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.
Sign the Guestbook!
879 entries.
Dear Mr. Coville,
Thank you so much for the laughter and magic over the years! My especial favorites of your books have been your stories and compilations on unicorns. I would like to know, what has inspired you to write about unicorns in particular over the years?
So many young adult and adult fantasy/paranormal stories these days center around vampires, werewolves, zombies, and the like - dangerous creatures of the night that draw a stark contrast to the innocent and healing nature of the unicorn. I look back on my childhood fascination with unicorns and wonder: is there a place for unicorns in stories for adults today? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.
Always a fan,
Stella
Thank you so much for the laughter and magic over the years! My especial favorites of your books have been your stories and compilations on unicorns. I would like to know, what has inspired you to write about unicorns in particular over the years?
So many young adult and adult fantasy/paranormal stories these days center around vampires, werewolves, zombies, and the like - dangerous creatures of the night that draw a stark contrast to the innocent and healing nature of the unicorn. I look back on my childhood fascination with unicorns and wonder: is there a place for unicorns in stories for adults today? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.
Always a fan,
Stella
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Stella -
Many thanks for this lovely message. My apologies for not replying more quickly. It seems that the website doesn't always alert me to a new message, and I just found this one.
I loved your distinction between the dark mode of fantasy that is current in YA now and the lightness of unicorns and what I was trying to do with that series.
Though things move in and out of fashion, I think there will always be a place for unicorns. Sometimes they will be more popular, sometimes less. But the human heart will always need them!
All best,
BC
Many thanks for this lovely message. My apologies for not replying more quickly. It seems that the website doesn't always alert me to a new message, and I just found this one.
I loved your distinction between the dark mode of fantasy that is current in YA now and the lightness of unicorns and what I was trying to do with that series.
Though things move in and out of fashion, I think there will always be a place for unicorns. Sometimes they will be more popular, sometimes less. But the human heart will always need them!
All best,
BC
You've been my "literary rock" since 1993. I love your books! It really has been a pleasure as an adult to re-read my collection after having it packed away for the last 19 years. Thank you for the fantastic adventures and imaginative, yet relatable characters.
P.S. Goblins on the Prowl was worth the wait!
P.S. Goblins on the Prowl was worth the wait!
Reply by Bruce Coville
What a lovely message. Since I totally love "The Rock" being someone's "Literary Rock" feels like a great compliment.
Even more of a compliment is that you love the books on re-reading. I have always tried to write in a way that would delight my kid audience yet at the same time be something my adult readers (generally parents and teachers) could enjoy. The fact that you liked GOBLINS ON THE PROWL is the icing on the cake. Man, that book was hard to do. But I was really happy with it when I had finally finished, so your approval means a great deal to me!
All best,
BC
Even more of a compliment is that you love the books on re-reading. I have always tried to write in a way that would delight my kid audience yet at the same time be something my adult readers (generally parents and teachers) could enjoy. The fact that you liked GOBLINS ON THE PROWL is the icing on the cake. Man, that book was hard to do. But I was really happy with it when I had finally finished, so your approval means a great deal to me!
All best,
BC
Hello Mr. Coville!
I am a long time fan, and getting my daughter, Nola, into your books as well! We have been reading the Unicorn Chronicles (just finished book 2), and before these we read Jeremy Thatcher. She loves them!
When I was looking for the Unicorn Chronicles at a used book store where we lived in Denver, CO, I was amazed at how many of your books I had actually read back in the 90s. I knew you'd also written the Aliens ate My homework series, but I had forgotten about so many others! And I love that I can go back and read them with my daughter and still get just as much joy as the first time I read them.
I actually found a letter last year when I was going through a box at my parent's house. It was a letter I wrote to you when I was 10 years old (~1994). I saved it, but unfortunately have since misplaced it (we moved), but I laughed reading it. I was an ambitious kid, and I'm pretty sure I wanted to be your pen pal!
Honestly, if I had to credit a single author that influenced my love for reading scifi, it would be you.
Thank you for what you've written, thank you for all you do, and thank you for being so kind to your fans.
Katie
I am a long time fan, and getting my daughter, Nola, into your books as well! We have been reading the Unicorn Chronicles (just finished book 2), and before these we read Jeremy Thatcher. She loves them!
When I was looking for the Unicorn Chronicles at a used book store where we lived in Denver, CO, I was amazed at how many of your books I had actually read back in the 90s. I knew you'd also written the Aliens ate My homework series, but I had forgotten about so many others! And I love that I can go back and read them with my daughter and still get just as much joy as the first time I read them.
I actually found a letter last year when I was going through a box at my parent's house. It was a letter I wrote to you when I was 10 years old (~1994). I saved it, but unfortunately have since misplaced it (we moved), but I laughed reading it. I was an ambitious kid, and I'm pretty sure I wanted to be your pen pal!
Honestly, if I had to credit a single author that influenced my love for reading scifi, it would be you.
Thank you for what you've written, thank you for all you do, and thank you for being so kind to your fans.
Katie
Reply by Bruce Coville
Dear Katie -
What a heart-affirming message this is. Thank you so much! I love that you are sharing my books with Nola now.
One of the best things about longevity in this field is becoming a two-generation author. Sharing books with my own kids was one of the great joys of my life as a young father. That other parents are now doing this with their own kids gives me a kind of delight that is hard to explain!
Your thanks are deeply appreciated.
All best,
BC
What a heart-affirming message this is. Thank you so much! I love that you are sharing my books with Nola now.
One of the best things about longevity in this field is becoming a two-generation author. Sharing books with my own kids was one of the great joys of my life as a young father. That other parents are now doing this with their own kids gives me a kind of delight that is hard to explain!
Your thanks are deeply appreciated.
All best,
BC
Hi! My name is Chase and so far i haven’t read a book but today we started reading, as a class, Jeremy Thatcher The Dragon Hatcher. We have only read the first chapter but it is a really good book!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi Chase -
Thanks for the message. I'm glad you enjoyed the beginning of JEREMY THATCHER. I hope you'll think it gets even better as it goes along! JEREMY is not my best selling book, but I do think it is the one that is most loved, and will be around longest after I am gone.
Your friend,
BC
Thanks for the message. I'm glad you enjoyed the beginning of JEREMY THATCHER. I hope you'll think it gets even better as it goes along! JEREMY is not my best selling book, but I do think it is the one that is most loved, and will be around longest after I am gone.
Your friend,
BC
Dear Bruce,
I read your books when I was in high school in Pakistan and loved them dearly. I don't know how, but my school library had a full set of signed books from you and they bought me and my friends much joy.
I still think about them randomly from time to time. Thank you very much for the happiness you gave my little 14 year old heart.
Much love,
Ymeen
I read your books when I was in high school in Pakistan and loved them dearly. I don't know how, but my school library had a full set of signed books from you and they bought me and my friends much joy.
I still think about them randomly from time to time. Thank you very much for the happiness you gave my little 14 year old heart.
Much love,
Ymeen
Reply by Bruce Coville
Dear Ymeem -
What a delightful message. I am so pleased that the books meant so much to you. I am also as puzzled as you are as to how a full set of autographed copies ended up in your library, but I am glad that they did!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me this. It gladdens my heart.
All the best,
BC
What a delightful message. I am so pleased that the books meant so much to you. I am also as puzzled as you are as to how a full set of autographed copies ended up in your library, but I am glad that they did!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me this. It gladdens my heart.
All the best,
BC
Hi
Reply by Bruce Coville
There's not much in that message to respond to other than, Hello!
Hello Bruce,my name is Mar Sanchez from New Braunfels.I just wanted to say that your books are amazing! My favorites are the Magic Shop series especially the Monsters Ring. I have also read some Moongobble and Me books my favorite is the one with the tiny pink cat!Please continue to write more books(with cats would be nice)!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Mar -
Many thanks for this very kind message. I'm delighted that THE MONSTER'S RING is one of your favorites. It was the very first chapter book that I published. That was back in 1982, and the fact that it is still around and young readers are still enjoying it is more than I could have dared to hope for.
As to "Moongobble and Me" - those books were so much fun to write, especially because my wife was doing the art. The pictures still crack me up.
I do indeed intent to keep writing!
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
Bruce Coville
Many thanks for this very kind message. I'm delighted that THE MONSTER'S RING is one of your favorites. It was the very first chapter book that I published. That was back in 1982, and the fact that it is still around and young readers are still enjoying it is more than I could have dared to hope for.
As to "Moongobble and Me" - those books were so much fun to write, especially because my wife was doing the art. The pictures still crack me up.
I do indeed intent to keep writing!
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
Bruce Coville
Mr. and Mrs Coville all I want to say is I read many of your books to my two kids especially my son and they were hilarious. My son loved your books especially Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, and the Teacher and Alien books. I am a prolific reader myself and consider your books to be among the best for kids to stir their imaginations. The artwork really helps in that by the way. Thanks.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Joe - What a lovely message. Reading to my kids when they were young was one of my very favorite things about being a dad, and it always makes me happy to know that other fathers are now sharing my books with their own children. Totally love that!
I also want to apologize for the slow response. Your message got falsely tagged as spam and I just discovered it. (Dratted spammers make things hard for everyone!)
Best wishes to you and your family for a fabulous and book-filled 2020!
BC
I also want to apologize for the slow response. Your message got falsely tagged as spam and I just discovered it. (Dratted spammers make things hard for everyone!)
Best wishes to you and your family for a fabulous and book-filled 2020!
BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
We are currently reading My Teacher is an Alien and we LOVE it. It is very dramatic and has great details that let us visualize what is happening. We are practicing our prediction and summarizing skills after each chapter. We are halfway through the book, and are excited to read the next book in the series. We would love to share our visualization and prediction work with you.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Mrs. Everett's 3rd grade
We are currently reading My Teacher is an Alien and we LOVE it. It is very dramatic and has great details that let us visualize what is happening. We are practicing our prediction and summarizing skills after each chapter. We are halfway through the book, and are excited to read the next book in the series. We would love to share our visualization and prediction work with you.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Mrs. Everett's 3rd grade
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy, Mrs. Everett's 3rd Grade -
Thanks for this great message. I am delighted to know how much you are enjoying MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
I used to teach 4th grade myself, and working with books with my kids was one of the great joys of my life, so I am delighted (and I think you are lucky!) that your teacher is using real books with you guys.
What do you have in mind for sharing your work with me? Mailing it, or sending it on line? Let me know and I will tell you the best way forward.
your friend,
Bruce Coville
Thanks for this great message. I am delighted to know how much you are enjoying MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
I used to teach 4th grade myself, and working with books with my kids was one of the great joys of my life, so I am delighted (and I think you are lucky!) that your teacher is using real books with you guys.
What do you have in mind for sharing your work with me? Mailing it, or sending it on line? Let me know and I will tell you the best way forward.
your friend,
Bruce Coville
Dear Bruce,
In Escape from the grownup world my boyfriend reads to me each night from a book of my choosing. So, in looking for a book more his granddaughter’s age level I saw Diary of a Mad Brownie. Brilliant! Sir, we loved this delightful story: touch of mystery, loving family, fun interactions. The Pink Horror was most laughable. Thank you.
Casey
In Escape from the grownup world my boyfriend reads to me each night from a book of my choosing. So, in looking for a book more his granddaughter’s age level I saw Diary of a Mad Brownie. Brilliant! Sir, we loved this delightful story: touch of mystery, loving family, fun interactions. The Pink Horror was most laughable. Thank you.
Casey
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Casey -
Well, first off, the boyfriend sounds like a keeper! I love the thought of the nightly readings - and double love that MAD BROWNIE ended up being one of the read-alouds. I laughed a lot myself when I was writing that one. Really glad to know you enjoyed it! Thank for letting me know.
BC
Well, first off, the boyfriend sounds like a keeper! I love the thought of the nightly readings - and double love that MAD BROWNIE ended up being one of the read-alouds. I laughed a lot myself when I was writing that one. Really glad to know you enjoyed it! Thank for letting me know.
BC