Your Questions Answered

The Beatles, per chance?

Question:

Hello! I’m Shelbee, and I looove your books. I really feel like I’ve grown up with your characters. I was wondering…are Lester’s roomates Paul and George any reference to the Beatles per chance? Thank you for taking the time to read and reply 🙂

Phyllis replied:

Oh, that’s funny.  Nope.  Didn’t have those guys in mind at all.

Appropriate for a 12-Year-Old?

Question:

 

 

I really enjoy your alice books and want to finish the whole series. I was wondering if dangerously alice is appropriate for a 12-year old? I just want to make sure if it is okay for me to read it. please reply.

Phyllis replied:

Your parents would probably appreciate it if you waited until you were 14 .  But if you were my daughter, I’d allow you to read it.

Two Questions

Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry that I don’t know right off in what book Patrick kisses Alice in the closet.  I’d have to do some searching, and I have a long list of emails to get to.  Perhaps another reader will answer and I’ll put it on this page.  As for books #26 and #27, I haven’t titled them yet, and won’t until I get around to writing them.

Wrong and Confusing

Question:

Im a huge fan of all th Alice book, but am horrified at the movie “Alice upside down”!!! it was all wrong and confusing.
the characters look nothing like you discribded them, and it mixed up scenes from different books so the plot didnt make sense!
They also made my favorite character( aunt sally) seem so mean! in case they make another movie could you check to see if the film is like the book please!

Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry that you were disappointed in the movie, but making sure that the movie is like the book is not the way movies are done.  When a producer buys the movie rights to a book, he is free to go in whatever direction he likes.  He may decide to stick closely to the original plot.  He may decide to base his film on only some aspect of the book.  He can change the characters around.  As I’ve said frequently on this page, you need to watch the movie as a separate thing, apart from the book.  He wanted to appeal to a wide audience, so he changed the race of some of the characters; he added things that weren’t there; he used a younger actor for Lester and an older actress for Alice; he simply used “The Agony of Alice” as the starting place and took off from there.  I would have done some things differently had I been the producer, and I did ask that some of the scenes be changed, and they were.  But basically this is the way the producer and director saw the film, and they had the right to do it their way.

How Can I Get Over This?

Question:

Hi. I’m Sarah–so today, I understand Michael Jackson died, and at first, I was all hyper. I’d been acting all optimistic about it, because I know he’s in heaven now and he’s safe and at peace away from all the bad stuff that he’s had to go through in his life. But now that I’ve been watching and listening and hearing about him on the television and the radio all the day with my family,I don’t know, I just feel so crushed all of a sudden. Like, inside of me, I keep thinking to myself “Michael Jackson is really dead”, and it’s like, more surreal and unrealistic everytime. I mean, I didn’t even know him, I don’t even live in America, but he was still such a big part of my life. My family has listened and loved his music forever, and him, he was such a great person, so now… I was all smiley this morning when I found out, all chirpy and calling my brother dumb for being so sullen, but I can’t even describe how I feel inside now. I feel horrible, and I can’t help thinking, will I feel this bad when someone I actually know and love even more dies? And how can I get over this?

Phyllis replied:

There are some things you just have to go through–you can’t hurry it along or jump over it, and grief is one of them.  When you feel really sad about it, let yourself cry.  When you want to talk about it, call a friend.  The thing about strong emotion is that our brains usually can’t sustain it for a long period of time. It’s the same with excitement or great happiness.  Most of the time our bodies just want contentment, which is why the excitement of Christmas or our first kiss or our getting the lead in a play isn’t sustained at the peak…it cools down a bit to keep us functioning.  The same is true of sadness.  After a while we concentrate more on the cheerful aspects, and this will happen to you too.

Takes Forever

Question:

hey phyllis i’m trying to get intensely alice but it takes forever for the book to get to me i read your fan mails about someone dying in the book and it’s a he it better not be patrick or ben or is it that just makes me want to read it even more please reply asap!

Phyllis replied:

It’s frustrating, I know, when people are talking about a book and you haven’t been able to get it yet.  I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you any more about it.  Isn’t there a kind friend who will lend you a book?  Ask your public librarian if she can’t borrow it from another library.  If it’s reserved, however, and there is a waiting list, you’ll probably just have to be patient.

Twelve Books in Two Weeks

 

Question:

 

Im currently a sophomore in high school.  I have a great passion for the Alice series. One year for Christmas I recieved twelve Alice books and read them within a two week time period. Last night I read Intensly Alice and couldn’t put it down until I finished it.  Alice’s life is so much like my own, so I take advice from her and it helps me with certain situations. Alice isnt a character to me she is an inspiration and she makes me feel like im not alone. Phyllis Replied: Someone must really love you to give you twelve Alice books at one time.  Intensely Alice seems to be a favorite.  I’m glad you liked it.

I Would Just Die

Question:

PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDNT KILL PATRICK PLEASE I WOULD JUST DIE.

Phyllis replied:

I really can’t tell you.  Please do read the book.

I Want the Real Answer

Question:

As you may have noticed, I have e-mailed you many times in the past. My name is Emily, and I have devoured every Alice book you have read with delight including your latest, Intensely Alice. I have heard many rumors but I just want to know one thing, will there be another Alice book after Intensely Alice? I’ve heard that this is your last book and I’ve heard that books will come after that one and I just want to know the real answer. Please reply. As you have already noticed, I am a BIG fan of yours and Alice.
 
Phyllis replied:

Here is the real answer.  The very last book, #28, “Always Alice,” is already written but it’s not been submitted.  It’s sitting here in a fireproof box in my office, with instructions to my sons, in case I check out early, to send it immediately to my publisher.  The book coming out next year, “Alice in Charge,” is book # 25.  I still have books # 26 and #27 to write, and don’t have titles for them yet.  So there will be four more books to read after “Intensely Alice,” unless I get hit by a bread truck or something, and I’ll try not to let that happen.

 

Best Decision I Could Have Made