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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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966 entries.
Hi Bruce Coville! My teacher Mrs. Allen did a class letter to you. I have a question. What was your first book? I read my books out loud and they don't seem right and I read your paper and I'm still not sure could you give me some advice? I also love your books!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Ava -
My first book was a picture book called THE FOOLISH GIANT, illustrated by my wife, Katherine.
Reading your work out loud is a great way to catch mistakes and places where things are not clear. The biggest advice I have right now is READ READ READ READ READ! The more you read, the more your brain picks up (without you even realizing it) about how stories and paragraphs and sentences work and should be formed.
All best,
BC
My first book was a picture book called THE FOOLISH GIANT, illustrated by my wife, Katherine.
Reading your work out loud is a great way to catch mistakes and places where things are not clear. The biggest advice I have right now is READ READ READ READ READ! The more you read, the more your brain picks up (without you even realizing it) about how stories and paragraphs and sentences work and should be formed.
All best,
BC
My mother was a 4th grade teacher in Baldwinsville,NY and introduced hundreds of kids to your books, myself included. I've written to you before to thank you for countless hours of enjoyment and felt the need to say it again. I'm disappointed that there are no new Nina books, but plan to work my way through some of your newer books to console myself. Hope you enjoy writing as much as I enjoy reading!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Susan -
Thanks for this lovely message.
I don't know if I've told you this, but there was supposed to be a fourth Nina Tanleven book. I had about a third of it written, but for a variety of reasons I had fallen very far (very far!) behind on the deadline, and the publisher finally canceled it, saying that they felt the series was out of date. I would love to finish it someday. On the other hand, I was having a real struggle with the plot. And the series is very much locked into a certain spot in time, because of the historical aspects.
I do enjoy writing . . . though sometimes it can be a real struggle!
Thanks for checking in.
Bruce
Thanks for this lovely message.
I don't know if I've told you this, but there was supposed to be a fourth Nina Tanleven book. I had about a third of it written, but for a variety of reasons I had fallen very far (very far!) behind on the deadline, and the publisher finally canceled it, saying that they felt the series was out of date. I would love to finish it someday. On the other hand, I was having a real struggle with the plot. And the series is very much locked into a certain spot in time, because of the historical aspects.
I do enjoy writing . . . though sometimes it can be a real struggle!
Thanks for checking in.
Bruce
We just read "The Monster's Ring" as a class and had a magical time! I read this book over and over again as a youth, and loved sharing it with my class!
Thanks Mr. Coville!
Thanks Mr. Coville!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Andrew -
Thanks for this. It delights me that you used the book with your class - partly because I was a teacher when I wrote the first version, and read it to my classes back then as well!
The other thing that I did was read my classes the books I had loved when I was young. It's really pleasing to have the move into that same category in your teaching life. Thanks for letting me know!
All best,
BC
Thanks for this. It delights me that you used the book with your class - partly because I was a teacher when I wrote the first version, and read it to my classes back then as well!
The other thing that I did was read my classes the books I had loved when I was young. It's really pleasing to have the move into that same category in your teaching life. Thanks for letting me know!
All best,
BC
I love your books
Reply by Bruce Coville
Glad to know that, Morgan!
BC
BC
Hello Mr. Coville! I'm sure it was over twenty years ago I discovered your books in a school library. My favourite ones as a child were Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, and Into The Land of the Unicorns (I had no idea it was a series at time!) Someday I hope to read these books to my kids and share your magic with them. Keep on entertaining young dreamers, good sir.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Ashley -
Many thanks for this. As a parent who loved reading to my kids when they were young, I loved the thought of my readers sharing my books with the next generation. Being a "two-generation author" is a beautiful thing!
BC
Many thanks for this. As a parent who loved reading to my kids when they were young, I loved the thought of my readers sharing my books with the next generation. Being a "two-generation author" is a beautiful thing!
BC
Hi Mr. Coville! I wrote you last year that I use your excellent style of writing to inspire my 4th and 5th graders--they are instructed to "Colvillize" their writing (add LOTS of details). I teach (44 years!!) in Long Beach Unified School District and would LOVE to have you speak to my students. Are you going to be in the southern California area anytime this year???
Thanks for inspiring so many kids to read and write!
Thanks for inspiring so many kids to read and write!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Meri -
Oh, how this delights me. As you may know, I used to teach 4th grade myself (what a great year that is!). Forty-four years is an amazing career as a teacher. I am in awe of you!
There are no immediate plans for me to be in Southern California, but I will keep this in mind should things change!
All best,
BC
Oh, how this delights me. As you may know, I used to teach 4th grade myself (what a great year that is!). Forty-four years is an amazing career as a teacher. I am in awe of you!
There are no immediate plans for me to be in Southern California, but I will keep this in mind should things change!
All best,
BC
Please write more stories in the Unicorn. chronicles series!!!!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
I would love to write more books in the series. Alas, my publisher (Scholastic) has shown no interest in having more, and has even let the final book go out of print. I am sad about this, but have to move on to other things.
BC
BC
I got a kindle for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and am so excited to read that you are putting more of your books on ebook! I was finally able to download The Boy With The Silver eyes- I loved it!!!
Now I plan to download many more!
Now I plan to download many more!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Tracy -
I'm so glad you enjoyed that story. It's one I am particularly fond of, partly because I first wrote it to perform with the Syracuse Symphony, so I got to do it in front of a large audience with great music swelling behind me!
Thanks for reading!
BC
I'm so glad you enjoyed that story. It's one I am particularly fond of, partly because I first wrote it to perform with the Syracuse Symphony, so I got to do it in front of a large audience with great music swelling behind me!
Thanks for reading!
BC
Just happened to see a reddit post about favorite childhood books, and the My Teacher is an Alien and Aliens Ate My Homework series definitely both stood out in my mind as great books from my childhood that definitely instilled an interest in science fiction in me today. I was curious to see what you've been doing for the past couple decades and hit this site from a Google search. Glad to see that your bibliography has grown quite a bit!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jon -
Thanks for this. Messages from adults who remember me from when they were kids are one of my favorite things! Appreciate you stopping by to tell me!
Bruce
Thanks for this. Messages from adults who remember me from when they were kids are one of my favorite things! Appreciate you stopping by to tell me!
Bruce
Hi Bruce I've been a fan of the unicorn chronicles ever since o was a little girl. I am now on the last book and print copies are hard to find. Not a fan of audio books since I sort of already put voices with characters. Will you be printing more of copies of The last hunt I truly would like to finish the chronicles. Thanks for your time
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Amber -
Thanks for this, and I am delighted that you have been such a fan of the Chronicles. I am so sorry that print copies are hard to find. But I have to tell you I have nothing to do with how many copies are printed . . . that is entirely up to the publisher, Scholastic. They are the ones who decided to let the book go out of print, and to never issue a paperback edition.
Please feel free to write to them and complain. I can tell you that I am personally furious and broken-hearted about this situation!
With all best wishes,
BC
Thanks for this, and I am delighted that you have been such a fan of the Chronicles. I am so sorry that print copies are hard to find. But I have to tell you I have nothing to do with how many copies are printed . . . that is entirely up to the publisher, Scholastic. They are the ones who decided to let the book go out of print, and to never issue a paperback edition.
Please feel free to write to them and complain. I can tell you that I am personally furious and broken-hearted about this situation!
With all best wishes,
BC