Alice Blog

Alice’s Death?

NOTE FROM PHYLLIS

Hey!  Sorry I haven’t kept up with email this past week, but we had a grand anniversary celebration here with both sons and their families, and I wanted every minute I could get with them.  I know you’ll understand.  We swam, talked, played shuffleboard, talked, ate ice cream, talked, went biking, hiking, played games, told stories, read books, met friends, visited a restaurant, opened presents, and had a marvelous time. 

One of our sons made a funny DVD about our marriage, doing the narration himself.  The other created three CDs of favorite love songs for us to enjoy.  I loved discussing school and college and summer plans with Sophia and Tressa, and taking young Garrett and Beckett down into the “deep, dark dungeon” of our apartment building’s storage area, where we turned out the lights and played hide and seek.  Because we all live in different parts of the country, it’s a special treat when all ten of us can be together.  Give me another day or two to recuperate and I promise to get to your email questions soon.  In the meantime, I hope that school is out for most of you, and that your summer plans are happy ones.

My Whole Alice Collection

Question:

I remember emailing you a bunch when I was in 6th grade and first got the internet, and if you can believe it, I have just graduated college! I started becoming a “friend of Alice” when I was in 4th grade. I am and always have been an avid reader (although I now have a BFA in ACTING….we’ll see how far that gets me, ha ha), and the Alice books have always been my favorites growing up. In fact, I wanted to email you because I have just moved home temporarily after four years of being away, and my mom has kept my old bedroom pretty much preserved. I walked over to my bookshelf and there was my whole Alice collection and I felt such comfort and nostalgia by seeing them there. Not to sound cliche, but growing up I felt like Alice was definitely a friend, an escape, a confidant, and a source of guidance. If I ever have a daughter I will be sure to pass my collection along…until then, though, I will keep them very close to my heart (and eyes…I do still read them, too, and keep up with the newer ones). Best wishes, and thank you.

Phyllis replied:

I absolutely love hearing from readers in college and beyond who still come back to the Alice series.  There are so many new Alice books out since you left home, and it must be interesting to you to see how you’ve both changed!  Thanks so much for writing to me.  And best of luck in your career.  You will especially love the Alice book coming out in 2011, Incredibly Alice.

How to Get Over Him?

We Were Caught

Question:

I was caught by the principal about a month ago kissing my boyfriend on the football field and we got a PDA slip. Turns out, when you get in trouble at my school, they look up your facebook account and see if there are any strings attached and stuff like that. From the night before, I had some pretty controversial things written on my boyfriends wall (not dirty things, but curse words) and they asked if my mother knew, and of course she didn’t. Upon getting home that afternoon, my mom flipped out saying the school called and told her about all of it and went to my boyfriend’s house and told his father I was no longer to be with his son and that he stole my innocence, etc. I was heartbroken. Frank (boyfriend’s name) and I decided to continue our relationship in a private manner. However, I go to a small school where teachers know EVERYTHING and there is definitely a danger of one of them informing my mom of the relationship. I love Frank, and I once informed my mother of this, and I have for about 3 months now. (we’ve been dating for almost 6) I don’t know what to do though. Please help. I appreciate you at least reading this. Thanks. 🙂

Phyllis replied:

That’s the thing about trust; someone may forgive you, but may not continue to trust you.   And your question seems to be not, “How can I get my mom to trust me again?” but “How can I keep on seeing Frank?”  I obviously don’t know the whole story, and if Frank is a great guy and you are a great girl, and all you were doing is kissing, I’d suggest that your mom and your principal chill out and quit making such a big deal of it.  But obviously there’s more to the story than that, Facebook included.  If you want my advice on how to sneak around with Frank without anybody finding out, I’m sure you’ve already thought of ways of doing that.  If what you truly want, however, is your mom’s approval, then you have some hard work ahead of you.  You need first of all to have a long heart-to-heart talk with her…about you, about Frank, about your goals, your plans, what the stuff on Facebook was all about, and whether you can have Frank over to your house just to watch DVDs or help with a project or fix dinner for the two of you and your mom….  In other words, if he’s a great guy, find ways for her to meet him and interact with him.  Give her a chance to change her mind.

A New Alice Book?

I’ve Grown Up With Alice

Question

I just wanted to let you know how much laughter you’ve brought to my life. I started reading the Alice series when it came out and I was on grade 6 or so. I am now 28 and can’t wait for the next Alice book. I feel like I’ve grown up with her.

Phyllis replied:

That is so wonderful to hear.  Or maybe Alice has grown up with you, a little more slowly.  For those of you who collect the Alice books, I should tell you that the publisher has just put out a “bind-up” edition of the three books of Alice as a freshman in high school–Alice Alone, Simply Alice, and Patiently Alice.  These are in a large 630 page paperback, with a great cover, and the title is “I Like Him, He Likes Her.”  It should be in the bookstores now.  Go to Amazon.com to see the book jacket.  They are now working on the bind-up of the three books of Alice in her sophomore year, then her junior year.  Stay tuned!

An Excerpt from “Alice in Charge”?

Question:

Hello! I was just wondering if you’re going to post an excerpt from Alice in Charge before the book comes out in June.

(I’ve been reading the Alice books since fifth grade and now I’m a junior in college–Keep up the good work!)

Phyllis replied:

My editor is even busier than I am, but I’ve emailed her again about this and forwarded your email to her as well.  We’ll see what happens.

Where Will You Be Speaking?

Question

I recently moved to Washington, D.C. where my fiance will be
completing grad school, and being that a new Alice book is due to come
out soon, I wondered if you will be making any public appearances (and
by this I mean for a book talk or book signing, not simply to the
grocery store!) anytime soon. Since I’ve been an avid Alice fan for
the past ten years, it would be wonderful to finally see you in
person! 🙂 I know that your web site states that all appearances will
be posted there, but I also noticed that the Note from Phyllis had not
been updated for some time, so thought it might be best to contact you
personally.

Phyllis replied:

I know, things have been very hectic here recently and I’ve not kept up with posting where I’ll be speaking.  I’ll be in Tulsa in August, but the next local talk will be at our church on Sunday, June 27th at 10.  During the summer, lay people take over the services, and can talk about whatever they like.  I agreed to give a short talk on how I “change skins” with my characters when I write a book, and I think a soloist will sing “I’ve Got You Under my Skin.”  Junior high kids are supposed to dress up as favorite characters from my books and be the ushers.  As you can tell, our summer services are very lightweight.  This program will be at 10 AM, June 27th, at Cedar Lane Unitarian/Universalist Church, at  9601 Cedar Lane in Bethesda, Maryland.

Three Witches

Phyllis replied:

In interesting idea, but I wasn’t thinking of them.  Who knows what goes on in the subconscious, though….