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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.
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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938 entries.
My favorite part of your book dragon of doom was when Edward climbed up to the dragons cave and found out that the dragon was actually little.
From: lukas
From: lukas
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Lukas -
I'm glad you enjoyed that scene. It was actually my wife's idea to have the dragon be small.
My wife is a very smart lady!
BC
I'm glad you enjoyed that scene. It was actually my wife's idea to have the dragon be small.
My wife is a very smart lady!
BC
I was supposed to write to you telling you my favorite part of the Dragon of Doom for a class assignment but unfortunatly I don't have one.
Regrets, Everett
Regrets, Everett
Reply by Bruce Coville
That's too bad, Everett. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the book more.
BC
BC
Am reading the Unicorn Chronicles with some young friends. Book 4 cost me a bunch. I understand why as I read one of your previous replies in your guestbook. Any chance you will make these four books into e-books at some time in the future? Would love to have them this way.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Mary -
Thanks for this, and my apologies that you had to pay so much for that fourth book. I appreciate your understanding on the matter.
My agent and I are working to find a new print publisher for the books, and it is very likely that any such deal will also include plans for ebook versions. So while I can't make any guarantees right now, it is indeed likely that there will be ebooks of these novels at some point.
Thanks for checking in here.
BC
Thanks for this, and my apologies that you had to pay so much for that fourth book. I appreciate your understanding on the matter.
My agent and I are working to find a new print publisher for the books, and it is very likely that any such deal will also include plans for ebook versions. So while I can't make any guarantees right now, it is indeed likely that there will be ebooks of these novels at some point.
Thanks for checking in here.
BC
Hi, Mr. Coville. My best friend and I LOVE your Unicorn Chronicles books. She has all but the Last Hunt. Her 13th birthday is coming up and I wanted to do something special: get her the Last Hunt. But I can't find it anywhere for less than $20 as a paperback! So my question is: why is it so expensive? ~Dru
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Dru - Glad to know that you and your best friend LOVE the Chronicles!
One thing that many people do not understand is that unless a book is self-published, the author has nothing to do with the price. That is determined by the publisher . . . or, in the case of used books, by the bookseller.
The reason THE LAST HUNT is so expensive is that Scholastic, for reasons I have never understood, chose not to release a paperback edition. (Any version you find in paperback is almost certainly an ARC - an "Advance Readers Copy" sent out for reviews.) Because there was no paperback the book is fairly rare, and people who do have it are holding on to it. So used booksellers are charging a lot of money for it.
I have regained the rights to the books, and my agent and I are seeking a new publisher to bring them back into print. But even if we found the new publisher today, it would probably be a year or more before they are available.
I understand your frustration . . . believe me, I am frustrated by this, too! But the matter of availability has entirely to do with the publisher.
I am sorry I do not have better news for you.
Bruce Coville
One thing that many people do not understand is that unless a book is self-published, the author has nothing to do with the price. That is determined by the publisher . . . or, in the case of used books, by the bookseller.
The reason THE LAST HUNT is so expensive is that Scholastic, for reasons I have never understood, chose not to release a paperback edition. (Any version you find in paperback is almost certainly an ARC - an "Advance Readers Copy" sent out for reviews.) Because there was no paperback the book is fairly rare, and people who do have it are holding on to it. So used booksellers are charging a lot of money for it.
I have regained the rights to the books, and my agent and I are seeking a new publisher to bring them back into print. But even if we found the new publisher today, it would probably be a year or more before they are available.
I understand your frustration . . . believe me, I am frustrated by this, too! But the matter of availability has entirely to do with the publisher.
I am sorry I do not have better news for you.
Bruce Coville
Holy cow, me again, sorry. I just wanted to say a few more things. I discovered your books back when I was eleven years old... I'm turning seventeen in a few months. Back when I was in fifth grade your books got me through being bullied and helped me to just relax. It was your books that inspired me to want to be an author, and I've always stopped to just think back to when I read the series. I would hide in my closet at night and read them until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm getting older, and I find new books to read all the time. But none of them have stuck quite like yours. Right now I'm writing this thinking back to the fun I had imagining the world you created. I just wanted to say thank you for making my childhood the wonderfully imaginative adventure it was. It seems everyday I stop thinking about the things I did as a kid, but I still think about your books and that's the impact they have had on my life. Just thank you!
(P.s. I went back and read my posts on here from 2011, and yikes, I did not know how to spell, lol)
Aubrey out!
(P.s. I went back and read my posts on here from 2011, and yikes, I did not know how to spell, lol)
Aubrey out!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Aubrey -
What a hoot, and what a lovely thing, to hear from you six years later!
I cannot tell you what it means to me to know that the books helped you get through bullying. I hate bullies, and bullying, and being a palliative to that stupidity really means the world to me.
As a secret night-time reader myself, I love the thought of you hiding in your closet at night to read my stories.
With all good wishes,
BC
What a hoot, and what a lovely thing, to hear from you six years later!
I cannot tell you what it means to me to know that the books helped you get through bullying. I hate bullies, and bullying, and being a palliative to that stupidity really means the world to me.
As a secret night-time reader myself, I love the thought of you hiding in your closet at night to read my stories.
With all good wishes,
BC
Hi Mr. Coville...I guess I can now call you Bruce since I am 47 years old. I was in your 4th grade class when we did Dragonslayers (Sir Motley). I am currently a school counselor in Baldwinsville and I always use you as an example when kids tell me they want to be an author. You were truly an inspirational teacher along with Angie Peterson and many at Wetzel Rd Elementary. Hope you and your family are doing well!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi Chari! (Am I correct in recalling that's how we knew you in 4th grade?)
Yes, you certainly can call me Bruce at this point!
I can't tell you how lovely it is to hear from you. I loved all my classes at Wetzel, but the year of "The Dragonslayers" was something special for me.
It also delights me to know that you went into education. Good for you!
All is well here, and I hope the same is true for you.
All best,
Bruce
Yes, you certainly can call me Bruce at this point!
I can't tell you how lovely it is to hear from you. I loved all my classes at Wetzel, but the year of "The Dragonslayers" was something special for me.
It also delights me to know that you went into education. Good for you!
All is well here, and I hope the same is true for you.
All best,
Bruce
I learned how to read English using your books and I love them. I now write short stories for beginning readers and was wondering if you would know someone who could critique them for me. I want to improve my craft so I can share these stories with the word.
Thanks for your stories, and thank your wife for her wonderful drawings.
Thanks for your stories, and thank your wife for her wonderful drawings.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Ceili -
It delights me to know that you used my books as part of learning English.
As to your own stories: If you join the SCBWI (Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators) http://www.scbwi.org/ your local chapter may be able to connect you with a critique group or a writing partner.
Best of luck with your work!
BC
It delights me to know that you used my books as part of learning English.
As to your own stories: If you join the SCBWI (Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators) http://www.scbwi.org/ your local chapter may be able to connect you with a critique group or a writing partner.
Best of luck with your work!
BC
You've been one of my favorite authors since I was a kid. A friend and I recently let each other borrow some books of yours that the other hadn't read. She lent me the first two books of the unicorn chronicles. Curious to know if there were more, I looked you up online and happily found this Web site.
I just wanted to say I still like your writing as an adult. Good work! Keep it up.
I just wanted to say I still like your writing as an adult. Good work! Keep it up.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Jacob -
What a lovely message! Many thanks.
When you write for kids you start out hoping they will like you, then move to hoping they will remember you. So a message like yours above really is affirming.
All best,
Bruce
What a lovely message! Many thanks.
When you write for kids you start out hoping they will like you, then move to hoping they will remember you. So a message like yours above really is affirming.
All best,
Bruce
It was wonderful meeting and listening to you Saturday at CONBUST. my son Liam and I are looking forward to reading about Angus the Mad Brownie...
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Samantha -
It was delightful to meet you ... I appreciated you coming to the reading. It's my favorite thing to do at a con.
I hope you and Liam enjoy the book!
It was delightful to meet you ... I appreciated you coming to the reading. It's my favorite thing to do at a con.
I hope you and Liam enjoy the book!
On the Prowl for a creative place to say hi and riddle one of my favorite authors...
Some of mine have experienced your original from over 20 years ago - hoping this finds you well, my friend that I have never met...
Some of mine have experienced your original from over 20 years ago - hoping this finds you well, my friend that I have never met...
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, DH -
On the Prowl like the goblins? Whatever the reason, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for remembering me, friend I never met.
On the Prowl like the goblins? Whatever the reason, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for remembering me, friend I never met.