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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964 entries.
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.
I messaged you about a month or two weeks ago. I just wanted to ask that how do we get our book signed by you and also, I was thinking why not you make any more Magic Shop series' books? I love Mr. Elives and Mrs. Priest from Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher.
Regards,
Adarsh
Regards,
Adarsh
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Adarsh -
I am happy to sign books for you. The process is simple: send the book (or books) to me at the address listed on the Contact button on the website. IMPORTANT: Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for me to return the book(s). Without that, I cannot send them back.
I have ideas for more Magic Shop books, but I am not on very good terms with the publisher of that series right now. With luck, perhaps things will change in the future.
BC
I am happy to sign books for you. The process is simple: send the book (or books) to me at the address listed on the Contact button on the website. IMPORTANT: Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for me to return the book(s). Without that, I cannot send them back.
I have ideas for more Magic Shop books, but I am not on very good terms with the publisher of that series right now. With luck, perhaps things will change in the future.
BC
I read your My Teacher is an Alien series when it came out and loved it. Are the reissues identical or shortened versions? Thanks.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Daniel -
Thanks for this . . . I'm delighted to know you remember the stories so fondly.
The new editions of the MY TEACHER books have not been shortened. We made a couple of tweaks in the first book so being it in line with current conditions, but did not shorten it. I don't think there were any changes in the remaining three.
All best,
Bruce
Thanks for this . . . I'm delighted to know you remember the stories so fondly.
The new editions of the MY TEACHER books have not been shortened. We made a couple of tweaks in the first book so being it in line with current conditions, but did not shorten it. I don't think there were any changes in the remaining three.
All best,
Bruce
Hi! I was just wondering why you haven't posted anything on the blog since May of last year?
Amber
P.S. My last name is pronounced like "rain".
Amber
P.S. My last name is pronounced like "rain".
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Amber -
That's a good question. Sadly, I think I'm just not as interested in blogging as I should be (or, at least, as the world thinks I should be). I need to get back to it. Thanks for the nudge!
Bruce
That's a good question. Sadly, I think I'm just not as interested in blogging as I should be (or, at least, as the world thinks I should be). I need to get back to it. Thanks for the nudge!
Bruce
Hello Mr. Coville,
I have messaged you here once before. I have a question I need to ask you.
I am doing a research paper, and I decided to research your life, as well as the inspiration behind 3 of your most popular series. I have found articles where you mentioned the inspiration behind 2 of them, but I can't find anything about the third one. What was the inspiration behind the Unicorn Chronicles?
Thank you,
Zach Talon
I have messaged you here once before. I have a question I need to ask you.
I am doing a research paper, and I decided to research your life, as well as the inspiration behind 3 of your most popular series. I have found articles where you mentioned the inspiration behind 2 of them, but I can't find anything about the third one. What was the inspiration behind the Unicorn Chronicles?
Thank you,
Zach Talon
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Zach -
Glad to hear from you. The answer to this one is a bit odd, and a bit entangled.
My second picture book, SARAH'S UNICORN, was written because my wife asked me to write after we had gotten turned down on another project. When we first submitted it (1977 or 1978), it was turned down by the editor we were working with because she thought there were too many unicorn picture books.
This was not so. There were unicorn mugs, posters, buttons, and probably toilet paper. But no unicorn picture books. I asked her to look again, and the book went forward, and became a solid success.
As a result, I became, to a degree, the unicorn guy. My next iteration in that guise was when I compiled THE UNICORN TREASURY for Doubleday.
Later, in the early 1990's, Jean Feiwel (the smartest woman in publishing) invited me in to Scholastic to discuss doing a new series. We threw some ideas back and forth, and when she said "unicorn world" I said "I'm you're guy."
It was supposed to be, by contract, a three book series, one a year, about 40,000 words each. As it turned out, it became a 4 book series, each significantly larger than the preceding volumes.
Unicorns . . . sometimes they just carry you away!
Glad to hear from you. The answer to this one is a bit odd, and a bit entangled.
My second picture book, SARAH'S UNICORN, was written because my wife asked me to write after we had gotten turned down on another project. When we first submitted it (1977 or 1978), it was turned down by the editor we were working with because she thought there were too many unicorn picture books.
This was not so. There were unicorn mugs, posters, buttons, and probably toilet paper. But no unicorn picture books. I asked her to look again, and the book went forward, and became a solid success.
As a result, I became, to a degree, the unicorn guy. My next iteration in that guise was when I compiled THE UNICORN TREASURY for Doubleday.
Later, in the early 1990's, Jean Feiwel (the smartest woman in publishing) invited me in to Scholastic to discuss doing a new series. We threw some ideas back and forth, and when she said "unicorn world" I said "I'm you're guy."
It was supposed to be, by contract, a three book series, one a year, about 40,000 words each. As it turned out, it became a 4 book series, each significantly larger than the preceding volumes.
Unicorns . . . sometimes they just carry you away!