Your Questions Answered

After “Alice in Charge”

Question: I want to start by saying I am in LOVE with your Alice books. I cried along with Alice in Intensly Alice, I felt embarrassed with her the many times it happened, and I laughed along with her in all of the books. I would actually read them in class and crack-up at something and everyone would stare at me.   I really wrote this to ask you if there will be any new book after Alice in Charge because I never want the Alice series to end, they’re soooooo good! I’ve read every book at least 10 times and I cannot wait until Alice in Charge comes out. I will miss the series so much! Phyllis replied:

I know, I’ll probably miss it too, even though there are SO many other kinds of books I want to write.  The Alice book I’m working on now is called, “Incredibly Alice,” and there will be two more after that.

A Better Understanding of What I Go Through

Question: Hi there, and first of let me just say I love your Alice books.  I see that you write a lot about real issues that people face in everyday life.  Now, I have only gotten up to The Grooming of Alice, but I was wondering if there are any books in the series that will have the topics of Autism and Asperger’s?  I have Asperger’s, and I think it would be helpful for people to get a better understanding of what I go through.  I know I’m not the only one with it either, so to see this in a book that many people are reading, and to know that more people are aware of this disorder would be nice.

 

Phyllis replied:

I don’t know if I had introduced Amy Sheldon yet in that book, but a number of readers have asked me if Amy has Asperger’s.  I’ve purposely not named her problem because I wanted her to represent any student who has social difficulties, and Amy has problems in several areas.  But I agree with you that most people don’t know too much about Asperger’s.  It would be very helpful to our readers if you would write a paragraph or two that I could post on this space, telling us in your own words some of the difficulties you’ve faced.  I know that two paragraphs hardly scratches the surface, but this would still be a real value to our readers.

 

Goodbye to Mrs. Plotkin

Question: I just finished reading The Grooming Of Alice, and I must say I cried.  Normally, I don’t cry over books, because I know that the story isn’t true, or I will have put down the book before it gets that sad!  But with this book, I was already a part of the McKinley family.  I felt I knew Mrs. Plotkin, and that is probably because I have known a few “Mrs. Plotkin”s through out my life.  I watched the movie before I read the books, and I fell in love with how nice she truly was.  So I found myself a bit teary while reading.  What I liked about the book, though, was how I got to go through the services with Alice.  I got to say good-bye to Mrs. Plotkin, and maybe even said good-bye, in a way, to the other “Mrs. Plotkin”s as well.

Phyllis replied:

I’m so glad you loved Mrs. Plotkin as much as I did.  I’ve had a number of “Mrs. Plotkins” in my life, as well.  Thank you for writing.

 

What Does It Mean?

To My Readers

Phyllis wrote:  There are a lot of emails from you waiting to be answered, I know, but I’m directing a community play that performs this weekend.  I’ll try to answer a few emails a day until I’m caught up.  Thanks for your patience.

Jerking Off

Scares Me

This Time I Cried. A Lot.

Question:

I just finished reading Intensely Alice for the second time. Honestly, the first time I didn’t cry because I knew someone would die. But, this time, I did. A Lot. It just took so much out of me, realizing that this could happen to anyone, and reading about it made me feel so sad. That he’s never going to come back and do all the things he’s wanted. How is it that one awful unthinkable thing can make you believe that the world is coming to an end as we know it? The way you described it when they were lowering the casket……I knew it was over. It really made me think to enjoy everyday and to remember the only way to be here on this earth is we have to die. We have to die to be here. This book really put life into perspective for me, thanks.

Also, I’ve been thinking about the end of the series. Everyone keeps saying, “No! Don’t stop the series! All the memories we’ve had..” Well, you can still relive those memories. I’ve read each book over 6 times, and they never get old. Once the series is done, It’s done. But not really. It’s still here, and we can still connect with Alice, but maybe on a different level.

But, I wanted to thank you. You have made me so happy, sad, angry, delirius with laughter, and it’s all been a great ride. Even though the series isn’t done, I’m ready for when it is.

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I cried when I wrote it.  A lot.  And each time I read it since then, I’ve cried.  I feel very close to my characters, as I’ve known them now for about 25 years.  I think that as readers grow older, they get something new from the books each time they read them again, simply because their own life experiences are growing.  I’m glad to know they’ve meant so much to you.

Secret Life of American Teenager

Phyllis replied:

 

Masturbation is simply a way of giving yourself sexual pleasure by caressing the clitoris (if you’re a girl) or the penis (if you’re a guy).

Alice in Charge

Question:

i was just wondering when the next book after intensely alice is coming out? that book made me really sad, and made me start thinking about what will happen after MY friends die.

Phyllis replied:

I knew it was going to make a lot of readers sad.  It made me sad to write it.  But if I’m going to present real life, then deaths of friends and those we love will some day be a part of it.  That’s why it’s so important to remember that life is a miracle, and you want to make every day count.