Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Why can't we be Allie Larkin?!? Plus, a book giveaway...

***Giveaway is now closed***

Introduction and interview by Melissa Amster

I always have a fondness for Allie Larkin. After all she was my first interview ever at CLC. Then we got to chat again for International Chick Lit Month last year, when she talked about the music behind her previous novel, Stay. Today, she's here to celebrate the publication of her second novel (of what I hope will be many, many more), Why Can't I Be You (reviewed here).

Aside from being a wonderful writer, she's also an Eco-Geek. Naturally (or nature-ally, in this case), she loves hiking, camping, and all things outdoors. She lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, a German Shepherd named Stella (sadly, Argo passed away in December), and a three-legged cat.

Sit down with a cup of Joe (since Joe is the name of the dog in Stay, that works even better here) and find out some background behind her latest novel, what's on her playlist, and the movie she'd choose for the best picture Oscar. Then enter to win Why Can't I Be You, as Penguin has FIVE copies to share with some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada!

You can find Allie at her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter. Come on by....don't be shy!

How was your experience writing Why Can't I Be You different from writing Stay?
Stay was a book I wrote in moments stolen from the rest of my life. There was no deadline. Outside of a few close friends and my writing group no one even knew the book existed until I was finally ready to start the submission process. WCIBY was my life while I was writing it. I had a deadline and I had to dive in. There are benefits to both. I have some nostalgic feelings over the idea of writing without pressure or expectations, but the pressure and the deadlines surrounding WCIBY forced me to be brave with my writing in a new way. I didn’t have time to be anything other than brave.

If Jenny (from WCIBY) and Van (from Stay) were to ever meet, do you think they'd become friends?
That’s an interesting thought. Jenny and Van have some similar struggles. They’re both trying to figure out how they fit in the world. I don’t think they’d dislike each other, but they exist so separately in my head. Even though they have the Rochester connection, I can’t picture them knowing each other. It hurts my brain when I try.

Who is your favorite of Jessie's friends and why?
I hit a wall with this book a few months into the process. I was so stuck that I actually considered giving up. And just when I’d made peace with the idea of not writing this story, a scene with Robbie and Jenny popped into my head, fully formed. I feel like Robbie almost wrote himself. I could see him clearly when everyone else was still a bit fuzzy, and his character made me fall in love with the other characters. Robbie brought so much joy to the process of writing this book.

I know I asked you to cast Stay in the past, but now I'd love to hear your casting choices for Why Can't I Be You, as it would be a great movie!
Thank you! I always try to avoid revealing my casting choices. Maybe you’ll picture yourself in Jenny’s shoes, and maybe Heather reminds you of the girl who sat in front of you in homeroom. That’s one of the best parts of reading, and this early in the life of the book I don’t want to squelch that process. Your vision of Myra is just as important as my vision of Myra.

You live in Rochester like Jenny does, but you sent her to Seattle. What meaning does Seattle have in your life?
One of my dearest friends lives in Seattle, and I visit whenever I have the chance. Her love of the city is so inspiring. She takes me on great hikes and knows all the best little shops. When I toured for STAY, I did an event at Third Place Books. My husband came along and we tacked on a little extra time to go exploring. We went kayaking on Lake Union, walked the beach at Carkeek Park, hiked in Snoqualmie Pass, and even spent a few nights at Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls. I love the landscape and the spirit of the area, and it felt like the right fit for the story. I’m going back to Third Place for an event in March, and I’m so excited about it.

Did you agree with the choices for Best Picture Oscar nominees this year? If not, which movie do you think should have been nominated instead? (And which one(s) shouldn't have been nominated at all?).
I am a huge fan of Matthew Quick, so, of course, I think Silver Linings Playbook should win all the awards.

In Why Can't I Be You, music is focused on a lot. What is the latest must-have song on your playlist?
Right now I can’t get "Landlocked" by Chris Pureka out of my head, and I’m not complaining in the least. It’s a beautiful, layered song.

Since your novel is about friendship, tell us your top three favorite things about your BFF.
She’s truly a good person who always strives to do the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest thing. She’s fiercely smart and gives excellent advice. She’s the funniest person I know, and her perspective makes my life brighter.

Thanks to Allie for chatting with us and to Penguin for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win Why Can't I Be You:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: Have you ever been mistaken for someone else OR mistaken someone for a person you know?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


US/Canada only. Giveaway ends March 3rd at midnight EST.

Chick Lit is Not Dead is also doing a giveaway for this book. (US/Canada only. Ends Sunday.)


46 comments:

TinaB said...

I'd love to win a copy! I follow you on fb and pinterest.
Brannanflooring@aol.com

Kritters Ramblings said...

My high school boyfriend mistook someone at our church who is my doppleganger and came up from behind and put his arm around her.

kdurham2@gmail.com
i am a fan on facebook
i follow via gfc
i follow on twitter

Unknown said...

1) I'm often recognized as one's little sister or the girl that listed next door. When I was younger, I also got Ally McBeal comments a lot.
2) I follow the blog.
3) I tweeted the contest.
4) I'm a FB group member.
5) I follow on Twitter and will follow on Pinterst, once I remember my PW!

I'm reading Stay right now and love it!

allieDOTmcsmithATgmailDOTcom

Book Mama said...

The other day I was at the grocery store and someone came up to me and started talking. I felt bad, but I had NO CLUE who this person was. She shortly realized she had the wrong person ;)

I follow this blog

I posted this contest on my FB

I follow CLC on Pinterest

mengel2(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

pascale said...

This book sounds great, and I plan to read Stay as well.

I have been told often that I look just like someone else... but never actaully mistaken for someone!

I am a fan on facebook
I follow on twitter
And, of course I FOLLOW THIS BLOG!!

pascale.poitras@verizon.net

Angie said...

angcarrier[at]gmail[dot]com -- I have been mistaken for someone else - often! Unfortunately, that person is Casey Anthony :( I lived in Orlando when Caylee first went missing and worked at Disney. I seriously got comments ALL THE TIME. Lucky for me, our personalities ARE VERY FAR APART.

faithspage said...

I thought I saw a friend of mine at a sporting event, I was in the middle of the bleachers waving my hand, looking like a fool. Turns out it wasn't her and I'm so glad the look-a-like didn't notice me.
kyfaithw at aol dot com
follow on fb, gfc, and twitter

Nova said...

I have had at least 6 people think I am some other person. They come up to me taking like I am her. I haven't met her, but they say we could be twins...LOL
sparkle40175(at)Hotmail(dot)com
I am a fan of CLC on facebook.
I follow via GFC.
I follow the blog by email.
I follow CLC on pinterest.

EKB said...

1. At my former job one of the older volunteers kept calling me Ellen- the woman I replaced. Not sure if she was confusing our names or didn't realize I was actually NOT Ellen. She was so old. I felt badly correcting her.

2. I follow the blog
3. I am a FB fan
4. I follow on Pinterest
erin713 at gmail dot com

Lisamarie said...

I can't think of anytime I was mistaken for someone or vice versa.

I am a CLC Blog follower, FB group member as well as Twitter & Pinterest

tropicalsunlover05(at)yahoo(dot)come

Jessica said...

1. Yes, I have been mistaken for someone else! Lots of people tell me I have a twin somewhere out there, haha.
2. I follow this blog through GFC.
3. I posted this on twitter. https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/306502020297261056
4. I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook.
5. I follow through twitter and pinterest.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Mrs Mommy Booknerd said...

Apparently I have a doppelgänger in Seattle, I have had it happen a few times...

I follow here, Facebook and twitter...

Happy pub day Allie!

Mrsmommybooknerdsbookreviews at gmail dot com

rhonda said...

People always think they know me I must have one ofthose faces.lomazowr@gmail.com twitter follower@rhondareads will tweet.email follower.fb follower

Mary Jo Burke said...

I was positive our new school board president was in line in front of me at the store. She turned and I said "Congratulations." Wasn't her. Lesson to self: Never speak to anyone unless I'm wearing my glasses.
I follow this blog
maryjo(at)maryjoburke(dot)com

Bonnie K. said...

I haven't been mistaken for anyone, but a few people have said that I looked a little like Caroline Kennedy. Now, that was when I was younger. :)

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

I follow your blog.

I shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.karoly/activity/10151307518925233 and twitter:https://twitter.com/grobiemum/status/306532085533921280

I'm a member of Chick Lit Central.

I follow on twitter. @grobiemum

Kristen said...

I've been told I look like my office manager. I love Allie and can't wait for this book!

I follow on fb and email.

Kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

bn100 said...

I've been mistaken for someone else.

I follow the blog.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I've never been mistaken for anyone else.

I'd love to read this book.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

JJT said...

I have been mistaken for one of my cousins quite often at family events.
jtretin at aol dot com

Jilleen said...

True story....a lady stopped me in the store thinking I was her friend from college....the next week we were at parent orientation - our kids were in the same class. We are great friends now!

I am a fan on Facebook
Follow via GC
Follow via email
Pinterest follower
I follow on twitter too!

Thanks for the great giveaway.
Jill at Seaside Book Nook

seasidebooknook at yahoo dot com

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I cannot wait to read this! I read Stay and loved it!

I mistook a friends parents for a different friends parents several years ago when I ran into them. It was confusing for a few seconds until we all realized why I was confused. Oops! ;)

I'm a fan on FB, Twitter, and GFC.

missamberljohnson at gmail dot com

Suzy said...

I get asked often if I have a twin sister.
I follow the blog
I tweeted the contest
I'm a member on Facebook
I follow on Twitter

Thanks!

SuzyQ4PR(AT)aol(DOT)com

Erica said...

Oddly enough I ALWAYS am mistaken for someone else/ Within 5 minutes of meeting anyone new they always say that I look so familiar. Once I was in San Francisco and a man chased me for a block thinking I was someone else. Weird huh?

I follow the blog by email
FB fan,
Twitter follower,
Follow by GCF
Follow on Pinterest

wordywon at gmail dot com

Read Baby Read said...

When I was younger, I got mistaken for Mayim Bialik from the "Blossom" days. I actually was asked for an autograph at Universal Dtudios when I was younger. Weird, huh?
I follow and share all of your awesome stuff:
FB, TWITTER, PINTEREST now. :)
Thank you for the opportunity to win this fab new book.
mellsimons at gmail dot com

Read Baby Read said...

Just read the comment right above mine, and we said the same thing. I guess I wish I could be her. Get it? Wink, wink

Stephanie said...

I was mistaken for a girl that went to the same college as I did.

gfc follower

skk25@aol.com

susieqlaw said...

Oddly, I have been told I look like Julia Roberts when I chew gum. When I was a little girl, everyone always said I looked like Shirley Temple.

I follow the CLC blog, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

I tweeted this contest at susieqlaw

sendsusanmail at gmail dot com

Na said...

Not really. Once several years back my firend told me I looked similar to Alyssa Milano but that was it.

GFC: Na
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

DD said...

I am often mistaken for a gal at church. We really could be sisters, so it's no wonder or surprise. And unfortunately for my husband, I often mistake people for others.

dawndennis66611 at yahoo dot com

Jennifer L. said...

Please enter me in this contest.
No, I don't remember being mistaken for someone else.
I follow this blog as Jennifer L.
jentam777 at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

I adored Stay and have given it as a gift to several friends! Yea Allie for writing another book!

I have never been mistaken for someone else.

I follow via GFC and email.

Thanks so much for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Lauren McCormick said...

I think we all have a twin somewhere out there. I've often thought I knew someone but once I made that awkward eye contact I realized it wasn't who I thought it was.
I worked with a woman who always called my husband George as in George Clooney!! Haha She really thought my husband was his twin!!

I am a CLC member and follow the blog with Facebook, Email, and Pinterest. I made sure my Mother joined and a few of my Facebook friends have as well, via the shared link I always post.

Thank You for this opportunity!!
itzhunicAThotmailDOTcom

karenk said...

yes, i have been confused w/ someone else...on more than one occasion.

i'm a follower, too.

thanks for the chance to read allie's latest novel...i loved STAY

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Books Etc. said...

When I was in elementary school (grades one through three in particular, I think) there were two other girls who looked a little like me. The three of us were all tall and gangly and had the same colour brown hair and a smattering of freckles. The teachers had a lot of issues telling us apart. Amusing for a kid!
I follow you guys all over the place (it's not stalkery, I swear) and will share away a little later today on both Twitter and Facebook.
Thanks for the giveaway!
books.etc.blogger AT gmail DOT com

Hailey said...

At my sister in law's baby shower last November, one of her friends came and she looked just like Kristen Stewart.

I follow CLC on twitter

I tweeted post

I liked the post on Facebook

fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I can't remember ever being mistaken for anyone else, although two of my teachers in high school used to call me Gretchen on occasion. I only knew one Gretchen in high school, but we looked nothing alike!

I follow the blog.
I'm a member of CLC on Facebook
I follow on twitter

bjoneill@hotmail.com

Karen said...

In my first years at university people were always confusing me with someone named Lexie. I never met her, but ended up dating someone who had dated her.

s dot hambly at sasktel dot net
I joined on FB
i follow on Twitter I will follow the blog

Marcia said...

I was once mistaken for Reece Witherspoon at Walt Disney World (wish I looked more like her)!

I'm also a Twitter follower.

ememgeeAThotmailDOTcom

Valerie said...

I went to elementary school with a Katie and a Sarah. We three looked alike and were often mistaken for one another by our teachers. We still look pretty similar even now. I'm following on twitter. Valerieannfox(at)gmail(dot)com

Krystal Lynn said...

I was once mistaken for a celebrity!

Follow on facebook, twitter, blog and Pinterest. :)


miss_kris_11 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Would love to win a copy - sounds like a fun read.

Ann Ellison
abilene_nana@yahoo.com

Jackie said...

I've never been mistaken for someone else in person, but I've been told that on the phone I sound exactly like certain people (happens all the time! :)

I follow this blog, Facebook and Twitter

jwenner(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jeryl M. said...

I have often seen someone I thought I knew but it turned out to be someone else, but I don't think that I have been mistaken for anybody else.

I am a subscriber.

I am a Facebook follower.

I am a Twitter and Pinterest follower.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: Have you ever been mistaken for someone else OR mistaken someone for a person you know?

I actually have a doppelganger in Montreal!

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

Am already a follower.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Twitter - stereoqueenbee

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.

Follow on Twitter.

queenofcrunk@gmail.com

leonel said...

When I used to work in the city, I ALWAYS got mistaken for people: mostly their friends, relatives etc. I remember I went to a doctor's office once and saw the receptionist turn ashen because she said I looked like her (deceased) brother.

leonelescota AT gmail
FB. Twitter. I follow every which way ! :)

Melissa said...

Thanks for participating and telling us about your doppelganger moments! I was reminded of a time when my mother was playing with my friend's hair because she thought it was my hair. :)

Thanks to Allie for visiting with us and Penguin for sharing the book with our readers.

Random.org chose FIVE numbers from all entries with contact info. Congrats to:

30-faithspage
35-Nova (sparkle40175)
96-Amber @ A little pink...
161-Hailey (fishiegirl22)
193-Jeryl M.