Your Questions Answered

All He Wants is to Make Out

A New Series with a Guy Protagonist?

Question:
Could you write a series similar to the Alice series with a guy as the 
protagonist?  Maybe you could even write it from the perspective of someone who 
lives in the same place as Alice--Elizabeth's brother, for instance.  That way, 
you could include some of the already-known characters.=


Phyllis  replied:
Actually, I tried that some years ago.  The first book was
called "Being Danny's Dog," and the second was called "Danny's
Desert Rats."  But neither sold well enough for the series to
continue.  The editor felt that guys weren't as interested in
relationships and feelings and such as girls, and needed more
action than I had in the stories, though I thought I had plenty.
But a few years ago I wrote a book called "Cricket Man" with a
protagonist I think you would like.  Read that book and see
what you think. 

Should I Tell Him How I Feel?

Question:

I’ve written you several times about my appreciation for the Alice series, but I have a quick question for you now about my own life. I’ve had feelings for a guy at my school for a little over a year, and we’ve gotten closer over the past few months. I took him to my Junior Prom in late March and had a great time. We danced to a few songs, didn’t kiss or anything, and he texted me telling me he had a great time afterwards. Since then, however, things have died down. We haven’t talked as much since then, and when we have, it seems really forced. He asked a friend of his (who didn’t have a date) to his Senior Prom, which, stupidly enough, made me like him even more–she wouldn’t have gone if she didn’t have a date, and she got to have fun before graduation this way. So here’s the thing–he hooked up with that girl at his prom, we’re talking less than ever, and I still like him a whole lot. We’re going on a theater tour through the school, and I’m wondering if I should tell him how I feel (he just graduated). I’ve tried “showing him” that I like him–texting him, talking to him in the hallways, and even asking him to my prom! I feel like I’m going to regret it if he goes off to college not knowing that I like him, but on the other hand, at this point, how could he not know? What do you think? 

From Indonesia

Question:

dear phyllis, i'm a big fans of alice series from surabaya,indonesia.
in here, the newest book is Including Alice,but actually the newest one is Alice
in Charge right?
ooh, i really wish alice could 'rise' again in here,please?

Phyllis replied:

I wish I could help, but it's up to your Indonesian publisher to put out more of the Alice books.  A letter from you  might help.

Excerpt

An Excerpt?

Question:

 I was just wondering why, for the past couple of years, the Alice books are now being released around the end of June instead of in May? Also, is there going to be an excerpt for Alice in Charge posted on the website? Thanks! I love the Alice books so much… I’ve been reading them since junior high school, and I’m now getting ready to be a senior in college!

Phyllis replied:

I’m probably responsible for the delay from May to June.  A few years ago when we were moving from a house to an apartment, I was incredibly busy, and was a month late getting a manuscript in to the publisher.  Since then the deadline has been June rather than May.  This year I turned the manuscript in in May, so we’ll see if next year it comes out in May or June.  As for an excerpt, I had assumed it was up by now.  I’ve just forwarded your email to my editor, and perhaps she can light a fire under the website people.  Thanks for letting me know.

Your Favorite Alice Book

Question:

  I have been reading Alice books since 5th grade and i am now a freshmen in high school. I’m sure you get at least 100 emails a day form Alice fans I hope you can find the time to answer mine. I was wondering, what is your favorite Alice book, and what other books would you recommend from other authors that are like Alice books?

Phyllis replied:

It’s next to impossible for me to name my favorite Alice book, because I’m writing about a whole life, and the books all run together.  I like Alice In-Between, and Alice in April, Alice Alone and Intensely Alice….  I’ll have to leave it to other readers to suggest series that are similar to the Alice books.  It’s all I can do to keep writing my own, but I’m sure there are other good series out there.  Whether they are very similar to Alice, I don’t know. 

Awesome

Alice Series

Question:
I have just started your Alice series and I have to say that I very much enjoy it. I read the first book in one sitting. I realize that I have a lot of catching up to do. I’ve read that there will be 25 books in total of this series and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was planned that way or if you just loved Alice and wanted to continue to write about her. If it was premeditated, what was your process? And if not, when and how did you decide to write the other books?

Phyllis replied:

I’m glad to know you enjoy the books.  Actually, there will be 28 books in the series, counting the three prequels.  When I wrote the first Alice book, “The Agony of Alice,” I didn’t think of it as a series.  I simply wanted to write about a motherless girl in search of a role model.  But I got so many letters from readers asking for more, and reviewers said things like, “Alice’s many fans will await her further adventures,” that I decided to make a series of it as long as Alice could grow a little older in each book.  I didn’t want to be stuck in a sit-com,  with the same people staying the same ages forever.  So I began the series, and decided to write about three books for every year of Alice’s life, which means that she ages three times as slowly as real people.  Confusing to some readers is that I try to use the calendar of whatever year the book will appear in.  Some people try to figure out where Christmas came in one book, and where New Year’s comes in the next one, but since it takes three years of Alice’s life to equal one of the reader’s, this can get awfully mixed up.  I prefer readers just to enjoy the books and let me do the heavy lifting.  Thanks so much for writing.

Prom Question

Question:

I had a hypothetical question. 
Is it considered taboo to ask a sophomore to prom? 
 
Phyllis replied:

Why should it be taboo?  If it’s a senior prom, the senior can ask whomever he/she wants.   (A senior invited me when I was a sophomore).  If it’s a junior/senior prom, both juniors and seniors can do the asking.  If it’s a senior girl asking a sophomore guy, why not, as long as he can conduct himself  more like a senior than a sophomore.