Alice Blog

Will Alice be on Kindle?

Question:

On holiday in the summer, I picked up one of your books (with three in it) and read them all in two days, I loved them so much! I was wondering if your books would ever be released as a kindle version so I could read every single book?

Phyllis replied:

Yes, I believe they will.  They’re working on the contract now.  I don’t know just when they will be on Kindle. 

Lost my virginity

Question:

Phyllis replied:

I’m sorry for you.  To be ignored is so painful.  But you haven’t lost your life or your chance for a better relationship.   You didn’t say if you’ve tried to contact him, but if he is not returning your calls, there is little you can do other than chalk it up to experience and be very careful in the future.  If he is a person who would go around telling others about his experience with you, I would say simply to those who ask, “It was a big mistake, but it’s over.” 

SPOILER ALERT, IF YOU HAVEN’T READ INTENSELY ALICE!

Question:

Thank you

Question:

As I type this letter to you, it brings up so many feelings from when I was on the brink of my teens years. I was about twelve when I first read The Agony of Alice and so many things similar to what Alice had been through has happened to me, so I found comfort in your books as I went on through life. I remember sending you an email, so long ago when I was about thirteen when I had realized that that I wanted to write novels and wanted some advice and I remember being so happy when you emailed me back.

Now I’m 20 years old, and almost finished writing my first novel. I haven’t picked up an Alice book in about three years, as college and life have gotten in the way, but I can’t wait to get back on it. I can’t believe there are only three or so books left for me to read. It makes me so sad, and I can’t help but shed a tear because for me, the series is almost over, and so is Alice’s patience, comfort, and advice. I kind of feel like I’m about to part with a dear friend.

But I can’t help but be excited for myself as well because if it wasn’t for Alice and you, I wouldn’t be writing my first novel. What keeps me going as I go on this weird, exciting, stressful, and sometimes slow and painful (but overall rewarding) journey of writing is that maybe, just maybe I will be able to help just one girl, if just one girl reads my book and is able to connect with it, then I will be happy. You have helped thousands and I can’t even imagine being as wonderful as you. But we will see. I’m just happy that I’m writing and doing what I love to do for now.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for creating Alice. Thank you for you email, I don’t think you know how much of an impact it had on me.

I know this email probably doesn’t convey all that I wanted to say but as I was in the midst of writer’s block and giving up, I decided to take a break and remember why I was writing, I thought of you and had to send you an email!

Now I feel better and I think I can get back to it!

Phyllis replied:

The most important thing in your email is your comment that you are happy you are doing what you love to do.  Writers write because they almost HAVE to.  It’s a driving force, published or not.  It always helps morale, of course, to see your stories or books in print and to know that you are sharing them with a reader.  Don’t even try to write like someone else.   What readers want from you is “the story that only you can write.”  That spark, that energy, that makes your book or story “sing.”  My very best wishes to you, that you go on loving it as much as you do now.  Thanks so much for writing to me.

Alice movie

Question:

Oh my gosh ! I like really LOVE your Alice books! I practically grew up reading them, and I’m 15 now. Soo I lovee reading them it’s always something new. My favorite character is Pamela. She’s always ready to spice things up, kinda like me. Although im pretty sure you already know this, but you have been blessed with such GREAT talent and I’m glad you decided to share it. (: I just have one question why are there no movies ?!

Phyllis replied:

There is an Alice movie.  It’s based very loosely on “The Agony of Alice,” and it’s out on DVD.  The producers named it “Alice Upside Down.”

How can I persuade her?

Question:

I am a huge fan of the Alice series. I got into them when I was in 5th grade(now I am in 6th grade). I found Reluctantly Alice on the book shelf at my school library when I was in 5th grade. I read it, and I practically loved that book like a child. I took it with me where ever I went and I read is about 4 times in the 1 week I had it taken out. Then, one day I went to my public library and found out there was a whole series. Once I started 6th grade I found out that my middle school had all the Alice books. Right now, I’m up to Achingly Alice. I got my friend into the series and she is starting to read them. I promised her I would stop reading until she caught up, so we could discuss them together. But my friend thinks that the Alice books are kind of, well, awkward. I truly think that Alice books really bring out the fun of being a girl. Do you have any advice I could tell my friend?    

  I wanted to ask you one thing, also:  Okay, so there is this guy at school that I really like. I am only in one of his classes, but I still see him a lot at lunch. I really want to talk to him,but it seems weird because I don’t know him that well. A few weeks ago, during recess he came over to me when I was just sitting by myself. It was nice that he came over to me, but then his friends came by too. I wasn’t able to talk to him. After that, a friend came over to me and said that he liked me. I wasn’t sure that he does because no guy has ever liked me. I need some way to be able to talk to him, or a way I can know if he likes me. I’ve been trying to get his phone number for a while, just so I can get to know him better.  I need some advice on:How I can talk to him, without it seeming weird?  
How to tell if he likes me or not?

Phyllis replied:

Has your first friend actually read any of the Alice books?   It’s OK if she doesn’t like them or doesn’t want to read them.  Not everyone likes the same thing.  Some girls just don’t feel ready yet for some of the situations Alice finds herself in, or might be embarrassed to read about some of the things Alice and her friends discuss.   As for the boy who may or may not like you, the fact that he came over to you certainly seems to me that he finds you interesting or attractive or both.  Make it easy for him.  The next time you meet casually or pass in the hall or find yourselves sitting near each other in class, SMILE.  Guys like a girl who smiles because it means she’s approachable, that she probably won’t say something mean or embarrassing.  Ask a question.  Pay him a compliment about something.   Wouldn’t you like it if a guy showed an interest in you?   I had to smile when you wrote that no guy ever liked you before.  How do you know?  And even if it’s true, there’s a first time for everyone.

Question:

Question:

I’m only a sophomore, and I feel like dropping out
already. I can’t see what any of the stuff we do has to do with my
ultimate goal in life, which is to write, like you. Did you learn
anything in school that helped you with your writing?

Phyllis replied:

It’s easy to feel that way sometimes, especially with subjects that have little interest for you.   I probably learned more on my own, but various classes introduced me to things that opened the world for me.  I especially found sociology and psychology useful, and read a great number of books on my own that weren’t assigned.  Literature courses introduced me to different styles of writing, and again, prompted me to read more by various authors.  School also helps by forcing you to meet deadlines, to rewrite and correct your own copy, to be reliable and do even unpleasant assignments, because there are many things involved in publishing a book that are tedious.

Newest book

Question:

I adore your Alice books so much! What is the newest Alice book you’ve written so far?

Phyllis replied:

The most recent Alice book now published is “Incredibly Alice.”

Writing a Book

Question:

I’ve been writing a book and my friends said that they like my story. But I don’t get enough time to finish because of school. Plus my parents don’t think I could do it. And that makes me feel unsuitable to become a young writer. I need some advice.

Phyllis replied:

And you’d let any of that stop you?   We all have 24 hours in the day, and if we really want to do something, we don’t just find time for it, we make time.  Why do your parents think you can’t write a book?  Why do you listen to them?  If this is something that gives you pleasure, just do it, and keep it to yourself.   In my career as a writer, I’ve received over 10,000 rejection slips–not all at once, of course, with acceptance slips in between, but I could have given up long ago.  Do what you love.

NOTE FROM PHYLLIS

Readers:   Please note that my email address has changed.  If you want to write to me,

send it to friendsofalice@mail.com.