Alice Blog

Always Alice: One-word Hint

Question:

Hi Mrs. Naylor 🙂 I’m 11 years old and from Memphis, Tennessee. I have grew  up with Alice. I have read all of the Alice books, I love her like a sister and a best friend. Alice means so much to me. Thank you so much for creating her. I just wish they would make another movie. You are the best author in the world, I’m serious. I can’t wait for Always Alice. Can you give us a hint? Just a one word hint? Like you did for Alice on board you said: Mitch. So thanks so much for everything!!

Phyllis replied:

A one-word hint?  Here it is:  Oklahoma.

Why write an Alice “series?”

Question:

I am 13 years old. I was just reading through the Alice website looking at comments and that’s when i thought “what made her write the Alice series?” Perhaps you could answer this question. By the way I am SO excited for the last Alice book “Always Alice” even if I’m a little sad considering it will be the last book. I have read all of the Alice books and Alice really and truly feels like one of my best friends and it’s heart wrenching to see her go but, all good things must come to an end. Alice has taught me so much since i started reading the books. The Alice series will always be my favourite series I’m sure.

Phyllis replied:

I didn’t start out to write a series.  I just wanted to write a book about a motherless girl looking for a role model, and then readers and reviewers asked for more.  I’m so glad you enjoy the Alice books.

Alice Informal Book Club

Question:

I found a few of your Alice books in the library when I was in sixth grade, after my teacher had read us Shiloh in class. I remember how excited I was to find out that the Alice books were part of series, and how I begged my parents to buy me the books for my Christmas gift. I began taking the books with me to school and sharing them with my friends. Soon, all of my Alice books were circulating around the classroom, being passed from girl to girl. Nearly everyone was reading and sharing the stories of a normal girl growing up with her two best friends and her dad and brother. I’m 23 now and my two best friends from grade school and I still eagerly await the release of the new Alice book every summer. Just like when we were in sixth grade, the new books gets passed around from friend to friend. From reading your books, the characters you have created, Alice, Liz, Pamela, Gwen and Patrick, I feel as if I know them and have grown up, just like I have with my two best grade school friends. I want to thank you for your books which have given my two friends and I the chance to create an informal book club that has spanned our adolescence and into our young adulthood.

Phyllis replied:

I love the idea of have an informal book club in which books are passed from friend to friend.  It’s wonderful to know what a long life each book is given.  Thanks so much for writing to me!

Thanks

Question:

I just wanted to send my thanks for writing these books. I have grown up with these books. I am now 24 years old with children of my own, and I still read these books religiously. I am really sad that this series is coming to an end. While I understand that it must happen, I am sad that I won’t get to read about my favourite characters anymore. Thank you not only for writing these amazing books, but for creating characters that I will truly miss in my life.

Phyllis replied:

I know—I’m a little sad too.  But there are so many other characters in my head, waiting their turn in a book.  Thanks for taking time to tell me how much the Alice books meant to you.

“The Talk”

Question:

Recently, my friends and I were talking about when our parents had “the talk” with us; most of my friends had horror stories of awkward conversations and uncomfortable questions- but I couldn’t remember ever having anything drastic sprung on me or having any misconceptions about my body. I recently realized that you’re the reason for that. I probably read my first Alice book when I was seven or eight (I just turned 20), and some of the scenes stick in my mind as really, really instrumental in my having a well-adjusted life and good self-esteem. For example, when Alice and friends go to that convention of all women, where they’re shown that all their bodies are normal- it’s a scene I thought back on all the time when I was “developing” and could have been developing self-esteem issues. Basically, for me, the Alice books were are a collection of healthy attitudes towards sex and sexuality, bodies, school and growing up in general, and they instilled healthy attitudes towards these things in me, and for this I cannot thank you enough. Any and all kids I have will definitely have these books available to them.

Phyllis replied:

I’ve been having trouble with my website, so please forgive the long delay in getting back to you.  It was wonderful to get your email and to know how much the Alice books have helped you.  You’ve made my day.  I’m going to forward your letter to my editor, and I know she’ll be grateful for it too.

Continuing the story?

Question:

I am currently a sophmore in highschool, I just finshed reading your novel Its Not Like I Planned It This Way. I must say i really enjoyed this book. I was wondering if you would be writing books to follow Alice through the rest of her academic life.? If you could please respond I would really enjoing hearing back from you.

 

Phyllis replied:

The book that preceded “It’s Not Like I Planned It  This Way” is “I Like Him; He Likes Her.”  The one you’ll want to read next is “Please Don’t Be True.”  When I know the exact title of the one that comes after that, I’ll post it on this page.  It’s something like, “You and Me, and the Space Between.”

Why is Alice so thin?

Question:

How does Alice stay so thin? Throughout the series, there were few instances where she actually exercised or played a sport. She didn’t even play during recess. If she’s average, why is her metabolism so high? Also, she eats so much junk food in the books. Also, who is the model on the covers of the alice books?

Phyllis replied:

I don’t think I ever described Alice as thin.  The art department comes up with a photo and model or a painting that it feels is appropriate, but Alice has always seemed to have an average weight to me.  I had friends who ate more than I did in high school but always weighed less, and seemed no more active.  Metabolism is very much an individual thing.  I don’t know the names of any of the models who were chosen for the book; that’s not something the art department gives out.  Sorry.

 

Worrying about Alice and her family

Question:   Everytime I close an Alice book, I feel like she’s a best friend who just came over and left.  What happens to Lester in the last Alice book since they’re 7 years apart?Or her dad? Omg its so sad how she reaches up to 60 because it feels like i really know her in person and i get so sad everytime i finish a book of Alice 🙁 I think imight cry on the very last one! Does alice die in the last one?       Phyllis replied:   No, she doesn’t die in the last book.  You will find out a LOT about Alice’s brother and father and stepmother and friends.  Really, really, really.  Yes, you’ll cry at times, but you’ll probably laugh more.

Confused

Question:

 I have read the books “I like him, he likes her” and “it’s not like I planned it this way”. I was wondering what books I’m supposed to read after those two. I tried looking on your site but it doesn’t quite make sense to me considering how many there are and because I got a little confused seeing as on my iPod all the book titles are jumbled up.
Thank you in advanced

 

Phyllis replied:

Since you are reading the bind-ups–the fat paperbacks, each containing three Alice books–the next one you should read is “Please Don’t Be True,” the three books of Alice’s junior year in high school.

Loving Alice

Question:

I realize today that this year will be the last of Alice in my life. Let me tell you: thank you so much. I always loved reading. Reading was my escape from the world. Alice was the first book that let do that. Since then I really think that’s why I loved reading. If i have children one day, I’ll show them the ways of Alice. I think because I read that series it made me get ready for the real world. So thank you once again. 

Phyllis replied:

It is sort of sad, isn’t it?  It’s strange for me not to have an Alice deadline hanging over my head.  But there are at least three new ideas for novels driving me a little bit nuts, none of them Alice, of course, and none of them that easy.  But I like a challenge, so it’s good to be working on something else.