1, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    What a beautiful escape! I’m a wee bit envious :)

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    June 1, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    So glad you enjoyed it! I loved reading all about it! The part about sleep reminds me of how it feels to go to my grandma’s house for a week/weekend. You do just let go and sleep, because there’s nothing demanding you stay on a schedule. Nobody needs you or is expecting you to show up somewhere.

    Reply
  4. courtney says

    June 2, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Oh man, that sounds (and looks) HEAVENLY. I want to go to there.

    Reply

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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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