Goodreads asked Allison Larkin:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Allison Larkin Back when I was still writing my first novel, STAY, I was editing a scene and listening to an iTunes playlist. Iowa by Dar Williams was immediately followed by This is the Sea by The Waterboys and the combination of those songs and their meanings triggered something in my brain and all of a sudden I had this image of a young musician trying to navigate the world. I started writing the book as a short story that takes place in what is now the second part of the novel, but I just kept wondering, 'How did she get here?' and 'Why did she do that?' The book grew in every direction from the questions I had. THE PEOPLE WE KEEP is the project I've worked on in between writing my other novels. Writing it has been my greatest joy so far, and it very much feels like April Sawicki appeared through those songs to lead me through every word. I'm so thankful for her.

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