Struggling with my Faith

Question:

The main thing I wanted to say about Intensely Alice has to do with one of the main themes of the book: religion. My family are hardcore Christian … not to the point of being like Carrie’s mom in “Carrie” … but it’s enough to drive me crazy since I have always struggled with my faith. At the time I read Intensely Alice, however, I was giving being a Christian another go and was also reading “What I Dislike Most About Christianity.” I had been struggling with the question of “why evil” just like Alice. I wanted to recommend that book to those that read your blog, because it attempts to answer that question. The book helped me realize that we shouldn’t just ask why God allows evil, but why WE do. That really made me go, “Whoa.” I would still like to know, however, how that if God knows everything about our lives and what’s going to happen before we do why he even allowed Hitler to be born and, consequently, all those people to be killed. I realize we cannot know good without knowing bad or evil… but I do not see any good that came out of the Holocaust. I mostly just see senseless violence & racism that GOD KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE! And it’s not even about free will, since He knows what’s going to happen. I’d get into that more, but this is already a long message. So once I had that question mostly answered, I thought I’d be okay. But I stopped going to church again because I STILL feel like a fraud, and no matter how hard I try I can never feel God or anything. On a spiritual level, the only thing I connect with is music. I wish that could be enough for my family. I’m not scared to die, and I don’t care what happens afterwards. I wish we could be more concerned about living here and NOW instead of being so concerned with eternity. I can’t even GRASP the concept of eternity… so it’s hard for me to care whether I’ll go to heaven or hell. 

My friend said something to me recently that really and truly hit home… and I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to say it to me. I wanted to share it with your readers now, for all those that are struggling with our faith, like Alice & me …

“I won’t go into it further but the only way to describe my religious beliefs is that Gandhi quote “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your christ”..something like that right?…if I need someone, I know who I need. Otherwise —- all, live to be happy and make others happy. If you still have a space inside after taking care of yourself, your family and friends, and random acts of kindness and empathy, **then you’re never meant to fill the space.”**

 

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I understand your doubts and feel the same on many issues.  The question of good and evil is one that has troubled people of many faiths for centuries.  If God is love, one argues, and is all-powerful, how can he possibly not intervene when a deranged mother locks three young girls in a freezer, or a baby-sitter, sick of a child’s crying, throws boiling water on him?  If his eye is on the sparrow, why not the innocent women and children in Africa being slaughtered by warring tribes?   The point is that no one, ever, is going to be able to prove scientifically all of the things that religions claim to be true, and we can go on forever killing each other as infidels or sinners or heretics or we can admit that no one has all the answers,  no one has the one true faith, no one is God’s favorite, and…at the same time…we can be awed by the mystery of life, of all the things we don’t know.  Just because we can’t explain something doesn’t mean we have to fill in the gaps and make something up.  I don’t believe in “believing” in something out of fear, nor do I believe that a person cannot be a wonderful, contributing person without a religious faith.   Religion has done wonderful things–I’m not against organized religion.  But religion is also responsible for many of the evils of this world.   For myself, I do believe that each person should strive to make the world, in some small way, a better place, and though I’m not Methodist, I like John Wesley’s Code of Conduct:  “Do all the good you can, by all the Means you Can, In all the Ways you can, In all the Places you can, At all the Times you can, To all the People you can, As Long as Ever you can.”   People of any faith can live by that.

Alice Upside Down

Question: I meant to write you after I finished Intensely Alice but, of course, I never got around to it. I’m so bad about that stuff. But now I literally just finished watching Alice Upside Down so I figured I’d go ahead and e-mail you with my thoughts on the movie. I’ve always liked Alyson Stoner, and I think she made a delightful Alice. Also, Luke Perry as Ben & Penny Marshall as Mrs. Plotkin are a lot like I imagined the characters to look like. It was so weird to see The Melody Inn come to life! Even weirder for you, I bet. I like how the plot followed the book, for the most part. They did take some liberties, but I was glad the big things were there, like Alice at Gap and stuff. I know this is going to sound racist or being taken that way, even though I REALLY don’t mean it to be at all… but I didn’t like that they strayed from the description of Elizabeth in the books. I guess it’s all right if it’s only going to be one movie… but if they eventually did a TV show (which would work a lot better in the case of Alice) they would need to stick to the description of the characters. After all, someone pointed out on the IMDB message boards that when Elizabeth first introduces Gwen to her parents, her mom is racist (I don’t remember this, but it’s been a while since I read the whole series through). I really enjoyed the movie; it was good for what it was. But if Gossip Girl can become a TV show than Alice should too… since Lizzie McGuire there have been very few shows about normal (read: not super-rich snobs) teens… a TV series about Alice would be a very refreshing change of pace. I miss the shows of the 90s… and especially The Wonder Years, as it is my favorite TV show. These days all I see is reality television or dramas-bordering-on-soaps about rich teens/people (Gossip Girl, 90210, Melrose Place… pretty much everything on the CW). I think nowadays TV producers underestimate the power of a simple story… just because Alice doesn’t sleep with half the block doesn’t make her any less compelling. I wish TV was less drama and more real. Anyway, I digress on that subject. I would like to know your thoughts about the Alice movie… did you see it, enjoy it, did you like the performances?

 

Phyllis replied:

 

It isn’t racist to feel that an actor or actress was not right for the part, and I did not feel that Elizabeth should have been portrayed as an African-American either.  There is such a history to Liz, and her dark hair and pale skin is so much a part of her, that it’s hard to get your mind around someone completely different.  I agree, however, that if the producers had only one movie in mind, and the audience had not known the Alice books, then it would matter little.  But to base the first production on a cast of characters you can’t continue with poses real problems, and there is that wonderful character of Gwen just waiting to be played by an African-American.  ( I believe it was Pamela’s dad, not her mom, who was racist).  Still, glitches aside, I enjoyed the movie too.  I thought Alyson Stoner was great as Alice, I loved the guy who played Lester, even though he was considerably younger than the real Lester, and I cried a couple of times when Alice was talking with her Dad.

I Hate Waiting So Long

Question: I knew I would forget to ask this, haha… what’s the title of the next book after Alice in Charge? And why do they now come out in June instead of May?? I hate waiting so long!!

Phyllis replied:

 

The book I’m working on now is “Incredibly Alice.”  The reason an Alice book sometimes comes out in June instead of May is that I get it in too late, or my editor is overworked and it doesn’t go to the copyeditor or printer when it should.  Keeping up with this blog takes about an hour a day–many of the emails are answered personally rather than appearing on this page–and I have other writing projects, other deadlines, and just the business part of writing takes an enormous amount of time–contracts, bios, fact checking, research, letters from teachers, questions from librarians, mail from mothers–not to mention all my family stuff.

Alice in Charge

Question:

 

 

When will we know more about Alice in charge?

 

Phyllis replied:

 

The publisher probably won’t post an excerpt until a month before publication.  Look for it next May, possibly April.

Amy Sheldon

Question:

Well, I’m 22 (almost 23) and I STILL love the Alice series. I just checked out Dangerously Alice from the library today, and finished it just a few minutes ago. I was wondering about the character of Amy. In previous books, she comes across as just very socially awkward, but doesn’t seem to be a complete *insert politically incorrect word here*. She even got David from the Melody Inn to buy her a coke, when none of the other girls could get that much. But in Dangerously Alice, she’s portrayed as being much more mentally challenged, and Alice even mentions that she had moved from special-ed classes to normal ones, while in previous books there was no mention of that.  I was wondering why. Did you want Amy’s character to be more defined, as to why she is the way she is, or was this what you had in mind for her from the time you created her character? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing you, I’m just curious.

Question:

 

I haven’t wanted to go into too much detail about Amy because I would like her to represent anyone who is challenged in any way.  I’m hoping that readers can see in her any student they know who is having difficulty in school or in making friends.  I’m delighted to hear that you are still reading the Alice books!

Is it Bad for You?

Question:

i read this message from a girl that sent you this a while ago and she said that she masturbates everynight and i was wondering if that she does that everynight doesnt it get addicting and then she will loose concentration in her studies if she masturbates all the time and she will only focus on that? also is masturbating good or bad for you and why do people buy expensive toys to get pleasure cuz all they are really doing is wasting money when sometimes they dont even work?

Phyllis replied:

 

Well, there are 24  hours in a day, and she said she masturbates every night, not in the morning, during class, at lunch, in the afternoon and after dinner.  When hormones start kicking in during the teen years, some teens feel sexually aroused a lot, and masturbation releases tension.  I don’t think  she is going to get addicted to something so natural, unless it starts taking the place of friendships and socializing and homework and studying, and I doubt very much that it will.  As for sex toys, everyone is different.  Some people undoubtedly think they are helpful, others don’t.

Should I Talk to his Girlfriend?

Question:

Hi Phyllis…I’ve emailed you once before. (: Just finished Dangerously Alice. So excited to read Alice Alone. So I need some advice. I just moved to Florida from Indiana. My dad got a job at a church with his BEST FRIEND. They have been friends since they were little boys like 8 years old. They both have kids now…and his buddy has 3 sons. One of them which is my age. Now this son that is my age was so kind to introduce and get me settled in the youth but he has a girlfriend. She has some crazzy Idea I want to “steal him” What ever. ANyway….when I am over at his house and he is at mine he is so sweet. When I am at church and around his big group of friends he acts like he doesnt know who I am…and wont even make eye contact with me. I dont want this to turn into a mini novel;) but I have just recently decided maybe I should talk to him in a mature matter about how he acts around his friends and how he treats me. What should I say? Do you think it would make the friendship awkward at all? Also…do you think it would be a good or bad idea to talk to his girfriend and tell her I don’t like him and that I want her to know? Thanks so much.

Phyllis replied:

 

 

You’re new to the crowd, so I would go slow.  I would not talk to the girlfriend about her suspicions unless she says something in your presence or one of her girlfriends asks you about the guy.  To indicate that you know she’s jealous, even if she is, will make her more angry, as though you really are a threat.  Chances are the boy avoids you to stop all rumors, if there are any, that you two have a relationship going.  If you say something at all to the guy about this, I’d do it in a teasing, offhand manner.  And I would be careful not to pass glances toward the guy when he’s around his friends, especially the girlfriend.  Try to hang around other kids, be friendly to everyone, and eventually you’ll find a place to fit in.

Questions

Questions:

i was wondering how many emails do u get usually get a day??? and i was also wondering whe ur nxt book will be out i no u have said it many times but i just cant seem to remember and also how many other authors do u no and talk tooooo????????????? plez answer bck thx

Phyllis replied:

 

I don’t keep count, but probably a dozen or more.  Many of them ask for autographs or photos and those don’t appear on the this blog, only the ones with comments and questions, and some of those are too personal to post.   The next Alice book, “Alice in Charge,” will be out in June.  I know dozens and dozens and dozens of other authors.  Probably most of my friends are authors or illustrators.

Alice in Charge

Question:

 

I’m reallly confused. I was reading all the fanmails people have left you and one thing caught my eye. A girl said she found Alice in Charge in her sisters room when she was in 4th grade and now she is a Junior in college. I was thinking about it and I didn’t remember ever reading Alice in Charge so I thought I missed a book. So I went to the books in order and saw that it wasn’t there. So I checked on amazon and they had ALice in Charge and the cover was a girl dancing with a boy (who isn’t patrick) so can you set me straight? DId I miss a book? Thanks for writing the ALice books they mean a lot.

 

 

Phyllis replied:

 

 

 

I knew that reader’s email was going to cause me some trouble.  If you remember my answer, I told her she couldn’t have read a book with that title because it wasn’t out yet, and I’m waiting for her to tell us which book of her sister’s she had read.  An easy mistake to make.   The cover you saw is of the real “Alice in Charge” book that is coming out next June.

Is This a Sign We Belong Together?

Question:

i first got hooked on your alice books about 2 summers ago and now whenever i pick up one of them, i can’t stop reading it.  your books are amazing.  you are such a good writer and whenever i have to write a essay or story for school, i am greatful for having read your books and other books that have helped me become a better writer.

 

so over the past year i’ve gone from being friends with a guy, to being really close friends, to being his girlfriend, then he broke up with me just before summer break.  we spent the whole summer not taking to each other.  then when i started my first year of high school this past fall, i wasn’t sure what to expect.  since then we’ve been just friends to a relationship without anyone knowing we were together, to officially dating to broken up to having many make out sessions.  i’ve of course wondered many times what my future would look like and would he be in my future.  i’ve pretty much guessed that this is normal for a teenage girl. 

 

what i wanted to ask you is if i should keep going on with this? i’ve also wondered if we’ll ever date again.  should i ask him if he ever thinks of us ever being a couple again?  if i were to ask him this, would it change out our relationship or how close of friends we are? each time we’ve tried to keep our relationship with each other as just friends, we end up coming back to each other.  is this a sign that we belong together and that we just can’t give up that part of our lives?

 

 

Phyllis replied:

 

 From what you’ve told me so far, it seems that perhaps it’s a sign you both are a little reluctant to give up some of the closeness, and the make-out sessions, for the unknown of dating other people.  You don’t mention that in the break-up times either of you were seeing others, and if you weren’t, perhaps this is why you keep coming back.  If you look at the way you keep coming back to each other, it’s tempting to call  it a sign you belong together.  But you could also look at the number of times you’ve broken up, including a whole summer of not speaking to each other, as a sign you should be apart.  I’d take it slow.  Think about what it is that drives you apart, and start looking around for other people who have different qualities to help both of you understand what it is each of you wants in a relationship.