Alice Blog

I Couldn’t Hold It In

Question:

I read intensley alice and I was wondering when you first made —– did you know you would make him die?  It was so sad at first I didn’t cry but when Alice said she wished he had the radio on full blast and that one moment it was music and then nothing I cried. I couldn’t hold it in! And I think I figured it out when you say that in the last book your going to skip years to when she is sixty.Well I still remember when they were supposed to open the time capsul when they are sixty so what I think is that they are going to open the capsul and that will be the end. That is so gonna make me cry!!!!!!  Anyway thanks bye!!!!!!

Phyllis replied:

Yes, there are some sad things ahead, some scary things, some wonderful and fun things….just like life.  But no, when I first created the character who dies, I hadn’t planned it.  Life happens.

 

Planning to Do Anymore?

Phyllis replied:

 

I’m glad you liked that movie.  I really don’t have much to do with movies made of my books.  My big job is to write books, and if a producer wants to make a movie of one, he works with my agent, and usually lets me make suggestions about the script.  Right now I don’t know if they plan to make any more Alice movies, but a lot of people have enjoyed this one, even though it’s different in many ways from The Agony of Alice, the book on which it was based.

Never Stop!

Question:   Dear Ms. Naylor, I must say i LOVE YOUR ALICE BOOKS! i have been reading them ever since i found one laying on the couch at the library. I just finished Intensely Alice and it is such an amazing book. I just want to say thank you for writing them and NEVER STOP! Phyllis replied:   Well, the series can’t go on forever, you know, but I’m glad you liked this book so much.  And I’m delighted that you took a chance with the first one.

I Cried So Hard

Question:  I just finished reading intensely alice, I cried so hard, i felt as though my heart was going to explode! when —— died, the tears immeadietely started rolling.  about four years ago, when I was in fourth grade, I had a friend, the most wonderful boy I will have ever known. but on the last day of school, none of us ever knew that we’d never see him again.his smile, his laugh, his eyes, that always had a spark of light in them. it was august when it happened. my mom came into the room, and asked me, “do you know —– ———?” I answered yes, and she told me that he was in  the sand dunes, and somehow, some sand collasped on him.he didn’t survive. I felt like I had died that day, and as  soon as I read that part of the book phyillis, it all came back, the memory, the pain I had felt. its so weird, how a book can bring so much emotion into your heart. that’s why I LLOOOOOOOVE your alice books, especially intensely alice. that’s my favorite book so far. I cannot wait until 2010, june is the month of my birthday, and this new book of alice, will be like a VERY special birthday present!! you are definetly my favorite author, and no matter what, keep on writing!!!!!!

Phyllis replied:

I’m so sorry about your friend.  It’s really awful when you see someone casually and then find out he’s gone.  We can’t live as though we’re always seeing someone for the last time, but sometimes we are.  I try never to leave the house with angry words between me and my husband–just in case.

It Seems to be Coming True

Phyllis replied:

Do you have any pets ? And whats your favourite animal ?
Also , its not really a question but ; Y’know in the book ‘ Alice in lace’ Alice’s class get set a project to help prepare them for what they may experience in the future ? Well , it all seems to be coming true ! Brian did get sent to court for drink driving , Pamela did get pregnant and Elizabeth may well have to buy a car . So does that mean that Alice and Patricks project will come true too ?
 
Phyllis replied:

Wow, you’re keeping track of things better than I am.  I hadn’t remembered  Brian or Pamela’s assigned “life issue.”  Right you are.  As for Alice and Patrick, my lips are sealed.  I don’t have any pets now, but we grew up with several dogs and lots of cats.  Favorite animal?  That would be too hard–I like them all.

We Go Through the Same Thing Alice Does

Question:

 

Hey phyllis i just wanted to let you know ive been reading the alice books since i was in first grade, and now im a senior in high school! I started reading them because i noticed we shared the same name, Alice! In fact not only do we share the same name, but i used to live in silver spring, md just up until a year ago. And i also have the same hair color and eye color, and alice’s close friend rosalind, is the same as my best friend Rosalie. Even if all of those things weren’t true, i would still love your books! My friends and i go through the same thing alice does, and although were not always as polite and honest as Alice is, we deal with the same experiences and emotions. I look forward to reading your two most recent books, please never stop writing!

Phyllis replied:

Thank you for writing to me.  You’ve surely been reading Alice for a very long time, so you’ve grown up along with her.    Knowing where a character lives is an added plus.

An Indonesian TV Series for Teens?

Question: Hi, Phyllis, how are you doing? Great I hope! I’m from Indonesia, Jakarta, and I recently just read Alice and I must admit I’m kinda jealous she had such exciting life in her teenage time. If i could, I’ve probably gotten back in my teenage time and try on everything exciting like Alice, and make the greatest journey of a lifetime (^o^)/   So I have this idea, to bring Alice alive in Indonesian TV Series for teenagers in Indonesia. She can be the sweetheart of our teenagers, teaching girls how to be themselves at maximum and enjoy teenage life, a figure that any teenagers can realte to, eventhough sometimes being teenagers aren’t easy, but yet it’s the funnest moment, right?   Me myself, isn’t a very much book reader (except comic books hahaha), I love movies, but sadly in my country I couldn’t find any interesting local tv series or cinetron (T_T)’ *sob*   So what do you think? I’ll be looking forward your good news! (^_____^)

Phyllis replied:

 

Thank you very much for your email and your suggestion.  I’m afraid I have nothing to do with TV and movie rights–those are all arranged with my agent.  It’s truly all I can do to write books and answer your emails, so if Alice ever appears on Indonesian TV, it will be a wonderful surprise for me too.  The offer would have to come from a producer in Indonesia, and you readers there have more influence over that than I do.

I’ve Studied the Hints

Question:

I just had to tell you how amazing you are. The Alice books have been my favourite books since i was very little and the first one came out. It makes me sad to think that the books are almost over.
I have a ritual of every time a book comes out, I read it right away, and then read the whole series over, the new one included. I read them slowly,  and as well as other books, so it takes most of the year. This year it’s so hard reading the books over. I’ve bookmarked all the pages about —– and read them over and over. I am so sad about his death.
 
I have read Intensely Alice 6 times now, and I’ve studied the hints that he was going to die. 
 
Phyllis replied:

I’ve not printed the last part of your letter because it would ruin the suspense for readers who have not seen the book yet.  You picked up on a number of things I hadn’t thought about.  Much of the time authors are writing from their subconscious, and only see how everything comes together when the manuscript is finished.  You are a very alert reader, and I appreciate your writing to me.

 

When Will Lester Marry?

Question:

 

Before i began i would like to say i love every single alice book you have written. I am 14 turning 15 and i feel like alice is one of my best friends. I love all of her embarrassing moments because i feel like i am going through them with her. And i love Lester too! but i was wondering when Lester will marry the girl of his dreams? i loved when u made Lester date an african-american. I would really love it if lester would marry an ethiopian girl. ( i am ethiopian and i never read about ethiopian girls in books) lol i know that you will never make him marry an ethiopian but i think that would add more to the book……well wat do i know right. well i hope you never stop making alice books. if you are reading this thanks for taking the time to listen to what i have to say.

Phyllis replied:

 

I appreciate all the emails I get from readers.  I really, truly do.  But if I used all the suggestions I receive, Lester would marry an Asian Ethiopian in a wheelchair, Alice would be diabetic, Alice’s stepmom would have a baby even though she’s had a hysterectomy, then she and Ben would adopt twins, somebody would win the lottery, and Pamela would become a model.  And those are only a few of the suggestions.  But I do thank you for writing to me!

How Could You?

Question:

I read Intensely Alice right away when it came out. I loved it, as I love all your Alice books. What i want to know is; How could you? How can you just go and kill one of my favourite characters throughout the series. I was literally sobbing the whole time I was reading. I cried for an hour, and I was depressed for at least a week. How do you just kill off someone who you have talked about, wrote about, practically known, for so long? I know readers become close to the characters in books they read, and authors get even closer. Wasn’t it hard to make —— die for no apparent reason? To build him up like that, just to let him fall? To write about the pain and sadness of it all? i  wish you hadn’t done it, I’m really going to miss reading about him.

Phyllis replied:

I know, I know.  I cried too.  But the Alice series is about real life, right?  And sometimes this happens to someone we feel close to, someone we even love, and there’s no reason, no fairness, no justice.   I think readers can sympathize more with Alice when she questions her faith, knowing how much this friend meant to her.