Welcome to the Guestbook!
I’m always eager to read your comments about my books and stories, so please feel free to pitch in. Here are a few things for you to know:
1) I answer the messages here personally.
2) No message shows up here until I actually answer it to prevent spam and other inappropriate postings. So there will sometimes be a delay before your message posts, especially if I am traveling.
3) Teachers, a gentle request: Please do not have multiple children send me variants of the same message. A group email is much easier to respond to and not such a drain on my time. My thanks in advance for being alert to this.
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Hi there Mr. Coville,
I read Into the Land of the Unicorns when I was in 3rd or 4th grade in 1999/2000, and thought I'd look you up to see what you're up to and tell you about how your books influenced me as a kid, and how special they were.
Into the Land of the Unicorns was my first real chapter book, and from then on I just couldn't stop reading, and writing. I've been writing creatively ever since. I remember being so amazed at how immersed I was in Cara's world, and how it felt like I had traveled to Luster, too. I read whatever I could from the series at my library, and then read Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. I'll never forget that book either, because in 5th grade I had the version of the book with a tiny Tiamat next to an egg on the cover, and I tried to recreate that picture by drawing it myself. I was so proud of how it came out that I showed my teacher, asking if it was good, and she said, "I don't think it's good--I think it's incredible, and you are a real artist with a lot of talent."
I never stopped drawing after that, and hundreds of my first pictures were pictures of dragons. I put your name down every time someone asked me who my favorite author was, and when I did a report on my favorite author in 7th grade and wrote to you, you wrote back to me with a personalized letter. I was so thrilled! All of this is to say that I wouldn't be a writer, or an artist, today without those books.
I'm about to turn 31 in a few weeks, and a lot has happened since those days. But despite all of the craziness in the last 20 years, the whimsy, fantasy, and joy your books gave me all those years ago stayed with me. No matter how hard it got out there, I knew reading would always be there to enjoy. I write for a living now (but in a lawyer-y way and not the fun way), I have a digital painting canvas, and I've got folders full of planning for my first novel. It's been a dream of mine to inspire a kid the way you inspired me when I was a new kid in town, and poor enough that the library was where my parents took us for a fun weekend activity. I think about the kids growing up today, and I think they could use a little bit of joy and whimsy now more than ever, and I can only hope to give them a fraction of what you gave me! I've had a lot of stops and starts with writing over the years but remembering your books today, and all those memories, has reminded me how important fantasy and imagination is, no matter how old you are.
Anyway. I hope this wasn't too long or rambling, or too out of left field, haha. And there are new books in the Unicorn Chronicles! I can't believe it. You KNOW I'm going to have to get them haha--one day I want my own kids to read them, too. Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Emily P.
I read Into the Land of the Unicorns when I was in 3rd or 4th grade in 1999/2000, and thought I'd look you up to see what you're up to and tell you about how your books influenced me as a kid, and how special they were.
Into the Land of the Unicorns was my first real chapter book, and from then on I just couldn't stop reading, and writing. I've been writing creatively ever since. I remember being so amazed at how immersed I was in Cara's world, and how it felt like I had traveled to Luster, too. I read whatever I could from the series at my library, and then read Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. I'll never forget that book either, because in 5th grade I had the version of the book with a tiny Tiamat next to an egg on the cover, and I tried to recreate that picture by drawing it myself. I was so proud of how it came out that I showed my teacher, asking if it was good, and she said, "I don't think it's good--I think it's incredible, and you are a real artist with a lot of talent."
I never stopped drawing after that, and hundreds of my first pictures were pictures of dragons. I put your name down every time someone asked me who my favorite author was, and when I did a report on my favorite author in 7th grade and wrote to you, you wrote back to me with a personalized letter. I was so thrilled! All of this is to say that I wouldn't be a writer, or an artist, today without those books.
I'm about to turn 31 in a few weeks, and a lot has happened since those days. But despite all of the craziness in the last 20 years, the whimsy, fantasy, and joy your books gave me all those years ago stayed with me. No matter how hard it got out there, I knew reading would always be there to enjoy. I write for a living now (but in a lawyer-y way and not the fun way), I have a digital painting canvas, and I've got folders full of planning for my first novel. It's been a dream of mine to inspire a kid the way you inspired me when I was a new kid in town, and poor enough that the library was where my parents took us for a fun weekend activity. I think about the kids growing up today, and I think they could use a little bit of joy and whimsy now more than ever, and I can only hope to give them a fraction of what you gave me! I've had a lot of stops and starts with writing over the years but remembering your books today, and all those memories, has reminded me how important fantasy and imagination is, no matter how old you are.
Anyway. I hope this wasn't too long or rambling, or too out of left field, haha. And there are new books in the Unicorn Chronicles! I can't believe it. You KNOW I'm going to have to get them haha--one day I want my own kids to read them, too. Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Emily P.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Emily -
Many thanks for this wonderful and thoroughly heart-lifting message! I cannot tell you how it delights me that Luster has stayed alive within your heart. Even more delightful is knowing that the books have inspired you to want to inspire children of the next generation. That is a truly beautiful and worthwhile goal, and I wish you much joy in the pursuit of it!
All good wishes,
BC
Many thanks for this wonderful and thoroughly heart-lifting message! I cannot tell you how it delights me that Luster has stayed alive within your heart. Even more delightful is knowing that the books have inspired you to want to inspire children of the next generation. That is a truly beautiful and worthwhile goal, and I wish you much joy in the pursuit of it!
All good wishes,
BC