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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Hello, Bruce! My name is Courtney and I'm 24 years old. I just wanted to write and thank you for your books. I always appreciated, even as a kid, the fact that you didn't seem to "talk down" to your readers the way that some YA writers do. I was a very introverted kid (and adult, if I'm being honest) and I feel as though your books really helped me to feel like a part of something bigger at a time when I felt quite by myself. The "My Teacher" series in particular made a very big impact on how I view the world now as an adult and my appreciation for the world around me is in part due to you. As well as my love of sci-fi and fantasy, which your novels opened the door to for me. I just wanted to let you know that your work really did make an impact on a lonely middle schooler years ago. Thank you. 🙂
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Courtney -
Many thanks for this. It has always been a specific goal in my writing not to "talk down" to kids, so it pleases me a great deal to know that you were aware of that. I think working as a teacher helped me in that regard . . . it gave me a sense of how smart kids really are that not all adults have.
Your words about the books helping you to feel part of something bigger go straight to my heart. I couldn't ask for a better affirmation of what I am trying to do.
Thanks for taking the time to tell me what the books meant to you.
All best,
Bruce
Many thanks for this. It has always been a specific goal in my writing not to "talk down" to kids, so it pleases me a great deal to know that you were aware of that. I think working as a teacher helped me in that regard . . . it gave me a sense of how smart kids really are that not all adults have.
Your words about the books helping you to feel part of something bigger go straight to my heart. I couldn't ask for a better affirmation of what I am trying to do.
Thanks for taking the time to tell me what the books meant to you.
All best,
Bruce