Your Questions Answered

Doesn’t Make Sense

Question:

on ur question page the 6th one down doesnt make sence to me at all… shes talking about being afraid of everything and also she has an older brother in ur answer u were like theres alot more alice books to still read im kind of confused…

Phyllis replied:

 

I see what you mean.  I read that email several times and decided that what she was telling me was that, like Alice, she has an older brother and, like Alice, she’s embarrassed about everything.  Then she asked me to write more books (meaning about a girl who’s embarrassed about everything).  Since I didn’t think she was really asking me a question, I just told her the number of Alice books, thinking perhaps she didn’t know about all of them.

Japanese series

Fifteen Books in 3 Days

Question:

I was walking in my local library and an Alice book caught my eye. I decided to give them a try. I took too. Alice On Her Way and Alice in the Know. I absolutely fell in love with them.The next time I went to the library I left with over 15 books about Alice and they were gone in about 3 days. I can just not put them down.

Phyllis replied:

That’s what we like to hear!

Flirting at the Movies

Question:

Hey PN. First of all thanks sooo much for writing the alice books! i am in LOVE with them and all your work you’ve done!! Second, i need some advice. I kinda liked this boy for a few months and we’ve been talking online while i’ve been on summer vacation. he asked me to see a movie with him when i get back home. what are some tips to flirt at the movies and to start conversations when theres an awkward pause..its a scary movie if that helps. thanks!! <3

Phyllis replied:

Yeah, scary movies do help.  You can always grab his arm and lean in closer, saying, “Oh, I’m going to hate this part.”  If he takes a cue and puts an arm around you or snuggles closer, you’ve let him know you like closeness.  If he sits like a stone, and doesn’t respond, release his arm and let him make the next move.  If you lean in close and he elbows you away, better say “Goodbye” when the movie’s over.  Conversation?  Have a good story to tell him in the back of your mind–something you read in the paper, something to make him laugh–how a bank robber returned to the bank to ask if they could give him twenties instead of fifties.  Pick up on every little bit of talk he gives you that can be discussed further.  If he tells you that he’d give this movie a B rating, ask what his three favorite movies are of all time.  Tell him yours.  Being a good conversationalist is listening very carefully to another’s questions and answers to see where you could add on with a question, a comment, or steer the conversation in a new direction.

Afraid to Write What I Truly Feel

Question:

I love the alice books! they seem so real and true.  you are a truely gifted at writing. alice seems like a real person.  I love to write but afraid to write what i truely feel.  how do you deal with people judging your books? And when do you think the new alice book will be in paper back?

Phyllis replied:

Publishers usually wait a year or a year and a half before they reprint a book from hard cover to paperback.  As for writing what you truly feel, how else can you write effectively?  How else can you put down on paper the story that only you can write?  If it simply mirrors what everyone else thinks or feels, then what’s the difference?  Write for yourself alone to begin.  When I wrote my autobiography for adults, “Crazy Love,” I started thinking, “What will my mother say when she reads this?  How will my sister feel?”  And I realized that if I let that guide me, not only would the book be dishonest, but I would never be able to finish it.  So I wrote it the best I knew how, then went back over it to decide if there was something hurtful to someone else that really didn’t have to be there–that contributed nothing to the account–and left it out.  Write for yourself first, as true as you can be, and realize that this ability to be honest is what will make you a writer.

The Best One So Far

Question:

Oh.my.gosh.

This ^^ is my reaction to Intensely Alice. I love all of the Alice books, but this one was the best so far. I want to say THANK YOU! Like Alice, I lost my Uncle this January, and the scene where she questions her faith at the end, perfectly captured my emotions as well. Its like you wrote exactly what I was thinking. Keep up the great work!

Phyllis replied:

Sometimes we writers get lucky.  Thanks so much for your letter.

I Want to Know About Her Whole Life

Awesome

Question:

 

Embarrassed about Everything

Question:

i live in la i have an older
brother who is 8 years older than me and i am embarrassed about every
thing please write another alice book

Phyllis replied:

There are 25 Alice books published so far, so you have a lot of reading to do!   I’m very glad you like them.

What to Get a Boyfriend

Question:

i am 12 years old and my bf’s birthday is coming up!what should i get him?thanks for ur time!!

 

Phyllis replied:

I don’t know, because I don’t know him.  And I don’t know how well YOU know him.  I’d vote for something on the funny side.  A card with a clever message.  A giant chocolate bar, if he’s fond of Hershey’s.  A tiny Matchbox car if he’s always talking about cars.  Something to make him laugh.  If you wrap it up fancy, it will be all the more funny.