Your Questions Answered

Good Books for Twenty-somethings

Question:

Hi Phyllis,

I’ve never written you before and never met anyone with your name before!

I hope its okay to write you.  I’ve never written an author before.  I’ve read some of Incredibly Alice and liked it.  Some parts I wish there were more details, but maybe it is not written for people in their 20s?

I have read one of the very first Alice books a long time ago, back when I was in grade 5.  I did not know that you had continued on with the series, but I am glad you did 🙂

I have trouble finding books, good books to read.  I like to read books where I can relate to the characters.  The books for teens are too young for me, although i enjoy a few of them.  Sometimes, adults books are too old for me b/c the people are in their 40s and I’m not there yet.  Would you have any suggestions for me?  For books I mean.  

I like how you talk about a whole bunch of different things that girls go through .. well it seemed that way in the characters lives from Incredibly Alice… I’ll have to read it again as i had only read it briefly.  

I’d like to write more, but i dont know you…just from what is on the website.

Some people write you a lot of personal stuff on your website.  Do you mind?  I like that people are able to write to you though.

Phyllis replied:
 
I’m here to listen to whatever anyone wants to write me about.  As I’ve explained many times, I’m not a doctor or a psychiatrist–just an enlightened grandmother, so whatever you want to discuss is fine with me.  I have a lot of emails to answer tonight and it’s hard to think of a book that might fit your age range, because I never think much about that when I read a book–I’m drawn to good characters of any age.  So forgive me for sticking only to my own titles, but you would probably like “Intensely Alice,” “Blizzard’s Wake,” “Ice,” “Jade Green,” and “Send No Blessings.”  If your library doesn’t have them, ask them to get them for you on inter-library loan.

Glad that Alice is Average

Question:
 
I started reading the Alice books in Middle school, and I loved the awkward, realistic way she was written. It made her incredibly relatable, and when I had problems, or felt alone, reading about Alice, and how she felt a lot of what I felt, made me feel better, and less alone.

I just graduated from High school, and now Alice has as well, and I’ll be in college when I read the last Alice book. These books were a great source of joy for me, and I loved that Alice was smart, and spunky, and pretty, but not unrealistically so. Her character is extraordinary in its averageness, and I’m so glad you wrote her this way, because she feels like someone I actually know.

I don’t really have any questions, I just wanted you to know that these books made my life a little bit happier, and a little bit easier. Thank you so much for writing them, because they were incredibly fun to read.

Phyllis replied:

Thanks so much for writing to me.  Alice isn’t “every girl,” but I did want her to be average, and I’m so glad that she seems to be someone you actually know.

Finding a Life-Long Companion

Question:

My question is in regards to a response that you gave to the writer who asked “Did I Pick the Right College?”  You responded that the book that really helped you out during your college years was called “Good Reading”.  I would love a copy of that book and was wondering if you remember who wrote it so I can try to look for it online?  I tried researching it online but the tittle is a little generic so I couldn’t pinpoint to the correct one.

Also,  I noticed on your biography that you have been long married to your husband, Rex.  I was wondering if you could share some tips on finding a life-long companion to your young readers.  Please don’t say it’s just luck :)!
 
 
Phyllis replied:
 
The full title of the book I  referred to is Good Reading, the 20th Edition of the Noted Guide to the World of Books, prepared by the Committee on College Reading, J. Sherwood Weber, Editor.
 
I think that a life-long companion should be someone with whom you feel really comfortable being yourself, and who brings out the best in you–who wants the best for you, not in terms of material things, but in who you are striving to be, what you are striving to do.  And I would list the three components of love as passion, tenderness, and joy.  Think about it: you may feel tenderness and joy toward someone, but no sexual attraction, or you may feel tenderness and passion toward someone, but not really joy–delighting in that person’s presence.  When you have all three, that’s something to hang onto.

Like the Friend I Never Met

Question:

Hi, Phyllis! I am a really, reeaaaly huge fan of your books, the ‘Alice’ series. Somehow I feel connected to Alice, like she is a friend I have never met. It’s actually really hard for me to comprehend that she isn’t real. She’s so real to me! I have read most of your books; I am thirteen. It makes me sad to think that Alice is growing up, and that the series is over. I will always read the Alice Series, and someday maybe I will write books about a teenage girl when I’m older too, so other people can enjoy it and take comfort in it. You are a true inspiration! I have always wondered this question though; who are the models for the covers of the Alice book?  Anyways, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your books!! Have a great day! ❤

Phyllis replied:

I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the Alice books. Some of the models have been on several different book covers, but only the agency knows the names and addresses of the models they send out.

Do They Marry?

Question:

I just reread “Alice in Lace”, where they had the Critical Choices assignment where Alice and Patrick had to plan their marriage. I thought it was really interesting that Brian did end up totaling a car and getting his license suspended and that Pamela actually did get pregnant. So will Alice and Patrick’s assignment come true too? Haha you don’t have to answer, but I’m just really excited for Always Alice!

Phyllis replied:

Ha, ha, you thought you could trick me into telling, didn’t you? Sorry.  You’ll have to read the final book.  But be prepared for surprises.

The Final Book

Question:

I grew up reading the Alice books and continue to follow Alice now as an adult since her story is quickly approaching its final book.  Your books fostered a love of reading in me that remains a favorite pasttime over twenty years later!  I was wondering if the Alice books will ever be released in any sort of complete set.  I have copies of all of the Alice books that have been released to date, several of most books, but haven’t been able to find the complete series available in a consistent edition.  I would love to gift the entire Alice series to my young niece in a consistent edition if possible.

Also, could you please clarify the name of the final Alice book and total number of books, including prequels, planned for the series?  Last year, I read on your website that Always Alice would be the name of the final book, which would follow Alice on Board, but just recently saw that your website announces the release of Now I’ll Tell you Everything in October of this year.  Has the name of the final (28th) book been changed to Now I’ll Tell You Everything, or has this title been added to the lineup to preface Always Alice (as the 29th book)?

Thank you so much for such a dynamic, enduring coming-of-age series- it’s meant so much to so many!

Phyllis replied:

There are a total of 28 books in the series, counting the three prequels, and the title of the final book, the 28th, has been changed from “Always Alice” to “Now I’ll Tell You Everything.”  I know it’s confusing, because the title and cover were originally released to Amazon and other places, and now both have been changed, but we feel that it deserved a better cover and title. I do wish that all 28 books were offered in a complete series, but so far they are not.  They’ve come out in hardcover, in paperback with different covers for different editions, and in groups of books with distinct covers for that group. I’d love for all the books to be available as a series with a new set of covers, but right now, that’s not about to happen.

What is the Correct Title?

Question:

I love your Alice books! But I have a question about the last one in the series.I hope you can answer it. I  found on your website that it would be named Always Alice and Now I’ll Tell You Everything. Which one is the right title? Thank you. PS: I want to be a writer when I grow up!

Phyllis replied:

It’s confusing, I know.  I had planned for it to be called “Always Alice,” but the publisher felt it should have a title with more oomph, so we’ve changed it to “Now I’ll Tell You Everything,” because I promised to answer all your questions in the final book.

The Final Alice McKinley Book

Now I’ll You Everything

The Final Alice McKinley Book

Available October 15, 2013

Learn more >>

What Can I Do?

Question:

Hi, Mrs. Naylor. I used to write to you all the time when I was younger.  I have loved your Alice books since I was 10 years old. I just turned 20 last month. I used to write to you about all my boy problems, friends who were distancing from me, and, of course, my parents who could just never understand me like you did. 🙂 You literally got me through the entire portion of my life that had me figuring out who I was, what my place in life was, and who I was destined to be. You and your Alice books, that is. Without your fan mail section, I don’t know what I would have done from ages 11 to 14. For being my guide through that confusing time in every girls life, I want to say thank you.

My senior year of high school, I had SO much motivation. I was going to classes during the day, my after school job, dual enrollment college classes at night, and still found time to go to church three times a week. I was a busy girl, with no social life. I wasn’t allowed to date, or have friends outside of my small church anyway. So, it was probably a good thing that I was so busy. I ended up graduating a semester ahead of my class, and moved out of my parent’s house at 17. Because I had gone all this time without any social life whatsoever, and I moved to a college town 55 miles away from my parents that is notorious for partying, I figured I’d take a semester off. I had my own place with one of my older girlfriends as a roommate, and whenever I wasn’t working, I could do whatever and go wherever I pleased. I was a big change from what I was used to.

I quickly made friends at my new job, and through my roommate and got a boyfriend, literally, the first week I was here. Besides maybe two boyfriends, which I had to hide from my mother, my junior and senior years of high school, that lasted maybe a month each, this was my first serious relationship. My boyfriend and I eventually moved in together, he proposed, we got married, and this September we will celebrate our first wedding anniversary and three years of being together. Crazy how time flies, right? We’ve even bought our first house, and are in the process of deciding when we will have our first child. I sometimes regret settling down so quickly, but in the long run, I’m glad I did. I’m crazy in love with this man and am very excited to see what our future holds!

Which brings me to the problem. Since we have bought our house and settled in, it definitely requires both of our incomes to pay the bills. Neither of us have been to college, and I desperately want to obtain a degree before I start having children. Our jobs are both overnight, and I just can’t see myself working from 10 pm to 7 am, then going to classes all day… I would never get any sleep! I feel like I never get sleep as it is. And the degree that I’m wanting to go for is a two year program that basically has the schedule of 8-5. I just don’t know what to do and I’d like your opinion. How can I be a full time student and hold a full time job at the same time? I’d rather not get a new job, because this one has all of the benefits that I need. And if I leave and come back, I’ll have to work my way back up the ladder to get those benefits. I’ve tried to look into federal assistance but there must be something I’m missing. We just barely make too much for food stamps. I’m sure I would qualify for student loans and scholarships, but if I cut my hours down at work, we would need monetary assistance to pay our bills. What do you think I should do?

Phyllis replied:

I’ve printed your long letter here because I think many of my readers will see themselves in it.  Sometimes when we are forbidden to do something, we rush into hasty decisions the minute we get our freedom.  Sometimes these decisions turn out to be good ones, sometimes not.  Nevertheless, you have been married a year (Congratulations!) and report that you are happy.  You are both sharing the burden of your decision to buy a house, and again, congratulations on both of you being responsible.  Now, what to do next?

Since you opted to buy a house instead of renting an apartment, we need to deal with things as they are.  Yes, you need full time work in order to pay your mortgage and to keep your benefits–health and retirement.  And no, it’s neither possible nor wise to work full time at night and go to school full time in the day.  So…the choice that’s left, as I see it, is to take courses one or two at a time.  The downside is that it will take longer to get the degree, and it will take time away from your marriage, and this is important too.  You can’t give up the necessary ongoing work to keep love and marriage alive simply to live in a house and go to school.  So it’s time for a calm, honest discussion with each other.  Who most wants to go back to school and get a degree?  What is the minimum amount of time you need to be helpful and supportive to each other each week?  If one year, one of you takes on an extra burden (of working overtime or doing household chores), can the other person take over the next year?  Can you alternate, or is it best for one person to graduate first?  You need to discuss these things lovingly with each other before you think of bringing children into the equation.
But many couples have faced similar obstacles and worked out a solution, and I’m sure that you can also.  It was wonderful hearing from you.

Questions

Question:

I want to thank you so much for entertaining me with Alice for, what feels like, my entire growing-up experience (well, that’s not exactly true, I probably wont be grown up until I’m dead). I think that being able to write the entire life story of one character has to be one of the most extraordinary challenges a writer can ever take on. It’s a wonderful accomplishment for you, writing the Alice series so incredibly well, and a privilege for the rest of us to be able to read. I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Now, onto business. Seeing as how we are going to have to wait a little while longer for the final book (which, by the way, is killing me. If the date gets pushed back one more time I’ll probably have to be put on oxygen), I was hoping you could tide us over by answering a few questions.

First, Alice has always been set in the present. Taking her from age eighteen to sixty will definitely make the book travel far into the future. Can you tell us a little about how you’ve portrayed the future? Have you kept everything about the way it is now, or have you included some things that you believe there will be in forty-two years? Flying cars? Super Intelligent Computers? Spaceships? Anything?

Second, can you tell us anything about the new cover? I just checked Amazon and didn’t see it yet. When will it be up?

Third, could you give your readers any sort of extra sneak peak? Could you give us a sentence? Another clue, like your last one (which was “Okalahoma”)? Pretty-please, with sugar and ice cream and a cherry on top?  If you could answer my questions, and possibly post it on the Alice blog, I’m sure a lot of people would appreciate it. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering these things!! A trillion thanks.

Phyllis replied:

All of the  Alice books were written as though they are happening now.  To be able to feel with Alice, you need to be able to identify with her.  The early books, of course, made no mention of cell phones and emails because they weren’t common then, though I later introduced them.  So Alice at age 60 lives in the same time as this one, and that’s simply something you’ll have to accept.  I have the feeling it won’t bother you at all.  I sent off the final corrections just this morning.  I imagine the new cover will be up fairly soon.  They are still tinkering with Alice’s hair color.  But I won’t give any more hints.  I wouldn’t want to ruin the suspense!