Interview with Allie Larkin

Sometimes life's biggest disappointments ironically turn out to be blessings in disguise. Whether it's not getting accepted into the college of your dreams or perhaps losing your one true love to a best friend, it feels as if the pain will never go away. And, just when you think you've hit rock bottom, the unexpected happens and you're back on top. The old adage rings true…tomorrow will be a better day.

This month's Jen's Jewels Allie Larkin touches upon this very topic of hope and redemption in her debut novel STAY. It's the story of Savannah 'Van' Leone who winds up broken-hearted when the man of her dreams walks down the aisle and marries her best friend. To help soothe the pain, Van adopts an adorable German shepherd puppy who manages to turn her life upside down.

As part of this interview, Penguin Books has donated five copies for you, my favorite wins, to try to win. So, don't forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column! And, thanks for making Jen's Jewels a part of your summertime reading pleasure.

Jen: As a debut novelist, your journey is just beginning. So that my readers may catch a glimpse into your life prior to publication, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Allie: I spent two years as a theatre major at Ithaca College before dropping out to 'find myself.' Several years later, I went back to finish my degree at St. John Fisher College, focusing on communications and creative writing. I have worked as a bartender, headhunter, manager at a mortgage processing company, and a few things in-between.

Jen: Please describe for us your 'Aha!' moment when you decided to take the plunge and pursue a career as a writer.

Allie: It crept up on me, really. I had professors at Fisher who really encouraged me to write, and I intended to write when I graduated from college, but life got in the way. About a year after graduating, I joined a writing group to get back to writing, and revisited a short story about a woman named Van and her friend Janie that I'd started in school. I just wanted to know more about the characters, so I kept writing. Eventually, I realized that I was writing a book and not a short story. But I was in denial for a bit. The idea of writing a book seemed too overwhelming, so I just focused on writing eight pages a week for writing group. When the first draft of the book was done, I decided to start researching how to find an agent. I'm not sure there was ever an 'Aha!' moment, it was just a progression from one step to the next. And really, it was all about Van, the main character in STAY. I couldn't stop thinking about her, and that's what kept me moving forward with my writing. Because of Van, everything else clicked into place, and I realized that writing is the thing I'm best at and what I love doing the most.

Jen: In terms of nuts and bolts, approximately how long did it take for you to complete your first novel? Did you outline the story first, or did it simply take on a life of its own?

Allie: STAY grew out of a writing exercise in a class I took at Fisher in 2002, and came out in hardcover in 2010. I wasn't working on it exclusively, and I put it aside several times over the years, but it was a long journey. In addition to learning how to write a book, I had to figure out how to find an agent and navigate the publishing process.

I didn't outline the story. Writing the first few drafts almost felt like watching a movie. I kept writing because I needed to know what would happen next. The story really did take on a life of its own. In later drafts I started thinking about structure and what needed to happen when, so everything would make sense. I had huge calendar pages taped to the wall in my office so I could figure out the exact timing of the story, and did some storyboarding.

Jen: Your debut novel STAY is a laugh out-loud story about a young woman named Savannah 'Van' Leone who is desperately trying to move on with her life. I could not put it down! Bravo! How did you arrive at the premise?

Allie: Thank you so much! In the short story that started STAY, Van had confessed to herself that she was in love with Peter, even though Peter was married to her best friend, Janie. Just as an exercise, I decided to write what the wedding must have been like for Van. Once I wrote that scene, I realized that the story needed to start there. I got Van all the way through the wedding and back to Rochester and was totally stuck on what should happen next. I was outside raking leaves one day, and Argo, our German shepherd was hanging out in the yard with me. I thought about how he changed my life and realized that Van needed a dog. I also knew enough about her as a character to know that she wouldn't get a dog for herself purposely. Joe coming into Van's life was going to have to be an accident.

Jen: Any story that involves a dog has me hooked at the get-go, especially one that has such an adorable cover such as yours. A question I just have to ask…did you have any input into the selection of your book jacket? And, why a German shepherd puppy?

Allie: The dog on the cover of the hardcover version is actually Argo, but I don't personally know the paperback puppy. I didn't have much say in the cover, but I absolutely love it. The back cover is adorable too. It has the cutest little puppy butt up at the top.

Jen: The story begins with Van walking down the aisle at her best friend Janie's wedding. Unfortunately, she is marrying Van's one true love Peter. Why does Van choose to keep quiet rather than fight for the man she loves?

Allie: Fighting for Peter would mean hurting Janie in a way that Van would never be able to repair. She knows that, and I think she's very much torn between her love for Peter and her love for Janie. They are different kinds of love, but equally important, and it puts Van in a difficult place.

Jen: As Janie and Peter embark on their new life, Van is literally left alone to come to terms with her new existence. How do the recent events, including the death of her mother, affect Van's feelings of self-worth?

Allie: Everyone deserves to have one person who will always put them first. For Van, that was her mother, and when she lost her mother, she felt like she'd been sidelined in the world. She felt like she was never going to be the most important person to anyone again.

Jen: In order to cope, Van purchases (drunk dials!) via the Internet a Slavic German shepherd. How does her drunken mistake turn into a positive dose of retail therapy?

Allie: Van becomes the most important person to someone again. She and Joe bond, and Van goes from being alone to feeling like she's part of a team. Joe gives Van a family. She comes first to him, and that changes everything.

Jen: Due to the antics of her troublesome pup Joe, Van winds up meeting the handsome local vet named Alex Brandt. How does his down-to-earth attitude towards life and love help move Van in the right direction?

Allie: Alex is sweet and practical and very honest about his feelings. Van has spent so much time hiding her feelings and trying to read between the lines with Peter about his feelings. Alex's openness changes things and gives Van a new idea of what a relationship should be.

Jen: When Peter and Janie return from their honeymoon, why does Van allow them back into her life?

Allie: The way we love people is complicated. Van struggles to be a good friend, and because she's lost her mother, she's very afraid of changing the terms of her relationships. Losing Janie and Peter forever isn't an easy choice to make. As frustrated and hurt as Van is, she's not ready to give them up.

Jen: Let's switch gears now and talk about your promotional plans. First, please take us on a tour of your website highlighting points of interest.

Allie: AllieLarkinWrites.com has a Book page with the book trailer, links to the first chapter, audio book clip, and reading guide. There's a Q&A and photos of me and Argo on the About page. There's also an event page and links to my blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Jen: Will you be participating in Author Phone Chats with book groups? If so, how would my readers go abut scheduling one? And, will you have a Reading Group Guide available?

Allie: I love talking with readers and am happy to chat by phone, Skype or Google. There is a reading group guide available on my website. And interested readers can go to the Contact page on my website to send me an e-mail and schedule a reading group visit.

Jen: In terms of social media, are you on Facebook? Twitter?

Allie: Yes! I am on Facebook and on Twitter.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next book? If so, what can you share with us?

Allie: I am current working on something completely new, but I do hope to check back in with Van in the future. I miss her and I have some ideas for the next phase of her life.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. Congratulations on your debut novel! I look forward to seeing your name on the top of the bestsellers lists for many years to come.

Allie: Thank you so much, Jen! I'm thrilled for the chance to chat with you.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Allie. Please stop by your local retailer or library branch and pick up a copy of STAY today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?

Be one of five to correctly answer the following trivia question and you could win.

What is the name of Van's best friend?

In September, I will be bringing to you my interviews with Susan McBride and Amy Ephron. You won't want to miss them.

Until next time :-)

Jen