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.
Andrew from USA wrote on November 12, 2015
Dear Mr.Coville,
My class has recently read your short story "Old Glory". But it left me with a question and that is where did you get the idea for this short story from?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Andrew -

I have written about 40 short stories. This is the only one I have written from pure rage. George Bush (the first Bush president) was looking to gut the constitution for some short term political gain, and it made me fiercely angry. That, combined with the fact that I had been asked to write a futuristic story, led to this exploration of what might happen if free speech was sacrificed for political gain.

BC
Alayna (a nearby fan) from Syracuse :-), NY USA wrote on November 8, 2015
Hi! So... MY GRANDPARENTS KNOW YOU!!!!!!!!!!! I'm Liam and Kevin Fitzpatrick's neice! I can't believe it! Ok, I kinda can. My grandparents know everybody. LITERALLY. I could list but I'm running out of characters...
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Alayna -

See, your grandparents know everyone, and I know everyone, so it was inevitable that we would know each other!

BC
Syd the Squid Berg from Driscoll, North Dakota USA wrote on November 7, 2015
Hi! Just wanted to say I loved the Unicorn Chronicles! One question, though...:Whatever happened between Lightfoot and Belle?...
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Syd -

Glad you loved the Chronicles! I poured my heart and soul into writing those books.

What happened to Lightfoot and Belle are untold stories. If Scholastic hadn't dropped the last book like a hot potato, I might have had a chance to tell them.

BC
Alayna (a nearby fan) from Syracuse! :o), New York USA wrote on November 6, 2015
Hi!!!! I live in Syracuse! Like you and Nina (Tanleven)!!!! I've only read one of your books (The ghost in the third row), but I can tell you're a REALLY good author. I'll be looking for your others! 😉
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Alayna -

Greetings, sorta-neighbor. Glad you liked THIRD ROW. I had so much fun writing that, because (as you likely know) I used the Landmark Theatre as a model for the Grand. I LOVE that old building!

BC
Gavin Bouchard from Winnipeg, MB Canada wrote on November 5, 2015
Hey there Mr Coville, I'm a 19 year old male who had a pretty rough history of getting bullied when I read The Monster's Ring in fifth grade. It taught me a great deal about standing up for myself but also about letting go of my anger and forgiving even when it's hard. On a whim i looked it up today hoping to write to you and here I am. I'm no teacher, and I'm certainly not your target audience anymore, but I want you to know that even today your book is in my mind as a shaping influence on the man I am today, so from the bottom of my heart: Thank you.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Gavin -

Many, many thanks for this message. Something like this really makes me feel that the work I have been doing is worthwhile.

I have a folder I call "To Look At On Bad Days" where I save messages that have special meaning to me. I'll be printing this one out to add to it.

My best wishes to you for success in all your endeavors!

Bruce Coville
Sasha from USA wrote on November 5, 2015
Hey I want to be a writer when I grow up but I do not know were to start.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Sasha -

The answer is simple: Start by writing! Just write and write and write. Later, you can find many books on the art and craft of writing. One good one for kids is SPILLING INK by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. It's the best book for young writers that I know.

Good luck!

BC
Lenin Khan from Forest Hills, New York USA wrote on November 3, 2015
I LOVE The Monster's Ring. I am a fifth grader at the school P.S.174 William Sidney Mount. My teacher read it to us. The chapters had great cliff hangers. The end was fantastic. You are my favorite author! Thanks, Lenin Khan.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Lenin -

Hey, thanks for this message! Really glad you enjoyed MONSTER'S RING. I basically wrote it because I was trying to write the kind of book I wanted to find at Halloween when I was in 5th grade myself, so approval from a genuine 5th grader means a lot!

All best,

BC
Carrie Nelson from North Carolina USA wrote on October 30, 2015
Hello Mr. Coville,
My name is Carrie Nelson, I am 29 years old and I love your books. I have a niece that is 12 and she also loves your books. Unfortunately, she does not have many friends that like to read and became somewhat discouraged about her love of reading. We decided to start reading books together and then discuss what we think of them. We started our little book club with "Always October" (to celebrate Halloween, of course) and we both LOVED it! My niece says for me to tell you to "PLEASE write a sequel to this book. It is addicting and phenominal!" Thank you for all you do for our children...and us big kids as well.
Your almost grown fan club,
Carrie and Eden
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Carrie -

Thanks for this message. I LOVE that you started a book club with your niece - what a perfect way to deal with her discouragement. You get major aunt points for that move!

I'm honored that you chose ALWAYS OCTOBER for your first book, and delighted that you enjoyed it so much.

I would like to write a sequel. Alas, the publisher has not been supporting the book, and is not bringing it out in paperback (OY!) and so a sequel is unlikely at this time. (In a way, that's a bit of a relief, because I'm not sure what I would have done to top that one anyway . . . though it would have been fun to try!)

Thanks for being in touch. Keep reading!

BC
bella from Lincoln, Nebraska USA wrote on October 27, 2015
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your book jermy thatcher dragon hatcher! I also read the epilogue, and i really want to read the next one. so I was wondering......
will there be another book about tiamat and jermy?
thanks, bella
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Bella -

So glad to know that you loved JEREMY THATCHER!

Alas, I have no plans to write a sequel to the book. Actually, I do have an idea for another book about Jeremy and Tiamat, but if I ever did write it, it would probably be as an adult novel!

Thanks for being such an enthusiastic reader!

All best,

Bruce Coville
Bobby from USA wrote on October 27, 2015
Hey BC what are being for hallween this year
Reply by Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville replied on Tuesday, October 27, 2015:

a good question - alas, I haven't figured out the answer yet!

BC