Alice Blog

Good Advice for the Future

Question:

I read starting with alice, and alice in rapture, sort of in 4th grade, and now (5th grade) since my friend starting reading all of the newer books, i started checking them out at the library. some of the siduations that alice faces aren’t happening to me yet, but it is definatly good advice for the future. I read one of the alice books in maximum 3 days, and i have read some of the fan mail on your website, and now i know that there is information about the books that i haven’t gotten a chance to read yet. so now i already know that someone dies in Intensly Alice, but i don’t know who. i also know that there will be the last book that comes out in 2013. so i am glad to know that i can keep on reading these books until 9th grade when they end. you are an amazing writer, and i know that you have heard that many times before, but i really mean it. i am really glad that you have written more than a hundred books, and that makes me know that you really take a lot of time to really get into your wrting and make the readers feel that you are really right beside alice, for example. i will definatly keep on reading the alice books until they stop and try not to find out too much information on your website.

Phyllis replied:

I’m glad you feel that Alice will give you good advice for the future. I hope so. She sure gets herself in a lot of situations that she has to solve herself.

Posted on: July 3, 2009

Just Found my Best Friend

I know this is for e-mailing questions but though I do have a question there was just something i wanted to tell you and that is THANK YOU!
Question:

I was in 6th grade when I picked ALICE ALONE of the shelf of my school library, little did I know that I had just found my best friend. Alice and some of the other characters in the series became my friends that year and with all the groups of friends I have gone through up till now, which is the summer before my second year of college, they were the ones that were always there. I loved catching up on all the books that came out before I started reading the series and waited for what seemed like forever for new ones to come out. Honestly I spent more time waiting for the newest book then i did reading them I usually finished them in a day or two depending on what I had going on. Today I spent most of my day reading INTENSELY ALICE, and despite making me cry when ——– died (I felt like I lost as friend) I loved it. I thought of today as spending time with old friends I haven’t seen in awhile.

Your Alice books have given me something to look forward to for the last 7 years and I am looking forward to the next 4 to come. I really wanna thank you for creating one of my best friends. Alice and her friends have become my friends and are “people” I can relate to and wish to be at times.

Well my question is now, is there any chance you can come to Long Island to do a book signing or something because there is nothing that would make me happier than having my copy of ALICE ALONE the first book that I read to be signed by you and to thank you in person for writing these books all these years?

Phyllis replied:

I wish I could go to all the places where my readers live, but Long Island isn’t on the agenda right now. Some people send me copies to be signed, and I mail them back to you. You must enclose a stamped mailer for sending the book back, of course, with your complete address, but this is one way to get a book signed. I’m so glad that Alice is one of your best friends. I’m rather fond of her myself.

Posted on: July 2, 2009

The Beatles, per chance?

Question:

Hello! I’m Shelbee, and I looove your books. I really feel like I’ve grown up with your characters. I was wondering…are Lester’s roomates Paul and George any reference to the Beatles per chance? Thank you for taking the time to read and reply 🙂

Phyllis replied:

Oh, that’s funny. Nope. Didn’t have those guys in mind at all.

Posted on: July 1, 2009

Appropriate for a 12-Year-Old?

Question:

I really enjoy your alice books and want to finish the whole series. I was wondering if dangerously alice is appropriate for a 12-year old? I just want to make sure if it is okay for me to read it. please reply.

Phyllis replied:

Your parents would probably appreciate it if you waited until you were 14 . But if you were my daughter, I’d allow you to read it.

Posted on: July 1, 2009

Two Questions

Question:

I am a big fan of your alice books, there are amazing and i can’t wait for Alice in Charge next year. I have two questions though. What will books 26 and 27 be called ? And in what book does Patrick kiss Alice in the cuboard on halloween?

Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry that I don’t know right off in what book Patrick kisses Alice in the closet. I’d have to do some searching, and I have a long list of emails to get to. Perhaps another reader will answer and I’ll put it on this page. As for books #26 and #27, I haven’t titled them yet, and won’t until I get around to writing them.

Posted on: July 1, 2009

Wrong and Confusing

Question:

Im a huge fan of all th Alice book, but am horrified at the movie “Alice upside down”!!! it was all wrong and confusing.
the characters look nothing like you discribded them, and it mixed up scenes from different books so the plot didnt make sense!
They also made my favorite character( aunt sally) seem so mean! in case they make another movie could you check to see if the film is like the book please!

Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry that you were disappointed in the movie, but making sure that the movie is like the book is not the way movies are done. When a producer buys the movie rights to a book, he is free to go in whatever direction he likes. He may decide to stick closely to the original plot. He may decide to base his film on only some aspect of the book. He can change the characters around. As I’ve said frequently on this page, you need to watch the movie as a separate thing, apart from the book. He wanted to appeal to a wide audience, so he changed the race of some of the characters; he added things that weren’t there; he used a younger actor for Lester and an older actress for Alice; he simply used “The Agony of Alice” as the starting place and took off from there. I would have done some things differently had I been the producer, and I did ask that some of the scenes be changed, and they were. But basically this is the way the producer and director saw the film, and they had the right to do it their way.

Posted on: July 1, 2009

How Can I Get Over This?

Question:

Hi. I’m Sarah–so today, I understand Michael Jackson died, and at first, I was all hyper. I’d been acting all optimistic about it, because I know he’s in heaven now and he’s safe and at peace away from all the bad stuff that he’s had to go through in his life. But now that I’ve been watching and listening and hearing about him on the television and the radio all the day with my family,I don’t know, I just feel so crushed all of a sudden. Like, inside of me, I keep thinking to myself “Michael Jackson is really dead”, and it’s like, more surreal and unrealistic everytime. I mean, I didn’t even know him, I don’t even live in America, but he was still such a big part of my life. My family has listened and loved his music forever, and him, he was such a great person, so now… I was all smiley this morning when I found out, all chirpy and calling my brother dumb for being so sullen, but I can’t even describe how I feel inside now. I feel horrible, and I can’t help thinking, will I feel this bad when someone I actually know and love even more dies? And how can I get over this?

Phyllis replied:

There are some things you just have to go through–you can’t hurry it along or jump over it, and grief is one of them. When you feel really sad about it, let yourself cry. When you want to talk about it, call a friend. The thing about strong emotion is that our brains usually can’t sustain it for a long period of time. It’s the same with excitement or great happiness. Most of the time our bodies just want contentment, which is why the excitement of Christmas or our first kiss or our getting the lead in a play isn’t sustained at the peak…it cools down a bit to keep us functioning. The same is true of sadness. After a while we concentrate more on the cheerful aspects, and this will happen to you too.

Posted on: July 1, 2009

Takes Forever

Question:

hey phyllis i’m trying to get intensely alice but it takes forever for the book to get to me i read your fan mails about someone dying in the book and it’s a he it better not be patrick or ben or is it that just makes me want to read it even more please reply asap!

Phyllis replied:

It’s frustrating, I know, when people are talking about a book and you haven’t been able to get it yet. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you any more about it. Isn’t there a kind friend who will lend you a book? Ask your public librarian if she can’t borrow it from another library. If it’s reserved, however, and there is a waiting list, you’ll probably just have to be patient.

Posted on: June 30, 2009

Twelve Books in Two Weeks

Question:

Im currently a sophomore in high school. I have a great passion for the Alice series. One year for Christmas I recieved twelve Alice books and read them within a two week time period. Last night I read Intensly Alice and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Alice’s life is so much like my own, so I take advice from her and it helps me with certain situations. Alice isnt a character to me she is an inspiration and she makes me feel like im not alone.

Phyllis Replied:

Someone must really love you to give you twelve Alice books at one time. Intensely Alice seems to be a favorite. I’m glad you liked it.

Posted on: June 30, 2009

I Would Just Die

Question:

PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDNT KILL PATRICK PLEASE I WOULD JUST DIE.

Phyllis replied:

I really can’t tell you. Please do read the book.

Posted on: June 30, 2009