Alice Blog

Intensely Alice

Question:

This was your best Alice book to me.  i don’t remember ever holding a book and shaking so hard from crying.  I felt Alice’s pain to the point that i thought i was there with them as they made a circle around the house, went to the funeral, and talked to each other at the playground  I’m just as lost as Alice is when it comes to god….i’m a 16 year old girl trying to find my place in life….so please don’t stop writing.  p.s. this would make a great show or movie…? but also i think you feel more when you read!

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I think it’s a book to be read by people who have followed Alice for a long time.  I cried too when I wrote it, especially the circle around the  house.  I’ve never been able to read that part in public.

 

Will Eric Fielding appear again?

Phyllis replied:

 

Probably not.  I liked him too, but as often happens, some people drift in and out of our lives, even though we liked them very much.

Sooo funny!

Question:

 

Hello I love your books!! I read them all the time!! They are ssoo funny!!

 

Phyllis replied:

 

And so much fun to write!

Elizabeth’s First Pelvic!

She May Be One of My Favorites

In Tears, the Next

Question:

 

I am almost 24 years old now and i still read and buy every Alice book that comes out.  I discovered the series sometime when I was in middle school-and so was Alice.  Never have i read books that can make me laugh out loud one chapter and have me in tears the next (which, by the way, Intensely Alice did).  The great thing about the Alice series is that everyone can find themselves in Alice. I have seen bits of myself in her as i have grown, and still do today!  While I was in middle school, high school, and even when I was in college and today as a college grad I turn to the Alice books for a good laugh and great perspective on life.  You write about things that other books made for teenagers don’t, and I love it! I am already eager to read the next book next summer, and am excited and nervous to see the series eventually come to a close. I want you to know how great it is that you write these books, because I truly think that Alice helps girls everywhere feel better about themselves.  Please never stop writing! You and Alice are an inspiration to girls everywhere!

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I love hearing from women who have been following the Alice series for most of their lives.  You really made my day.  Thanks so much for your letter.

Thank You

Question:

 

Thanks for making my life a whole lot better by writing Alice. She is my hero, and you rae too

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I appreciate your comments very much.

I Read It as Slowly as I Can

Question: When i read an alice book I read it as slowly as I can. Im a fast reader so its kind of hard to do that. I just finished Intensly Alice and couldnt help but wonder what movitated or inspired you to write a book series that captures many hearts.

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I only intended to write the first book–about a motherless girl who is looking for a role model.  It was the readers who wrote to me who convinced me to turn that book into a series.

I Never Had the Guts to Write This….

Question:

 

Hi, I’m pretty sure I’m your biggest fan. I’ve loved your books ever since 3rd grade(?). I’m not sure when I first started reading them, I do know I’ve read the Alice books throughout her life, and throughout mine. I’m now a junior in high school and ever since I found out you had a new book come out every year, and I finished every book you wrote about Alice, I rush to the bookstore to buy a copy around May, and check every week to find the new copy. I live in Maryland also, and in sixth grade my mom kept trying to get me out of school to get to meet you, at a possible book signing or something, but we couldn’t find any schedules, I guess you don’t do that. I’m now moving because of the awful economy, and my mom and I had to downsize to 1/3 of our stuff, meaning I could only keep a few of my books, and I’m a huge reader so this was a big disappointment. The only books I kept were the Alice books, every single copy. Thanks so much for writing these books, they helped me get through times, I’m a very klutzy person, laughing with Alice was a lot easier than watching people laugh at me for my klutziness. My favorite was definitely the one where Alice was a camp counselor. I used to read your site everyday to find out about upcoming books, or about you, to see how you wrote so well (I used to want to be a writer), and I loved how when one mom wrote how a book was inappropriate you simply told her you’re not going to change how you write, she doesn’t have to let her daughter read it. Anyway, sorry I ranted on so much about all this, I’ve just always wanted to write a letter to you or meet you in person, I respect you a lot for writing so well and hilarious. I’ve never really had the guts to write this–you’re a celebrity to me. It’d mean so much to me if you wrote back to this, or let me know you read it somehow, you definitely don’t have to. But keep writing Alice books forever. By the way, before I read Alice, before I could even read out loud, my mom would always read to me the “Boys” “Girls” books, I’m not sure if they have a specific name, the ones like “The Traitor Among the Boys”. Thanks again for reading this!

 

Phyllis replied:

 

Well, I’m glad you finally got up the nerve to write, because I’m just a person who loves to create stories, and I live a very ordinary life.  And I’m happy that you enjoyed the “boys/versus/girls” books…  We never actually titled that series, but people seem to know which books I’m talking about.  I’m sorry that you have to downsize and get rid of some of your books, but I’m so very flattered that you kept the Alice series.  I hear from college students who have taken their Alice books along with them, so I can understand you’d want to save them.  Every reader seems to have his/her own favorite.  To me, they all sort of run together in one big story.  Thank you for taking the time to write to me.  The next speaking and book-signing I do will be at the P0litics and Prose bookstore on Connecticut Avenue in D.C.  on Nov. 12.  But I will be talking about a new book titled “Faith,  Hope and Ivy June,” not the Alice books.

The High Points of Alice’s Life