Alice Blog

Question:

Sometimes, when I’m reading the Alice books (I just finished Alice in the Know), it seems as though Alice is quite immature. For example, she is 16 and loses her first job at Hecht’s, and asks Sylvia if she’ll ever get a job again. Not even I would say that and I’m 11! Also Alice always says that Sylvia went to England for a year just to decide whether she wants to go with Ben or Mr. Sorringer. She went to England for at teaching job, for crying out loud! Sometimes I want to grab Alice’s shoulders, shake her, and say, “Grow Up!”

Phyllis replied:

I can see how you might feel that way.  Sometimes I think she does act immature.  I also think that many, or most of us, however mature we think we are, have times that we revert to our younger selves.  I had imagined that Alice might feel that her going on vacation from that job without permission from her employer might be on her record, and that she would not be able to use them for a reference in the future.  As for Sylvia going to England, actually, she did choose that job because she wanted to get away and think things over.  Alice was absolutely right.  Yes, she did apply for a job, but she knew she would need to support herself if she went, and this was her solution: get away, she how she felt when she was alone, and see how each man reacted to her being away.  That may not have been your solution, if you were in Ms. Summers’ place, but somehow that seemed right to me.  I appreciate your input, however.  Another author may have done something entirely different.

Alice as a TV Series?

Question:

Recently I just started rereading the Alice books again and a random thought occurred my mind; Wouldn’t it be totally awesome if the Alice books were made into a TV Series? It would be extremely popular, I’m sure of it! What do you think of the idea? Would it be manageable?

Phyllis replied:

It would be manageable, I’m sure, but by someone else, not me. My job is to write books, and the movie/TV offers come from other people. One big problem with the Alice books is that she grows slightly older in every book, so it would require a larger cast of characters. Should it ever become a TV series, though, I’ll let my readers know.

The Girls on the Covers

Question:

How do u get Alice, Elizabeth, and Pamela on the book covers? Are the girls on the cover like real girls? I have been wondering that all this time and just wanted to know.

Phyllis replied:

There have been so many different Alice covers over the years. But I think you’re referring to the group of books where we used models from agencies. I know that we used one particular girl a lot–Including Alice, Reluctantly Alice, Patiently Alice, etc.–and they took many different shots of her, making her seem younger on some covers, older in others. They may have used her several times as she grew older too, I’m not sure. In Patiently Alice, where we used all three, the girl posing as Pamela is, of course, wearing a wig. The agencies never tell us the names of the models themselves, so we never know who they are.

Want More of Your Writing

Question:

I have been wanting to email you for the longest time, but didn’t know how I could get to you. Then I found your email posted on your Alice Blog website, and here I am! I am a fan, and I would just like to say thank you. Your books are amazing and I would love to read more of your writing. My favorites of yours are the Shiloh series, and the Alice books! I started reading them in third grade, and have not been able to stop. They have been my guide through school and life situations, and I was devastated when they ended. Now I am trying to collect them all, and will even share them with friends so they can get to know Alice too. If you get this email, I just want you to know how much I appreciate you writing that series.

Phyllis replied:

I’m so glad you enjoy my books, and thanks so much for writing to me. If you’ll go to my personal website, www.phyllisnaylor.com, you’ll find every book I’ve ever written and brief descriptions of what they’re about. Perhaps you’ll find many more to enjoy.

Taught Me So Much

Question:

I have emailed you before, but not in a long time. I think the last time I asked you for advice I was going into high school (I’m 25 now) and you gave me the best advice I’ve ever gotten. You told me that “Most things you worry about never happen anyway.” That has stuck with me all this time and I’ll never forget it. I’ve been reading your Alice books for so long and I just finished the last one. I am sitting here at 12:30 at night typing you this with some kleenexes wadded up in front of me. I just had to email you and tell you thank you. Thank you so much for writing these books. I know you probably hear this all the time, but this series changed my life. It helped me grow so much and taught me so much. I probably will never get to meet you, but I want you to know I feel like I have met you. You’re an incredible person and thank you for blessing us with your stories. I won’t make this email a novel, but I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Phyllis replied:

I was so moved by your letter.  I know how sometimes little things people say stick with us all our lives, and we call on them when we need them.  I’m so pleased that the books meant that much to you, and so grateful to you for writing to me.

Movie of Last Book

Question:

I know you may not answer this email because you have a lot of letters and emails but if you ever get to read this here’s what I have to say. Have you ever though of making a movie of the new Alice book, “Now I’ll Tell You Everything” it would be great. But it may take alot of money to do just one film. I wish you could take this in consideration. And if you ever do want to make a movie I would ask if I can be in the movie if this ever happens. I may not be an expert by I would love to be in at least one movie its my dream just like yours. Remember to always follow your dreams and never stop imagining.

Phyllis replied:

I have very little to do with some of my movies, and certainly not in the decision whether or not to produce one.  But thank you for your thoughts.  It would be fun to be one of the characters in the last Alice book, as there are a lot to choose from.

Realistic

Question:

Hi! I’ve been reading your Alice books since the 4th grade, and they are probably the most realistic book series I’ve ever read. Thanks so much!

Phyllis replied:

That’s what I was aiming for.  I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

Have Become a Better Reader

Question:

I have been reading the Alice series since I was in the 6th grade. I love the books so much that it is my favorite series in fact my favorite book is apart of the series. I really appreciate you taking your time to right all of these books. When ever my local or school library didn’t have a book in the series I went online and ordered it.Your are an amazing author. Alice is a character you just so happen to fall in love with.

Because of you I have been one of the top readers in my class a few times in my seventh grade school year. I could finish your books around a day or two because they were too good! You have inspired me in many ways. Of course its been a while since you wrote the very last book but I have literally fallen in love with this series. You have made me a better reader and I really do mean that. I cried knowing that the series had to come to an end. After the series I was on hold for reading because I didn’t know what to read. This was because I tried to read books similar to the Alice series or even better………. but that was impossible!

Phyllis replied:

I miss Alice too, but it was time to let go.  I was always happy when January came around, and it was time to write another  Alice book.  I’m so happy that the series means so much to you.

The Last Book

Question:

You probably get tons of fan mail every day and you’re probably never going to read this one. But in case you do I wanted to tell you that your Alice series are the best books I’ve ever read. I relate to them so much and I’ve been reading them for years. They help me through situations and whenever I don’t know what to do I think, what would Alice do? I see a lot of me in her, making the same mistakes that she did and going through the same stuff she did too. (My name even sounds like hers) I think what struck me the hardest was the last book. I couldn’t read another book for a long time because I was thinking about that one. I loved how it was written and I’m so glad that you didn’t tell the readers how Alice died or what her life was like beyond 60. I realized that the series is over and I don’t think I could have managed that so I just finished ordering all 28 books from Amazon to read over and over again. I’m not even in college yet let alone married with children, but I have a feeling I will be reading these books for a long time throughout my life. They certainly prepared me for everything that could
happen in life so thank you so much for all the smiles that you brought me by writing these books. I couldn’t thank you enough.

Phyllis replied:

I read every letter and email I receive, and yours was very welcome.  I’m impressed that you ordered the series, not easily done, I know.  I will be so happy if my publisher ever puts the whole series out under one ISBN number.  It’s wonderful that you found the books helpful as well as entertaining and meaningful.  Thanks so much for taking the time to write to
me.

Greetings from Austria

Question:

my name is Jasmin, I’m 19 years old and I live in Austria.
I read your books since my 10th birthday and I love them.
I read the first 14 books in german and because the other books are unfortunately not translated in german, I read them in english. My english skills become better gradually! (:
I can identify so much with Alice and it’s great to see her development in every book.
You’re an amazing author and I hope I will be able to write such books later in life.
You are my role model!

Phyllis replied:

I’m amazed at fans who bother to get the Alice books in English, when they can’t find the ones they want in their native language.  It is generally assumed that foreign publishers cut the series off when the stories get too sexually explicit, no matter how well written the text.  It’s wonderful that you can identify with her life.  Thanks so much for writing to me.