Alice Blog

What was I thinking?

Question:

Hi, Mrs. Naylor! I came to the realization recently that I have truly grown up with the Alice series. Back when I was a child I read a couple of them out of order, whatever my school library had available. Later, when I found out it was going to be a series of 28 books I found used copies of the older books online and began buying each new hardcover book immediately upon its release, beginning with Patiently Alice in 2003. I am SO excited for Always Alice this fall, and started the series from the beginning once again so I can “be ready” when it comes out in August.

Anyway, there was a part in a book where Lester was about 23, and Alice was concerned that he would be a lonely bachelor for the rest of his life since he was unable to commit to one woman. I remember when that book was new to me, and I also was 15 or 16 years old like her, I sort of agreed; 23 seemed old, like he should be settled in. Now that I’m 24, I wonder what I was thinking! I’m juggling multiple part-time jobs and trying to scrape enough money together to move out of my parents’ house and get a place with my fiancé, while planning a wedding that’s a year and a half off. It would be a miracle if I were married and settled into my life right now! I chuckled when I came to this conclusion, and also had to smile when I realized how many years I have spent with Alice. Thank you so much for your wonderful books.

Phyllis replied:

I love hearing how long you’ve been a friend of Alice’s.  And yes, when you’re 15, twenty-three seems old indeed.  Thanks so much for writing, and best wishes to you and your fiancé as you plan your wedding!

 

How Can I Get to Meet You?

Question:

Do you ever come to other cities and talk about your books?  Ive wanted so long to meet you but will i ever get the chance?

Phyllis replied:

I would love to meet all of my readers.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful just to sit down together and talk about what books you like best and all the things that go on in your lives?  If there is a bookstore or library in your area that would like me to come, they can always contact the publicist at Simon and Schuster–Anna McKean–the person who decides where I will be traveling and speaking next.  I will be doing some speaking at bookstores and other places this fall, but don’t have the schedule yet.

Any other Alice Movies?

Question:

Hello I’m 13 years old I started reading your books when I was around 9 or 10 and I would like to now if you are thinking about making these into movies, I am just in love with your books, and I loved Alice Upside Down, when I first saw it on the T.V. I was so happy and I was telling my mom how this is about my favorite book series and I kept looking online to see if there was any other but to my disappointment there wasn’t any. If you are thinking of making this a movie I would be so excited. Keep me updated please 🙂

Phyllis replied:

The only way I can update you on books or movies is on this website.  I really can’t notify individual readers about each new project or event.  To date, Alice Upside Down is the only movie made of an Alice book, and this one is only loosely based on The Agony of Alice.  But I really do appreciate your writing to me, and telling me how much you enjoy the series.  I know you are going to love the final book coming out this fall, Always Alice– everything you ever wanted to know about Alice and her friends.

How Does Censorship Affect You?

Question:

Hello,  I  am creating an honours project for Estella Mountain Community College. The purpose of my honours project is to see if there is a correlation on “The Effect of Gender on Censoring Authors”. I have a couple of questions I would like to ask you. I know you are busy with writing books and have speaking engagements, so I will be brief.

Phyllis replied:

I’m going to post your questions and my answers together below:

1. Have you seen a drop or an increase in censorship since you have been writing?

For me personally, there has been a drop, mainly because the books that caused the most uproar,  Shiloh and the Alice books in which she was in her early teens, were new to the public.  As Shiloh became well known in libraries and classrooms, censorship dropped off quite a bit, though I still get letters occasionally about the two “swear” words. Parents and teachers of older students rarely protest the content.

2. Do you believe that gender plays a role in censorship, either by the author or by the censurer?

I’m only guessing, but I would assume that more protests come from women than from men.  The majority of teachers in elementary and middle school are probably female–same for librarians–and as for parents, I’m trying to remember how many critical letters I’ve received from a dad.  Only one, possibly two.  All or most of the others have come from mothers, angry that I have written about sex before they had “the talk” with their daughters, or insisting that their daughters don’t have sexual thoughts.  Dads, on the other hand, commend me for broaching the subject with their children.

3. Do you believe that your gender has saved you or hurt you while publishing?

Neither.  I don’t think that either my editor or my readers treat me any differently than their male authors.  I’m allowed the same freedom in my writing, and readers let me know when they disagree with something.

What are the Next Books in the Alice Series?

Question:

Are there any more Alice books that will come out before the last book?

Phyllis replied:

Yes, yes, yes!  Here’s the answer.  Please write down the titles and dates and share them with  your friends.

YOU AND ME AND THE SPACE IN BETWEEN will be released on May 14th of this year.  This is the fat paperback bind-up book, containing the three books of Alice’s senior year of high school:  Alice in Charge, Incredibly Alice, and Alice on Board.  For $9.99, you get all three books.  Here’s the confusing part:  the cover of this fat paperback book will be the same as the hardcover edition of Alice on Board.

ALWAYS ALICE will be released on August 27 of this year. This is the last and final book of the Alice series, and will be twice as long as the usual Alice books.  It will take Alice from age 18 to 60.  I believe it will answer ALL your questions about everybody.

Can I Ever Get the Chance to Meet You?

Question:

I live in North Carolina and wonder if U ever come here for book signings and things because I would like to meet you very much.  please let me know if you will be coming.

Phyllis replied:

I’m planning on doing some more speaking and signing, probably this fall, but I don’t know yet where I will be.  I’ll post the dates and locations on this web page when I know the exact dates.

A Longer Alice Book, Please!

Question:

Hello, I love your Alice books soooo much!! I just wanted to ask if, you are going to make anymore? I’m ordering “Intensely Alice” I know there is a “Alice on Board” but it is very small and I read very fast…. In advance can you please tell me if there is anymore Alice books on the way I really love them.  PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,WRITE ME BACK I AM A VERY BIG FAN!!!!! 🙂 😉

Phyllis replied:

You’ll be happy to know that the final book in the Alice series, Always Alice, will be around 500 pages long. Congratulations on being such a fast reader.

The Final Book

Question:

I read all the Alice books, at least twice per book. So now you say that there is another one coming out. Do you know know what day the book is coming out in stores? Also in the book, do Alice and Patrick get married?

Phyllis replied:

The final book, Always Alice, will be published this fall, but I don’t have an exact date yet.  And you know I can’t tell you whether Alice marries Patrick, or even whether she decides on marriage at all.  But the last book will tell you everything!

Please Don’t Make Alice 60!

Question:

Please don’t make Alice 60 in the least book (sad to hear it’s final BTW) Come on she is 18 and once in 3rd grade, it’ll ruin the whole series! And what fun is it to write about a grandma? Is she going to be 6o through the WHOLE book!??????????? She can’t be!!!! Please maybe 30 or 40, before it’s published, but remember I’m not making u. But I do love Alice and I’m looking forward to Always Alice.

Phyllis replied:

Relax.  Take a deep breath.  The final book will be around 500 pages long, and Alice starts out at 18, goes through college, goes through her 20’s, her 30’s, her 40’s and 50’s.  There is a LOT happening, so you won’t want to miss any of it!

Appreciation

Question:

I have been a huge fan of the Alice books ever since I was in grade school. I pretty much grew up with Alice and the gang. It was the series that really impassioned me for reading from a young age. I’m 26 years old now and in law school doing human rights work all over the world, yet my fiancé teases me for sneaking off with the kindle to read the latest Alice books.  I just wanted to express my appreciation for your work (the Alice series and others). I know that your books must touch other children, my generation and the ones after mine, in significant ways.

Phyllis replied:

I hear from a lot of other twenty-something women who still sneak off to read the Alice books, and I’m delighted.  Thanks so much for taking time to write to me!