Your Questions Answered

Faith, Hope and Ivy June

Question:

Hi!! I just got your book, ” Faith, Hope, and Ivy June” at my bookfair at school, and I wanted you to know that i am sooo exited to read it! Keep being the greatest author!!!

Phyllis replied:

I do hope you like this one.  It took a lot of research, but I enjoyed it.

How Do I Get Him to Like Me?

Question:

I would just like to say thank you so much for those Alice books you wrote!!They are so amazing!
 
I am Year 8,like Alice,and I actually have a crush on someone in Year 10.How do I get him to notice and like me?Or at least,get along well with me?Loads of Year 10 and 11 girls always stick and bug him(because they like him too,and he always treat them nicely) and I feel left out.And secondly,he always falls for Korean girls(I am studying in an International School) ,but he is really a nice and hardworking guy.
Secondly,can you recommend some good teen books for me?
Thirdly,there are also many boys whom have crushes on me but they are really annoying and a pain in the neck and I always wished they won’t go near me,stare at me or bug me!
Lastly,I wanted to do well in my exams but I am not that good at studying and concerntrating even though I am in a good and silent room.
 
I am very sorry to bother you,but I really have to talk to someone as there is none except for you.
 
Phyllis replied:

If I knew a secret for “getting” a boy to like you, I’d be glad to let you in on it, but I don’t.  You can’t really be someone you aren’t, because that would get old after awhile, and you want a guy to like you for what you are.  You need to be observant about this boy and what he’s interested in, what makes him laugh, how he reacts to you.  If you share any of his interests, if you can help him be comfortable around you, talk about subjects you both care about,  that’s the most you can do.  Please talk to your librarian about books you would enjoy, and be kind to the guys who like you, because next year you might be wild about one of them.  As for being better at studying and concentrating, try to figure out what it is that distracts you: worrying about something, finding the subject uninteresting, watching the other kids?  There are all kinds of hints for studying for tests, for writing good papers, for getting the most out of school…please talk to a counselor or teacher about this.  I could write page after page about each one of your questions, but there are other emails to be answered tonight. 

Do You Help Out?

The engagement ring

Question:  

How would you react if you were given an engagement ring that 
was purchased atWalMart? Do you believe that a woman's negative
 reaction to this can be justified?

Phyllis replied:
 


Since I'd be far more interested in the man than the ring,
I wouldn't care where he bought it as long as it was 
something he could afford and it didn't seem too bulky
on my finger. If you  hadn't known he had bought it at
Walmart's, would you have liked it?  Sometimes a man
buys a less expensive ring for the engagement, and later, 
when he can afford it, he replaces it with another.      

Your Books are so Real

Question:
I am a mother of two middle-grade children, as well as an aspiring middle-grade novelist.  My 11-year-old daughter and I read many of these books together, and discuss what we like and don’t like about them.  It is all helpful to me, as I have created a 12-year-old character and written two manuscripts that I hope will someday be published.

Is It Set in Stone?

Question:

i’m sure I’m not the first to say so, but i love your Alice books (i read them over and over constantly 😉 and i read on your blog that you already have the last book written and locked away. I just wanted to know if it’s definately set in stone–like if you got another idea for the book, would you change it? And isn’t it hard to get the books before it that you haven’t even written yet to lead into it in the right way? it seems like it would be pretty hard to write the last book before the series is even completed. i’m really happy it’s done though and i can’t wait to read it. thank you!!!

Phyllis replied:

No, it’s not set in stone.  I know that when it’s time to send it in, I’ll probably have to edit it again, but the changes will probably be small and even my editor could probably make them.  Yes, I had to know exactly what period of Alice’s life I was writing about, and will keep what happens to her in mind as I write the others, but readers began worrying I might check out before I finished the series, and since no one knows what will happen to them tomorrow or the day after, I figured I’d take one worry off your minds and write that last book.  But I plan to be around then, and for a long time afterwards.

Without a Condom

Question:

My boyfriend always tries to have sex without a condom.  He gets one if I tell him to or doesn’t finish inside me but it’s really risky, right?  He thinks it doesn’t matter as long as there is a condom when he finishes.

Phyllis replied:

Yes, it’s really risky.  Guys often ejaculate a little bit of semen before they have their orgasm, and even a little bit of semen can have a lot of sperm in it.  Insist on a condom.  Aren’t  your feelings important?  Aren’t you worth it?

Hard Work?

Question:

First of all – I can’t believe I am emailing you. You have always been my idol. My inspiration. My teacher. and most of all my friend. Your Alice series, well, I have to say I am ADDICTED to them. I have never read such a series that I literally cannot put down. You keep me from sleeping because I get so into your books. haha Thats alright though. I want to thank you for picking up your pencil day- to day and writing those books. Those books that teach people. That inspire others. That lets teens like me know that it will all be alright. I was first interduced to your book when I was eleven years old. I fell in love with them. I am now fourteen and still can’t put those books down. You are my inspiration. Thanks so much for all your hard work.

Phyllis replied:

Yes, it is hard work, but some books are easier than others.  The one coming out next spring, Alice in Charge, was a real killer and I’ll be glad when it’s finally through the copy-editor and I don’t have to worry about it any longer.

Forever

Different Kinds of Books

Question:

 just want to say that the other day i was at the library, getting some alice books, of course, and i found your book “sang spell” i checked it out and absoulutley loved it!!! I found it very hard to put down.  I wish the alice books had the same amount of  adventure, but then they wouldnt be the same. its amazing that you can write so differently for different kinds of books! what other books would you recomend that you have written like this? it would be great to read them!