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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.
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937 entries.
Dear Bruce Coville,
I loved your book Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. I thought it was funny when Taimot gave Mr.Cravits a hot foot.
Where did you get that idea? But why did you have to send Taimot back to the dragon world?
And by the way, is your daughter really named Cara? My name is Cara too. I am in third grade and love reading. What books would you recommend for third graders?
Sincerely,
Cara
I loved your book Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. I thought it was funny when Taimot gave Mr.Cravits a hot foot.
Where did you get that idea? But why did you have to send Taimot back to the dragon world?
And by the way, is your daughter really named Cara? My name is Cara too. I am in third grade and love reading. What books would you recommend for third graders?
Sincerely,
Cara
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Cara -
I am glad to know that you loved JEREMY THATCHER - it's a book that is very close to my heart. As to where I got the idea for Tiamat to give Mr. Kravitz a hotfoot, it just grew naturally out of the story. Once you have the basic idea for a story and start writing, the ideas often just arise while I'm at the keyboard.
My daughter is indeed named Cara, and I used her name for the main character in the series "The Unicorn Chronicles"
Since you liked JEREMY, I would especially recommend two other Magic Shop books -- JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD and THE MONSTER'S RING. Another book that is good for a third grader is THE DRAGONSLAYERS.
Happy Reading!
Bruce Coville
I am glad to know that you loved JEREMY THATCHER - it's a book that is very close to my heart. As to where I got the idea for Tiamat to give Mr. Kravitz a hotfoot, it just grew naturally out of the story. Once you have the basic idea for a story and start writing, the ideas often just arise while I'm at the keyboard.
My daughter is indeed named Cara, and I used her name for the main character in the series "The Unicorn Chronicles"
Since you liked JEREMY, I would especially recommend two other Magic Shop books -- JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD and THE MONSTER'S RING. Another book that is good for a third grader is THE DRAGONSLAYERS.
Happy Reading!
Bruce Coville
Dear Mr. Coville,
I'd like thank you for writing such wonderful stories that represented my childhood! I'm currently a 35-year-old female oral surgeon residing in Taiwan, and your books still bring a smile to my face whenever I read them. My favorite series is the Alien Adventures with Rod Albright, and they were my gateway drug to science fiction in general. "Nerdy guys" have praised Stan Lee (rest in peace) for their childhood love of science fiction, but I attribute mine to you. I hope you continue to write for us, because us loyal fans are still here for you!
Sincerely yours,
Isabelle Yang
I'd like thank you for writing such wonderful stories that represented my childhood! I'm currently a 35-year-old female oral surgeon residing in Taiwan, and your books still bring a smile to my face whenever I read them. My favorite series is the Alien Adventures with Rod Albright, and they were my gateway drug to science fiction in general. "Nerdy guys" have praised Stan Lee (rest in peace) for their childhood love of science fiction, but I attribute mine to you. I hope you continue to write for us, because us loyal fans are still here for you!
Sincerely yours,
Isabelle Yang
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Isabelle -
I can't thank you enough for this message. It delights me to know how much my books, especially the Rod Allbright books, have meant to you. That's partly because Rod is the only character I have ever based completely and totally on myself!
Your reference to Stan Lee is especially interesting, as Stan was one of my early heroes, and there is a direct connection from Stan's work to my own writing. I promise to try to continue writing for loyal fans such as yourself!
gratefully,
BC
I can't thank you enough for this message. It delights me to know how much my books, especially the Rod Allbright books, have meant to you. That's partly because Rod is the only character I have ever based completely and totally on myself!
Your reference to Stan Lee is especially interesting, as Stan was one of my early heroes, and there is a direct connection from Stan's work to my own writing. I promise to try to continue writing for loyal fans such as yourself!
gratefully,
BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
Sequel please! We just finished reading Always October and are bursting at the seams to know what Jacobs monster form is. It has sparked a constant conversation about our own monster forms. What would your monster form be? Our mom thinks that you should solve the problem of Jakes dad coming home by having his mom find out about Always October by breaking the rules and having Luna take her through the barrier. (We're happy for Jake and his mom but we'll miss Sploot Fah as a character.)
Thank you for the book, we really loved reading it and hope you have a second book in the works.
Sincerely,
Leland (10) and William (7)
Sequel please! We just finished reading Always October and are bursting at the seams to know what Jacobs monster form is. It has sparked a constant conversation about our own monster forms. What would your monster form be? Our mom thinks that you should solve the problem of Jakes dad coming home by having his mom find out about Always October by breaking the rules and having Luna take her through the barrier. (We're happy for Jake and his mom but we'll miss Sploot Fah as a character.)
Thank you for the book, we really loved reading it and hope you have a second book in the works.
Sincerely,
Leland (10) and William (7)
Reply by Bruce Coville
Leland and William -
Oh, how I loved reading this message! ALWAYS OCTOBER was a special project for me, partly because it was my 100th book. I also thought it was one of my best. But my publisher never put it into paperback, which is where most kids discover my books, so it is not very well known. Which was a big disappointment for me. So your message makes me very, very happy!
Sadly, because of the things I listed above, a sequel is unlikely. Being in hardcover only means the book has not sold enough copies for the publisher to want another story. (I know, it's crazy - they did something that kept the book from selling, and because it didn't sell more they don't want another. It's a nutty business!)
Thankfully, you clearly have very vivid imaginations, so you can invent and play around with idea about what happens next to your hearts' content. I hope you will have fun doing so!
your friend,
Bruce Coville
Oh, how I loved reading this message! ALWAYS OCTOBER was a special project for me, partly because it was my 100th book. I also thought it was one of my best. But my publisher never put it into paperback, which is where most kids discover my books, so it is not very well known. Which was a big disappointment for me. So your message makes me very, very happy!
Sadly, because of the things I listed above, a sequel is unlikely. Being in hardcover only means the book has not sold enough copies for the publisher to want another story. (I know, it's crazy - they did something that kept the book from selling, and because it didn't sell more they don't want another. It's a nutty business!)
Thankfully, you clearly have very vivid imaginations, so you can invent and play around with idea about what happens next to your hearts' content. I hope you will have fun doing so!
your friend,
Bruce Coville
Mr.Coville,
I am currently a junior in college pursuing an English Creative Writing major with the intentions of writing my own books. I was amidst reading some texts for class tonight when I could not stop thinking about this book I had read back in 6th grade. After some digging, I came to find out that it was your "The Monsters of Morley Manor"! That book and the characters' journey has stuck with me for YEARS and is one I will never forget. Thank you for sharing your talents and creativity with us. I am definitely going to give "Morley Manor" another read soon.
Very Gratefully,
Abbey Lane
I am currently a junior in college pursuing an English Creative Writing major with the intentions of writing my own books. I was amidst reading some texts for class tonight when I could not stop thinking about this book I had read back in 6th grade. After some digging, I came to find out that it was your "The Monsters of Morley Manor"! That book and the characters' journey has stuck with me for YEARS and is one I will never forget. Thank you for sharing your talents and creativity with us. I am definitely going to give "Morley Manor" another read soon.
Very Gratefully,
Abbey Lane
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Abbey -
Many thanks for this. It delights me to know that MORLEY MANOR has stayed with you for all these years. It is officially the weirdest book I ever wrote. (I know, because my mother read it, then looked at me and said, "Bruce, you are getting stranger and stranger!")
One reason the book is strange is that I first wrote it as a series of episodes for anthologies with different themes, which is why there are so many disparate elements, that weird mix of fantasy and science fiction. It bothers some readers, most most seem to find it exhilarating as it has been in print for well over a decade now.
All best,
BC
Many thanks for this. It delights me to know that MORLEY MANOR has stayed with you for all these years. It is officially the weirdest book I ever wrote. (I know, because my mother read it, then looked at me and said, "Bruce, you are getting stranger and stranger!")
One reason the book is strange is that I first wrote it as a series of episodes for anthologies with different themes, which is why there are so many disparate elements, that weird mix of fantasy and science fiction. It bothers some readers, most most seem to find it exhilarating as it has been in print for well over a decade now.
All best,
BC
Mr. Coville
I am a student from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. This month, I will be presenting you as my author presentation. What advice should you give to the students of Children Literature class? And what is your favorite book of all time? Thank you.
I am a student from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. This month, I will be presenting you as my author presentation. What advice should you give to the students of Children Literature class? And what is your favorite book of all time? Thank you.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Student! I'm flattered to know that you will be using me for your author presentation. As to advice for your fellow students, without a more specific request, my advice would be to read voraciously, and in as wide a range as possible! Find authors who engage and delight you and explore their bodies of work. I'm guessing that you and your classmates will be working with children in some capacity, so know this: The greatest tool for getting kids involved in the joy and love of reading is your own passion for the literature!
As to my "favorite book of all time" - wow, that's a hard one. And, to be honest, the answer would vary with my mood. At the moment, I would have to say "The Count of Monte Cristo," which my son once described as "Bruce Coville for grown-ups" which is possibly the nicest thing he ever said to me!
All best,
BC
As to my "favorite book of all time" - wow, that's a hard one. And, to be honest, the answer would vary with my mood. At the moment, I would have to say "The Count of Monte Cristo," which my son once described as "Bruce Coville for grown-ups" which is possibly the nicest thing he ever said to me!
All best,
BC
Hi Bruce Coville,
We liked Jeremy Thatcher and we hope you keep writing amazing books like this. We loved the creative details you used to describe the magic shop. We were wondering why the dragon egg changes colors? We can't believe you wrote 13 drafts! How long were you working on this story?
Thank you for writing Jeremy Thatcher!
Your readers,
D.C,K.B,R.C,A.W,A.H,and HC.
We liked Jeremy Thatcher and we hope you keep writing amazing books like this. We loved the creative details you used to describe the magic shop. We were wondering why the dragon egg changes colors? We can't believe you wrote 13 drafts! How long were you working on this story?
Thank you for writing Jeremy Thatcher!
Your readers,
D.C,K.B,R.C,A.W,A.H,and HC.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Dear D.C,K.B,R.C,A.W,A.H,and HC -
I'm so glad that you liked JEREMY THATCHER. Your question about how long I worked on it is an interesting one. I first had the idea for the book in 1982, when THE MONSTER'S RING, the first Magic Shop book, was published. I had wanted to do a sequel to RING, but the editor didn't want one. But I didn't want to let go of the Magic Shop, so my next idea was to do a set of short stories and I sat down and made a list of things you could buy in the shop.
When I started to write the story about the egg, it kept growing, and by the time it was forty pages long, it was clear it wanted to be a book, not a short story! That took a lot more thinking - the book was not published until 1991, nine years later! Of course, I worked on many other things during that time, but you can see that it took years for this egg to hatch!
BC
I'm so glad that you liked JEREMY THATCHER. Your question about how long I worked on it is an interesting one. I first had the idea for the book in 1982, when THE MONSTER'S RING, the first Magic Shop book, was published. I had wanted to do a sequel to RING, but the editor didn't want one. But I didn't want to let go of the Magic Shop, so my next idea was to do a set of short stories and I sat down and made a list of things you could buy in the shop.
When I started to write the story about the egg, it kept growing, and by the time it was forty pages long, it was clear it wanted to be a book, not a short story! That took a lot more thinking - the book was not published until 1991, nine years later! Of course, I worked on many other things during that time, but you can see that it took years for this egg to hatch!
BC
Greetings, Mr. Coville,
We enjoyed your book Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. It had lots of detail, and you used your senses. It was funny when Tiamat was chasing the cats. It was cool when Miss Priest came out of the woods. Our favorite character is Tiamat. Are you going to make a movie of Jeremy Thatcher? And also, are you going to make another version, but from Tiamat's point of view? We would love that!
Sincerely,
DP,EC,EDC,EB,KV,ET
We enjoyed your book Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. It had lots of detail, and you used your senses. It was funny when Tiamat was chasing the cats. It was cool when Miss Priest came out of the woods. Our favorite character is Tiamat. Are you going to make a movie of Jeremy Thatcher? And also, are you going to make another version, but from Tiamat's point of view? We would love that!
Sincerely,
DP,EC,EDC,EB,KV,ET
Reply by Bruce Coville
Dear DP,EC,EDC,EB,KV,ET
Thanks for this message. The idea of doing another version from Tiamat's point of view is very interesting. I am unlikely to do that now, but I think it would be a very cool writing project for you guys!
As to a movie of the book - first off, generally speaking writers don't make movies. Hollywood makes movies! And I have had many Hollywood filmmakers approach me about making a movie of JEREMY. However none of them managed to get it done.
That said, in about an hour I will be talking to two young filmmakers who want to make a try at it. So wish us luck!
All best, BC
Thanks for this message. The idea of doing another version from Tiamat's point of view is very interesting. I am unlikely to do that now, but I think it would be a very cool writing project for you guys!
As to a movie of the book - first off, generally speaking writers don't make movies. Hollywood makes movies! And I have had many Hollywood filmmakers approach me about making a movie of JEREMY. However none of them managed to get it done.
That said, in about an hour I will be talking to two young filmmakers who want to make a try at it. So wish us luck!
All best, BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
We loved reading Jeremy Thatcher. We thought it was really funny when Tiamat messed up dinner with Mary Lou. What book out of the Magic Shop series would you recommend? Are you going to make a part 2 of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher? You make us laugh when we read your books!
love,
AGK , OKC , FAC , ELB , and KEB
We loved reading Jeremy Thatcher. We thought it was really funny when Tiamat messed up dinner with Mary Lou. What book out of the Magic Shop series would you recommend? Are you going to make a part 2 of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher? You make us laugh when we read your books!
love,
AGK , OKC , FAC , ELB , and KEB
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, AGK , OKC , FAC , ELB , and KEB -
So glad that you loved JEREMY THATCHER. I think it is the book of mine that is most likely to be around years after I have left this world! I'm glad you enjoyed the dinner scene - that was so much fun to write!
The next Magic Shop book I would recommend to you is JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD - though to be honest, I should tell you that I love all five books in this series.
Of course, since it is almost Halloween, maybe right now you should read THE MONSTER'S RING instead. I wrote it trying to come up with exactly the kind of Halloween book I wanted to read when I was a kid myself!
All best,
Bruce Coville
So glad that you loved JEREMY THATCHER. I think it is the book of mine that is most likely to be around years after I have left this world! I'm glad you enjoyed the dinner scene - that was so much fun to write!
The next Magic Shop book I would recommend to you is JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD - though to be honest, I should tell you that I love all five books in this series.
Of course, since it is almost Halloween, maybe right now you should read THE MONSTER'S RING instead. I wrote it trying to come up with exactly the kind of Halloween book I wanted to read when I was a kid myself!
All best,
Bruce Coville
Roommate needed for the cellar beneath the cellar beneath the cellar beneath my house. Must be simple-minded, loyal, and a few other things I forgot. Apply by Oct. 31.
Reply by Bruce Coville
IGOR SAY THIS BESTEST MESSAGE THIS YEAR!
Dear Mr.Coville,
We enjoyed reading your book Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. We liked how Jeremy and Tiamat communicated in thoughts, images, and feelings. We liked how Tiamat gave Mr. Kravitz a hot foot! Why did you sadly have to make Tiamat go to the dragon world? What books do you recommend for third graders to read?
From: O.P., J.C.,C.V., A.H.,and A.M.
We enjoyed reading your book Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. We liked how Jeremy and Tiamat communicated in thoughts, images, and feelings. We liked how Tiamat gave Mr. Kravitz a hot foot! Why did you sadly have to make Tiamat go to the dragon world? What books do you recommend for third graders to read?
From: O.P., J.C.,C.V., A.H.,and A.M.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi there, O.P., J.C.,C.V., A.H.,and A.M.! Thanks for this message. I'm delighted that you enjoyed JEREMY THATCHER so much.
As for the ending, it was hard, and sad, to write. But I felt it was the right ending for this book. This world is no longer made for dragons, alas.
Some other books by me that I think you would enjoy are THE MONSTER'S RING (this is a Magic Shop book, like JEREMY), THE DRAGONSLAYERS, and MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
Happy reading!
BC
As for the ending, it was hard, and sad, to write. But I felt it was the right ending for this book. This world is no longer made for dragons, alas.
Some other books by me that I think you would enjoy are THE MONSTER'S RING (this is a Magic Shop book, like JEREMY), THE DRAGONSLAYERS, and MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
Happy reading!
BC