Your Questions Answered

How did you do it?

I want to say that your writings help shape me into the woman I am today. I read the entire Alice series starting in middle school and finishing my senior year of high school! I even wrote on the Alice forum back in the day asking you what I thought to be serious questions for a 12-year-old.

Now I’m 25 years old, with an interest in writing. I’ve written two novels so far, but I have no idea what to do with them. Quite honestly, I have no idea how to publish. Any advice on where to start?

Again thank you for all the literature you’ve produced. I’m sure you hear this a lot but you helped myself and so many others through your writing.

 

How I wish there was an easy answer to getting a book published.  The fact is there are SO many people wanting to publish a book today that it has become quite difficult for new writers to even get a manuscript read.  I hear horror stories from friends who tell me that all they have heard from a publisher is a postcard saying that if you don’t hear from us within a year, you may assume we are not interested in your manuscript, or something like that.  Why don’t you start out sending your manuscript to places like Amazon that has, I understand, some kind of competition for new writers.  I don’t know any more about it, except that I believe they will publish chapters of manuscripts online and readers comment and vote for which will continue, and perhaps the manuscript that goes the whole way through will be published in book form.  Ask around and someone can lead you to this.   Self-published books are another way to go, but that means you pay for everything, including how to get bookstores to carry your books.  Why don’t you start with a library reference person and ask about the Amazon competition.  In the meantime, if you love to write, continue, because you will be sharpening your skills regardless.

Things were so different when I began writing.  I started out writing “character building” stories for Sunday school papers (churches don’t hand those out any longer, I guess) and eventually I put nine of these stories together, all taking place in different countries, and Abingdon Press published the collection as a book.   I did the same with some teenage stories . Then I sent a novel length manuscript to a “first book” contest by a publishing company.  I didn’t win, but they sent back  a letter saying that if I would rewrite the whole thing from the perspective of one family member rather than the whole family, they would consider it again.   So I did, and they published it.  From then on, I had a publisher, then another,  then another….slowly…very slowly….I branched out, writing for all ages.  I wish it were so simple today.

More Movies from your books?

Do you wish that there were more movies based on your books? If so, which book would you like to see made into a movie the most?

Truly, I’m just too busy with the book part of writing to worry about movies too.  I’ve always thought that the boys/versus/girls books would make a good series for kids, and that Alice would make a good series for young adults or families.  But movies have a way of taking different directions sometimes other than what the writer had in mind, so I just take it as it comes, and keep on writing the books.

 

 

Boys vs. Girls Inspiration

Hello! I’m Jenna and this might be hard to believe but I’ve read pretty much all your books including the Alice series (My Favorite Of All Time!!) and I can honestly say I was never disappointed in any of the endings and I was ecstatic when I read the ending of the Alice Series for so many reasons 🙂 I also really liked the Boys vs. Girls series and I was wondering what inspired you to write that series?

A publisher had asked me to start a new series and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.  I told her I would if I could think of some universal trait among boys and girls.  Later, I was to speak to a large group of kids at an elementary school, and a class was entering the all-purpose room from one door and another  class was coming in from a second door.  All the kids were talking and laughing which didn’t bother me one bit, but it bothered one of the teachers, and he yelled, “If you don’t quiet down right now I’m going to seat you boy-girl-boy-girl,” and the room was instantly quiet.  And I thought, “That’s it!  A universal trait!  The antipathy between boys and girls of a certain age.”  And not much later I wrote the first book of the series, “The Boys Start the War,” followed by “The Girls Get Even.”

 

Phyllis’s religion?

Hi I’ve read all the Alice books and hold the series dear to my heart and I noticed you talk about religion and God a lot in the series and if you don’t mind me asking, what is your religion?

I wasn’t aware that I did, but since I follow this girl from third grade to age 60, it’s not surprising that religion comes up now and then, is it?   And I’ve answered the question before about my own religion:  I’m Unitarian.

Does Phyllis have any pets?

Does Phyllis have any pets? Is she a dog person or a cat person?

I like them both.  One of my sons’ families has a dog.  The other family has both.  I grew up with several dogs, one after another, and the same with cats.

Judd is mean!

Why did you make Judd so mean to Shiloh.  I love dogs and this made me upset.

I can understand that the way Judd treated his dogs would make the reader upset.  I planned it that way, even though it upset me to write it.   If Judd had been kind to his dogs and he was willing to sell one to Marty, and that was that, would that have held your attention very long?   A good story must have conflict.  It must have emotion and excitement.  It should make the reader feel different emotions at different times–angry, scared, hopeful, fearful, and finally happy.  I hope that the ending made you happy.

 

Your favorite activity?

Hi! My name is Genevieve and I’m 15 and A really big fan of yours. Like many girls Alice was and always will be my favorite books of all time! I wanted to ask you, besides writing, what do you like to do for fun? what’s your favorite activity?

I love to sing, to bake brownies, to play Balderdash with my family, to read, to nature walk in early morning, and have long table conversations and debates with my friends.

Cheating/Infidelity advice

Hello, I’ve read almost all of your books and I must say you are very wise! I noticed in the Alice books you talk about the possibility of infidelity and cheating and I was wondering if I’m ever cheated on or my husband has an affair what should I do? what would you do? I was always told once a cheater always a cheater do you think that’s true?

I don’t like to classify people who make mistakes as “always” anything.  I wanted to show in that episode that even the most faithful of couples will find other people attractive from time to time.  As I said before, we don’t go blind after we’re married.  There were always a few men in our group of friends that I thought attractive and especially interesting.  But I wouldn’t have hurt my husband for the world by carrying it any further than sitting down by this man at a party and talking a bit.  At the same time, I would include my husband if he wandered by and invite him into the conversation too.  When couples marry, they need to remember that they are not pledging their loyalty just to their spouse but to the marriage.  If my husband were to confess to me that he was very much attracted to someone else, I think I’d handle it as Alice did.   I would also present a situation where I might be attracted to another man, so that my husband would have to imagine his feelings if the situation were reversed.

To My Favorite Author!!!

Dearest Phyllis Reynolds-Naylor,
Hello I must admit I love your books such as Alice, Shiloh, Boys vs. Girls, and I even read my mother’s copy of Crazy Love and they’re all remarkable! I literally grew up with Alice and I love the way you ended it with her just turning 60 and traveling the world with our beloved Patrick. I first read Shiloh with my class in 6th grade and loved it! I even have a puppy named Shiloh and she even looks like the real Shiloh. And I even enjoyed reading Crazy Love because I love reading about true events and I say you’re a survivor! You are an incredible author and I can’t wait to dive into more of your books

You certainly have read a wide scope of my books, and I’m just delighted that you enjoyed them all.  My favorite novel for adults that I’ve written is “Unexpected Pleasures.”   I hope you’re able to find a used copy of that somewhere.  I think you’d like it.

My hero!

Phyllis, do you ever do any speaking engagements or book signings? You are my favorite author and seeing you in person is in my bucket list! I am 34 years old an an avid reader. Guess how it began? By reading the Alice Series and learning how amazing books can be! I haven’t stopped reading since then! Now, I read my son these books and we laugh so hard together. We love your books.
Nikki Horobec

I do very little traveling and speaking now, because there are still so many books to write. I don’t  know how old your son is, but if he’s twelve and under, he would probably like my Shiloh series, the four cat/pack books, and especially the 12 books of the Boys versus Girls book.  Check out the books on this site…..