In this Allison Larkin interview, we discuss writing Home of the American Circus and the creative writing routines that have transformed her life with ADHD.

This week, I'm talking with my friend and bestselling author Allison Larkin about her latest novel, Home of the American Circus. But this conversation goes far beyond crafting this sprawling family drama. Allison is pulling back the curtain on how she writes such emotionally resonant stories while navigating ADHD and the beautiful writing habits she's uncovered by simply embracing her creative brain.

Home of the American Circus is set in Somers, NY—the birthplace of the American circus and the author's hometown. Freya must return home after a financial emergency in this beautiful family drama. The house she's returned to is crumbling, and the relationships are even more so. But when she discovers her 15-year-old niece secretly living there, she unravels her past and reimagines what healing might look like.

In this warm conversation, Allison and I discuss:

🧠 What writing with ADHD actually looks like for her—and the tools that help her workflow

📚 How neurodivergent representation shaped her character and why this representation matters

🎧 The magic of working with longtime audiobook narrator Julia Whelan and what it is like to hear her books read by the prolific narrator for the first time

🖼 How her creative hobbies breathe life into her fictional world and the new pursuits that are helping her find her voice

This episode is part of our Summer Author Series featuring fourteen incredible voices from our 2025 Summer Reading Guide. The guide will drop on May 16th! 

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Circus Books

To go with today's theme, I've also created an immersive immersive circus books book list featuring 22 unforgettable titles that are filled with magic, mystery, and unforgettable adventure under the big top.

📚 Book Club Reminder: Don't forget to join our May book club discussion of Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino on May 30th at 8 PM ET.

📝 Love this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it's a free way to support the show and help more readers discover our conversations.

🎧 Bonus Challenge: Have a favorite circus-themed novel? Tap the Spotify comment box and share!

Meet Allison Larkin

Allison Larkin is the internationally bestselling author of the novels The People We Keep, Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Her short fiction has been published in the Summerset Review and Slice, and nonfiction in Author in Progress, a how-to guide from Writer’s Digest Books, and the dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Jeremy, and their rescue dogs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Old Bet statue in Somers, NY

Scrivener

Swimming For Sunlight by Allie Larkin

Eowyn Ivey Returns to Magical Realism

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

Julia Whelan

Stay by Allie Larkin

Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan

The Julia Whelan Interview You Need to Hear

Bluff by Michael Kardos

TrueHearts Collective

The People We Keep: An Interview with Allison Larkin

Now That We Think About It Podcast 

Lessons For Writing Your First Book with Ethan Joella

Alice Carbone Tench

Eating Again: The Recipes That Healed Me by Alice Carbone Tench

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