Will Never Be Alone as Long as I Have Alice

Question:

I just wanted to say thank you, for everything. I was an adopted child who eventually lived with my grandparents, and I read about ten of your books growing up, and eventually forgot as I got older. I turned 23 this year, and I’ve been in a relationship for a few years that is very serious. I don’t have much family really, but he has a lot. I’m a bit of a misfit, not because of my lack of family, but because I am extremely standoffish and I try very hard to figure situations out for myself, because I have always had to. Anyways, talk of children as come up, and although I will be finishing my degree and finding a job before that is even a factor, I started thinking about it & remembered how greatly your books helped me feel normal as a kid, in the moments where I felt so lost that it hurt. I was gifted all of your books by my grandfather throughout the year, and every word that I read makes me feel that I am not, was not, & will never be alone as long as I have Alice. I know many people say this very line, you can probably hear it in your head being repeated in a million different voices, but I just want to be another. You changed my life, and I can’t wait to share that with my children. Thank you.

Phyllis replied:

That was about the nicest message I’ve received this Christmas, and my editor thought so too.  Thank you so much for writing to me.  What a wonderful grandfather you had!  If you could read the emails and letters I get, you would know you are positively not alone.  So much of what you told me about the way you felt growing up has been echoed by dozens and dozens of readers.  I have the feeling that you are going to be a very good mother when the time comes.  You will be to your children what your grandfather was to you.