Alice Blog

WHEN WILL THEY BE TRANSLATED?

Question:

I’m a german girl and I really like reading your books!! I found your internet side and I saw, that there are more books in English than in German.
Do you know, when they are going to be translated? There would be so more important facts!! It’s so scary and I often read your books several times.

Phyllis replied:

I know that many of the Alice books have been translated into German but not all of them. The best thing you could do would be to write to the German publisher, giving the titles or numbers of the books you have, and ask if their company is going to publish any more Alice books and when you might expect them. I’m glad you enjoy them so much. So far Britain, Japan, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Israel, Denmark, Turkey, Poland and Indonesia have purchased and published some of the Alice books.

Posted on: April 29, 2009

WILL YOU COME TO THE NETHERLANDS?

Question:

How can I get you to come to my home???

I live in the Netherlands.

So could you send me the Alice movie???

Phyllis replied:

Sorry, but I’m working on the next Alice manuscript right now. I’m afraid I can’t send out free books or movies.

Posted on: April 27, 2009

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?

Question:

I also i was wondering if you could tell me some of the things that have acutally happened to you that you put in the books. Oh i was wondering, what is the mood for the alice books? Were you mostly trying to get happy? Or intense? Thank you.

Phyllis replied:

What mood do YOU feel when you read them? The Alice books contain happy things, sad things, scary things…. One of the things that happened to me for real back in fourth or fifth grade was the Tarzan scene in The Agony of Alice…

Posted on: April 26, 2009

DID YOU EVER STICK A PILL UP YOUR NOSE?

Question:

I LOVE your books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are VERY well written!!!!!!:)

I live in the Netherlands. Could you give me some writing tips?

(P.S. DID you get a vitamin pill stuck up your nose???)

Phyllis replied:

We love hearing from readers in other countries. As a quick writing tip, I often suggest thinking about the one thing that made you the angriest in your life, the most sad, the most scared, or what embarrassed you most. Write a few sentences about it and then change it. Make it happen to someone else in your story. Change the beginning; add a new ending. Add new characters. Turn the incident over to your imagination and give it wings. (No, I didn’t ever stick a vitamin pill up my nose, but I heard from a reader who did).

Posted on: April 22, 2009

WHAT GAVE YOU THE INSPIRATION?

Question:

i am doing a book report for my school on an author that we love. I chose you because your books are so realistic and they actually relate to real life happenings. And i was wondering what/who gave you the inspiration to right the Alice series? And why did it/they give you the inspiration to right it? Also i was wondering do some of the things that happen in the book, have actually happened to you in real life? Thank you.

Phyllis replied:

I started these books so long ago it’s hard to remember exactly how I came to write them. I think I wanted to write about a girl looking for a role model, and she discovers it–not in the most beautiful teacher at school, but the kindest. Some of the things really happened to either me or my friends, but most of the stuff in the Alice books just came from my imagination.

Posted on: April 21, 2009

IS IT ANN N MARTIN?

Question:

In “The Agony of Alice”, when Miss Cole is listing off her students of the first day of school, one of the names she reads is ‘Ann Martin’. Is this a nod to Ann M Martin, author of the Baby-sitters Club series? I can’t believe I haven’t noticed this before! Looking forward to “Intensely Alice”, I can’t wait to read it!

Phyllis Replied:

I hadn’t done that intentionally, but maybe her name was in my subconscious. You have a sharp eye.

Posted on: April 21, 2009

START A MOVIE

Question:

I love the Alice books i read them at school all the time,but sadly my librarian doesnt have all of them.

You are my favorite writer! and i wish one day the alice books will start a movie series. that would be sooooooooooo awesome because alot of the girls at my school read them too! =) i was wondering how many more Alice books will you write? because i never want them to end!!!!

Phyllis replied: I don’t know about a series, but there is one Alice movie out on DVD–“Alice Upside Down.” Have you seen it?

There will be 28 Alice books total.

Posted on: April 19, 2009

I CANNOT BE PREGNANT

Question:

Hey PN, I love your books. I cannot wait for the rest of the series…now I have a question. My period has been regular for seven months but I am five days late of my period and I don’t know why. I haven’t had sex, so I know I cannot be pregnant. I don’t know if something is wrong or maybe I just didn’t ovulate this month, but I am confused. Thanks

Phyllis replied:

As I’ve repeated many times, I’m not a doctor, but there are so many things this could be, and by the time I post your letter, you may well be menstruating. You’re right; you cannot be pregnant. But you said your period has been regular for seven months, which means perhaps that you started your periods seven months ago or that they were somewhat irregular before that. So your body is still new to these changes. If you haven’t started your period in another week and you’re worried, why not confide inyour mom or another grown woman just to reassure yourself and if that doesn’t work, check with your nurse at school. I’m guessing she will tell you that she hears about late periods a lot.

Posted on: April 19, 2009

How Can I Convince My Parents?

Question:

i’m 17 years old. my parents enforce the 10:30 curfew every friday and saturday night, and recently i asked them for something later than that, but they instantly shot me down. i have only been late once, and it was a matter of less than 10 minutes. i usually go out with my boyfriend, and he practically doesn’t have a curfew. is there any way i could convince my parents to let me stay out later?

Phyllis replied:

It’s quite possible that your parents’ curfew has less to do with worries about you and your boyfriend than it does about drunk drivers on Friday and Saturday nights–that they simply want you off the roads. Are they OK with inviting your boyfriend in when you get home and spending another hour together in the family room? Whatever their reason, you need to have a talk with them. Wait till your mom or dad is in a good mood, then say, “I’d like to feel I can discuss something with you, and if I promise to listen to you, will you promise to hear me out?” Hopefully they will say yes. Then, make sure you give your reasons for wanting to stay out later. Does this not allow time to see a movie and have a bite afterwards? Are you always the first one in your group who has to leave, and you miss out on some things? If they won’t extend the curfew, what age do you need to be before it switches to midnight, or what do you need to do to prove you’re reliable? And if their worries are about drunk drivers, ask if you can have more parties and activities at your home.

Posted on: April 13, 2009

I Have Suggestions

Question:

Hi, I just wanted to say I really love your books, and am so glad I discovered your website!!! I am waiting impatiently for Intsensley Alice to come out, and already can’t wait for the next book. I have a couple of suggestions for Alice books that begin with Alice, since that is what you seem to be going for next: Alice on the Verge, Alice in Autumn (or something similar like that) Alice in the Midst. I hope these help, or inspire something!

Phyllis replied:

It was so kind of you to think of titles I might use. Sometimes my titles start with the word “Alice,” sometimes not, but I’ll add these to my list.

Posted on: April 13, 2009