Your Questions Answered
Question:
I know that you receive emails saying how wonderful the Alice series is all the time, but I just wanted to let you know how huge of an impact the Alice books have had on, honestly, my entire life. I started reading the books in third grade, and am graduating high school this year. Each spring, I still preorder the books on Amazon and dedicate at least a week to rereading the books until the newest one is released. For a child and now young adult like me who loved and still loves reading more than anything, your books mean an enormous amount to me. I can’t think of a single book character who I have identified with more than Alice and I can’t think of a single series that has defined my childhood reading as much as Alice has.
I also wanted to say how much I admire your connection that you have with your readers. Every so often, I’ll log onto the website where you answer fan mail and I think it’s wonderful how many people have such a connection with you and your books that they go to you for advice about everything.
I suppose that overall, I just wanted to thank you for writing the books. Thank you for giving me new books to look forward to each year, thank you for answering the teenage questions that all of us who read the books want answered, and thank you for giving me and thousands of other girls such a good role model. Thanks for teaching us that we can be special even if we’re not super popular or an athlete. Thank you for showing that even the girls like Alice are important.
Phyllis replied:
I’m so grateful when readers write to me about the Alice books, and am very pleased that the books have meant so much to you. I learn as much from your emails as you do from me, and always look forward to hearing what readers have to say.
Posted on: December 1, 2010
A few summers ago, I stayed at UNCG for a week for their summer music camp. The bathroom near the lobby of one of the dorms was a unisex bathroom, containing a urinal and a single stall. Due to the fact that there was indeed a stall, the door didn’t have a lock on it. While I was doing my business (in the stall, me being a girl), I started to wonder: What if a guy comes in to use the urinal while I’m in here? What the heck am I supposed to do then?
I was fortunate enough to not have to answer the question, but with Alice going to visit Patrick and starting college herself? It could happen.
Phyllis replied:
Yes, it could happen. But if a guy walked into a unisex bathroom and saw that someone was in the stall, he would have to make the decision as to whether to use the urinal or not, knowing that whoever was in the stall could be female. When our older son entered a college that had just become co-ed, I was surprised to see that even the bathrooms in his dorm were co-ed. As I looked at the row of urinals along one wall, I asked, “What would you do if you were urinating, and a woman walked in?” And he answered, “I’d say ‘Good morning.”
Posted on: December 1, 2010
Question:
I love your alice books with a passion and i cant wait till the final hree come out
i have a question for you, is like something wrong with me i mean
im 14 years old never been on a date or even kiss a guy n most people had thier first kiss by the age of 11
and im not saying im desperate for a boyfriend or anything cause im not …sorta…. but like i know im not
beautiful but i know im ugly, im not fat but im not skinny either i do talk to guys, n have a few as friends
but why do i feel the sudden urge that im gnna be alone for the rest of my highschool years
just cuase im not one of those cheerleading type of girls? n i mean thats how it seems, seems like all the nice guys wants those
perky cheerleaders, n people are either single but have there eye on someone, or taken, or a broken heart…..
Phyllis replied:
I wonder where you got the idea that most people have their first kiss by age eleven. And what, really, is so terrific about that first kiss? A first kiss might be on a dare from a friend. A first kiss might be playing a game at a party. It might be a wet slobbery kiss or an embarrassed peck on the side of the mouth. I would be willing to bet that kisses at age 11 are pretty embarrassing, awkward things. Rarely are they slow kisses in a fond embrace under a moonlit sky. Boys who are just getting interested in girls often act like members of a pack. They all focus on the same girl or type of girl, and it’s only when they mature a little that they are attracted to the many variations. If you have any doubt, look at the engagement pictures in the newspaper; look at the young married couples in your neighborhood. You will see handsome guys married to beautiful women. You will see handsome guys engaged to plain-looking women. You will see beautiful women married to plain-looking men, and plain looking people engaged to others just like them. We are attracted to other people not only by their physical qualities but by how they make us feel; how they bring out the best in us; by how comfortable we are with each other. Many girls who write to me didn’t have their first date until they were in college. There’s no age limit on love and attraction.
Posted on: December 1, 2010
Question:
i just gotta say that your adivce has really through out the years i remember writing my first letter to you when i was like i believe
in 6 about some stupid guy i supposely thought i was in love in back in the forth grade then up to my 8grade year to my deep deression i was going through that you help look pass that n relizing friends come and go, and what really matter is the inner beauty that inside you and what on the outside
n over summer begin stupid talking to a guy that lives 300miles away from me, that was proably using me cuase he had nothing better to do, and all the advice that you gave me on your replies really does help, it nice to know if like you cant talk to like a parent or something we could email an author that alot of people adore:) so ya i have a question i think it would be beyond amazing that after you fineish the series that it might be possible that you can make it into a Tv Series of course it wont be the same, but it be nice seeing the Charcters
come to life….. (sorry for the spelling errors)
Phyllis replied:
I really have very little to do with whether my books are made into movies or TV series. Things like this are handled through my agent. One of the Alice books, “The Agony of Alice,” was made into movie, “Alice Upside Down,” but a lot of things were changed, as they usually are when a book becomes a movie. But I’m glad that you like the series. It was also good to know that perhaps some of the suggestions I made to you might have helped in your life.
Posted on: December 1, 2010
Question:
My daughter has a brain injury from encephalitis from the age of
3 and suffers from epilepsy and autism. Aside from that, there is a
world in wonderful things about her. She has an independent and
optimistic spirit, and brings joy and growth to our family. She is 20
yrs old, and still living at home with us. We have an incredible library, and this is where I discovered your books (we are about to read book 15, Patiently Alice).For young people with special needs, it is so hard to find books that have that very great mix of a terrific story, well and clearly written, with age appropriate themes, many special young people end up reading very simple kid’s books too late into their lives. Your Alice books have this great mix and so much more! You have provided through your words, the world of feelings that she cannot express many times. You have expressed and confirmed
the joy and importance of a family with love in their home and
friendships. Your books show a girl who is learning about
independence, resilience, integrity, generosity. To tell you
the truth, I can only guess as to what makes your books so relevant
and enjoyable for her, I don’t fully know, she is not fully able to
express these things. However, when I lay beside her every night and read another 2 chapters, she is happy and engaged and this may very well be, the best part of her day, and I am so grateful.
THANK YOU.
Phyllis replied:
I will be thinking of your daughter with each new Alice book I write. I’ve forwarded your email on to my editor, and know she will be as touched as I am that the Alice series has meant so much to your daughter. Thank you, thank you, for taking some of your own precious minutes to write to me.
Posted on: December 1, 2010
Question
I was wondering, when exactly did you know you wanted to be a writer? And how did you know you wanted to write books, not short stories or poems but actual books? I want to be a writer but I’ve been struggling. For example, last year i came up with an idea and now that idea is soo different. I’m not sure I’m mean to be a writer. Thanks for you help. Happy Holidays!
Phyllis replied:
I don’t think I ever thought of myself as becoming a “writer” when I was young. I just liked to write. I didn’t know I could make a living at it. I started out by writing short stories for various publications, and it was fifteen years before I took a chance on writing a book. But once I had several books published, I realized I loved being able to tell a story in more depth than the short story allowed, and eventually I gave up short stories altogether and focused entirely on books. The big question you need to ask yourself is what you most enjoy writing. You don’t have to decide anything now, just do what you like the best, and what seems to come more naturally for you. Many writers write both books and short stories. And it’s perfectly OK for an idea to change. Give your imagination some slack.
Posted on: November 30, 2010
Question:
hi i just wrote you because i finished alice in charge! and it only took my 1 summer to read all 25 books they are my favorite books ever. my mom gets so anoyd when i lock myself in my room with your book then come down crying durring a sad part or, laughing in a funny part and won’t tell her what happend. anyway i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the alice books.
Phyllis replied:
What a good testimonial for the Alice books! You read eight Alice books a month! I’m glad you enjoyed them so much!
Posted on: November 30, 2010
Question:
Ok well to start this out, I'm 12-years-old and a fan of the Alice
books. I read the prequels a few years ago, and started reading the
newer books just a few months ago. Another thing about me; I'm in 9th
grade, because I started kindergarden when I was 3. So I started going
to public school this year after 4 years of being homeschooled. I've
been having lots of fun with all my new friends, but there's a boy.
He's in my science class, and all of his other classes are sophomore
classes because he tested out of them. He's either 15 or 14. Both of
my best friends have dated him, and he just got dumped by one of them
last night. He's been sad all day at school, and it pains me. I think
I like him. I've never really liked a guy who wasn't my age, and I've
never dated a boy or kissed a boy. How do I tell if I like him, and
what do I do if i do like him?
Phyllis replied:
How about just being a good friend to him right now? Sounds as though
needs a friend more than he needs a girlfriend. Also, when you feel
sorry for someone, it's easy to confuse that with seriously liking or
loving him. And if you decide you really are starting to feel romantic
about him, SHOW him, don't feel you have to tell him. You show
this by watching him a lot, smiling, sitting near him...you get
the picture.
Posted on: November 30, 2010
hey i think your work is amazing and im totally in love with your alice series. i even own the movie and wish that there were more. I also have a question i noticed on amazon that you have some of your books in a kindle version and was just wondering if your ever going to do the alice series in an e-book format instead of just offering it in paperback and hardback.
Phyllis replied:
That will probably happen one of these days. I believe my agent is looking into that.
Posted on: November 23, 2010
Question:
Hi, I just want you to know that Alice has helped through a lot in my life. But there’s one thing she never has to deal, and it seems like most people don’t have to deal with my problem, and that is that I hate my relatives. Maybe hate is a strong word, but I cannot stand having to talk to my cousins. I know they dislike me because I see them make faces to each other when they think I’m not looking. We’re just too different. This Thanksgiving will be particularly difficult, because both my grandparents are in failing health right now. I know I should want to care about my family, but I just don’t. I’m through with them. In less than two years I will be off to college, and I will make sure that I return for as few breaks as possible just so that I don’t have to deal with them. I value my friends much more, and I would match rather spend time with them. I was just wondering, is there anyway I can actually deal with these feelings so that I can actually stand my family? I know my whole email sounds like a bratty teenager, but right now, these feelings are pretty much unbearable.
Phyllis replied:
We can choose our friends, but we can’t choose our relatives. You talk about your cousins, but you say you hate your family. You mean ALL of them? Your grandparents? Your parents? Your aunts and uncles? If you can’t find anything good to appreciate in your cousins, if the knowledge that as they grow older they may be rather ashamed of themselves, then tell yourself this: You are practicing for the rest of your life. No matter where you go, there will probably be someone–or more than one person–whom you really don’t care for. A college roommate, a coworker, a boss, a professor…. And somehow, SOMEhow, you have to learn how to be pleasant and polite. You don’t have to like anyone. You don’t have to hug them or be overly friendly. You just have to look pleasant and not too bored, enough to get through the meal, the day, the class, the weekend…. I think you have some practicing to do.
Posted on: November 23, 2010
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