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.
Hi Mr Coville,
My name is Peter and I want to ask you some questions.Do you like dogs and cats? What was the first book you made? What school were you in in elementary? How old are you now? I liked reading The Weeping Werewolf and I like Edward because he stands up for himself when he was bullied. I'm in 5th grade.
Thank you for making books for kids,
Peter
My name is Peter and I want to ask you some questions.Do you like dogs and cats? What was the first book you made? What school were you in in elementary? How old are you now? I liked reading The Weeping Werewolf and I like Edward because he stands up for himself when he was bullied. I'm in 5th grade.
Thank you for making books for kids,
Peter
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Peter -
Thanks for this message. To answer a couple of your questions (1) I LOVE dogs and cats. I love almost all animals, actually. (2) I am now 69 years old; I will be 70 in May.
I'm delighted that you liked THE WEEPING WEREWOLF. I really had fun writing about Edward and Moongobble.
Bruce Coville
Thanks for this message. To answer a couple of your questions (1) I LOVE dogs and cats. I love almost all animals, actually. (2) I am now 69 years old; I will be 70 in May.
I'm delighted that you liked THE WEEPING WEREWOLF. I really had fun writing about Edward and Moongobble.
Bruce Coville
Good day Mr. Coville!
We liked reading Jeremy Thatcher and loved the characters, Jeremy and Tiamat. Our favorite parts were when Mary Lou tried to kiss Jeremy and when Tiamat took Jeremy on the midnight flights.
We were curious about why you made Tiamat invisible to everyone except for Jeremy and Mary Lou. Also, why did Tiamat have to leave and make Jeremy so sad at the end of the book? Why didn’t Jeremy jump into the gate with Tiamat?
We have two more questions. What type of dragon is Tiamat? How did the librarian, Ms. Priest know about Tiamat?
Hope you have a happy Halloween!
Adios,
Room 4 Late Birds
We liked reading Jeremy Thatcher and loved the characters, Jeremy and Tiamat. Our favorite parts were when Mary Lou tried to kiss Jeremy and when Tiamat took Jeremy on the midnight flights.
We were curious about why you made Tiamat invisible to everyone except for Jeremy and Mary Lou. Also, why did Tiamat have to leave and make Jeremy so sad at the end of the book? Why didn’t Jeremy jump into the gate with Tiamat?
We have two more questions. What type of dragon is Tiamat? How did the librarian, Ms. Priest know about Tiamat?
Hope you have a happy Halloween!
Adios,
Room 4 Late Birds
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy, Room 4 Late Birds!
I am very glad to know that you enjoyed JEREMY THATCHER!
You have good questions, and I will try to give you good answers:
Q. Why did I make Tiamat invisible to everyone except for Jeremy and Mary Lou?
A. In the first draft that I sent to my editor, Tiamat never got any bigger than a large dog. That was because if she had, Jeremy could not have kept her hidden - could not have kept her safe! Also, Jeremy had to say good-bye to her in the front of the Magic Shop, and not go behind the counter to release her. My editor said I needed to try again, that I had ended the story too early. I was puzzling about how to keep Ti hidden when I came across an old French folk tale about an invisible dragon, and that gave me the key to how to continue the story and do what my editor wanted. It made for a much better book!
Q. Why did Tiamat have to leave and make Jeremy so sad at the end of the book?
A. As the story explains, our world is not really safe for dragons any more. That's why they needed a world of their own.
Q. Why didn’t Jeremy jump into the gate with Tiamat?
A. Would you have jumped into the gate with Tiamat? Remember, if you did, you would have gone to a strange world, leaving behind your family and all your friends!
Ms. Priest works with Mr. Elives - you'll find her in some of the other Magic Shop books, too. Who she is, and who Mr. Elives is, are part of the mystery of the shop.
Wishing you a Happy Halloween!
Bruce Coville
I am very glad to know that you enjoyed JEREMY THATCHER!
You have good questions, and I will try to give you good answers:
Q. Why did I make Tiamat invisible to everyone except for Jeremy and Mary Lou?
A. In the first draft that I sent to my editor, Tiamat never got any bigger than a large dog. That was because if she had, Jeremy could not have kept her hidden - could not have kept her safe! Also, Jeremy had to say good-bye to her in the front of the Magic Shop, and not go behind the counter to release her. My editor said I needed to try again, that I had ended the story too early. I was puzzling about how to keep Ti hidden when I came across an old French folk tale about an invisible dragon, and that gave me the key to how to continue the story and do what my editor wanted. It made for a much better book!
Q. Why did Tiamat have to leave and make Jeremy so sad at the end of the book?
A. As the story explains, our world is not really safe for dragons any more. That's why they needed a world of their own.
Q. Why didn’t Jeremy jump into the gate with Tiamat?
A. Would you have jumped into the gate with Tiamat? Remember, if you did, you would have gone to a strange world, leaving behind your family and all your friends!
Ms. Priest works with Mr. Elives - you'll find her in some of the other Magic Shop books, too. Who she is, and who Mr. Elives is, are part of the mystery of the shop.
Wishing you a Happy Halloween!
Bruce Coville
Dear Bruce Coville,
Our third grade class loved reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. We enjoyed the part when Tiamat gave Mr. Kravitz a hot foot. We thought it was very funny when Mr. Kravitz yelled at Jeremy, “I want fruit!”
We were wondering about a few things:
How was Jeremy able to see into Tiamat’s mind?
Did you like dragons when you were a kid and did you have any imaginary friends?
Would you like dragons to be real? Are there more dragon eggs and portals out there?
We would love a sequel to find out what happens after the end of the story. Are you planning on writing one?!
Sincerely,
Room 4 Early Birds
Our third grade class loved reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. We enjoyed the part when Tiamat gave Mr. Kravitz a hot foot. We thought it was very funny when Mr. Kravitz yelled at Jeremy, “I want fruit!”
We were wondering about a few things:
How was Jeremy able to see into Tiamat’s mind?
Did you like dragons when you were a kid and did you have any imaginary friends?
Would you like dragons to be real? Are there more dragon eggs and portals out there?
We would love a sequel to find out what happens after the end of the story. Are you planning on writing one?!
Sincerely,
Room 4 Early Birds
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi there, Early Birds! I'm glad you're enjoying JEREMY THATCHER. It's funny that you liked that line of Mr. Kravitz's so much. I directed the audiobook version of the book, and even though I did it about 20 years ago, I still find my self say, "I want fruit, Thatcher, not imaginary animals!" because the actor who read that part was so very funny when he did it.
As to your questions:
Jeremy seeing into Tiamat's mind is part of the magic of dragons.
I totally loved dragons when I was a kid, and still do, for that matter. And, yes, I did indeed have imaginary friends.
There are definitely more dragon eggs and portals out there!
I think it is unlikely I will be doing a sequel to the book. The only reason to do a sequel, in my opinion, is if I have an even better story to tell than I had in the first book, and I don't think that's the case right now. I do have one idea, but it would be more of a book for adults (Jeremy would be a grown up) and that just doesn't feel right.
Thanks for writing to me. And keep reading!
Bruce Coville
As to your questions:
Jeremy seeing into Tiamat's mind is part of the magic of dragons.
I totally loved dragons when I was a kid, and still do, for that matter. And, yes, I did indeed have imaginary friends.
There are definitely more dragon eggs and portals out there!
I think it is unlikely I will be doing a sequel to the book. The only reason to do a sequel, in my opinion, is if I have an even better story to tell than I had in the first book, and I don't think that's the case right now. I do have one idea, but it would be more of a book for adults (Jeremy would be a grown up) and that just doesn't feel right.
Thanks for writing to me. And keep reading!
Bruce Coville
Hello, we are a tween book club and we have read a few of your books. You have very good imagery and very creative. Where do you get your ideas?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy, Book Club -
People always ask about ideas, and one thing I say is that you have to train yourself to have what I call "Story Brain" There are seeds of stories all around us, but you have to be alert to them.
The other important thing is to save ideas when they come to you. The human brain is an idea-generating machine. But it doesn't send ideas when you want them, it sends them when it feels like it. If you get an idea and say, "That's cool, I'll write it someday" but don't actually write the idea down, by the time someday comes, it will be gone! I have a thick file called IDEAS and when I get an idea I write it down and stuff it in there. (I also have a similar file on my computer.) I also tear out articles from newspapers and magazines that contain the seeds of ideas.
All best,
BC
People always ask about ideas, and one thing I say is that you have to train yourself to have what I call "Story Brain" There are seeds of stories all around us, but you have to be alert to them.
The other important thing is to save ideas when they come to you. The human brain is an idea-generating machine. But it doesn't send ideas when you want them, it sends them when it feels like it. If you get an idea and say, "That's cool, I'll write it someday" but don't actually write the idea down, by the time someday comes, it will be gone! I have a thick file called IDEAS and when I get an idea I write it down and stuff it in there. (I also have a similar file on my computer.) I also tear out articles from newspapers and magazines that contain the seeds of ideas.
All best,
BC
Hi there Bruce. I've been an almost lifelong fan of The Unicorn Chronicles. The first two came out when I was a child and the last two were released when I was 23 in graduate school. I've read the series at least four times, but probably more than that and I've just lost count. It's one of my favorite childhood series. Even now at 32, I share the stories with friends and gush about how much the stories have meant to me.
A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of the books to my instagram (letswookieswin). A stranger, someone I've never met, commented on the post with excitement and asked if this was a series with a unicorn and a "Bigfoot-like character." I replied that, yes, the Dimblethumb did remind me of Bigfoot in the way he's described. She replied again, telling me that she read Into the Land of Unicorns in her youth but couldn't remember the name of the book. She told me she had lost the book on a family vacation and had been trying to remember the title of her lost book for over 20 years! She sent me a message about a week ago, telling me she'd bought all 4 books in the series, that she re-read the first one, and it was definitely the book she'd lost. She was so excited to know the story continued past book 1 and thanked me over and over again for reuniting her with her "book that got away." I was overjoyed to be able to share in her excitement with her and just wanted to come on here and thank you for writing such a wonderful series that has touched the lives and hearts of so many readers.
Cara and Lightfoot are an irreplacable part of my childhood and each time I reread the series, I feel the same way as when I reread the Chronicles of Narnia - like I'm revisiting old friends. I'll never be too old for fairy tales and I have you and C.S. Lewis to thank for that.
A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of the books to my instagram (letswookieswin). A stranger, someone I've never met, commented on the post with excitement and asked if this was a series with a unicorn and a "Bigfoot-like character." I replied that, yes, the Dimblethumb did remind me of Bigfoot in the way he's described. She replied again, telling me that she read Into the Land of Unicorns in her youth but couldn't remember the name of the book. She told me she had lost the book on a family vacation and had been trying to remember the title of her lost book for over 20 years! She sent me a message about a week ago, telling me she'd bought all 4 books in the series, that she re-read the first one, and it was definitely the book she'd lost. She was so excited to know the story continued past book 1 and thanked me over and over again for reuniting her with her "book that got away." I was overjoyed to be able to share in her excitement with her and just wanted to come on here and thank you for writing such a wonderful series that has touched the lives and hearts of so many readers.
Cara and Lightfoot are an irreplacable part of my childhood and each time I reread the series, I feel the same way as when I reread the Chronicles of Narnia - like I'm revisiting old friends. I'll never be too old for fairy tales and I have you and C.S. Lewis to thank for that.
Hey, Mr. Coville!
I love all of your books (the ones iv'e read anyway) and I was wondering where you get your inspiration from. Do you have a carefully thought-out plan when you write something, or is your writing spontaneous (do you make it up as you go along)?
I love all of your books (the ones iv'e read anyway) and I was wondering where you get your inspiration from. Do you have a carefully thought-out plan when you write something, or is your writing spontaneous (do you make it up as you go along)?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Peyton -
Thanks for this message. As to inspiration . . . well, honestly, that is overrated. If I only wrote when I was "inspired" I would have published maybe 3 things overall. Mostly you have to work with your imagination, and be alert and alive to the world around you.
The question about being spontaneous is interesting. I have written tight outlines, and mostly stuck with them. I have also written tight outlines and then totally thrown them away when I realized they weren't working and gone on by the seat of my pants.
I think the most important thing to know about writing is this: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!
All best
BC
Thanks for this message. As to inspiration . . . well, honestly, that is overrated. If I only wrote when I was "inspired" I would have published maybe 3 things overall. Mostly you have to work with your imagination, and be alert and alive to the world around you.
The question about being spontaneous is interesting. I have written tight outlines, and mostly stuck with them. I have also written tight outlines and then totally thrown them away when I realized they weren't working and gone on by the seat of my pants.
I think the most important thing to know about writing is this: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!
All best
BC
I have long been a fan of your books. I remember waiting anxiously for The Last Hunt to come out- and then the astonishment I felt when I reread all the Unicorn Chronicles and saw the size of the first book compared to the last book!
I was recently talking to a friend of mine, and she mentioned something about unicorns with wings. I told her that unicorns don't have wings, that most humans don't know too much about unicorns. We started discussing unicorns as they were portrayed by the Grimm Brothers- as nasty, dangerous beasts, and then I said that they're not really like that, that the Grimm Brothers also had the wrong impression of unicorns- and I started telling her why. Before long, I was telling her Grandmother Beloved's story- which led to stories about other worlds. (Eventually I told her what the book was called and to read it, but the point is that when we had the conversation about unicorns, it was very matter of fact- not 'here's some fiction', but 'here are the facts about unicorns'.) I was shocked to hear that she had never heard of your books; I practically grew up on them. (I've even got a stuffed unicorn that I've had since forever named Lightfoot.)
Dragons and Unicorns will always have a special place in my heart, and I love the idea of other worlds that they can inhabit.
A few years ago, I started listening to some of my old favourite books as Audio-books so that I could relive the stories and do other things at the same time- and I discovered Full Cast Audio. I got so I recognised the voices of characters- I got excited when listening to Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher because I recognised Hyacinth Priest's voice, from Lark in The Circle of Magic quartet by Tamora Pierce. My favourite line of Sandry's Book- and perhaps of all three quartets in that world- is "The knives, Briar!" because of the way you said it while voicing Niko- who has become one of my favourite characters.
-Rina
I was recently talking to a friend of mine, and she mentioned something about unicorns with wings. I told her that unicorns don't have wings, that most humans don't know too much about unicorns. We started discussing unicorns as they were portrayed by the Grimm Brothers- as nasty, dangerous beasts, and then I said that they're not really like that, that the Grimm Brothers also had the wrong impression of unicorns- and I started telling her why. Before long, I was telling her Grandmother Beloved's story- which led to stories about other worlds. (Eventually I told her what the book was called and to read it, but the point is that when we had the conversation about unicorns, it was very matter of fact- not 'here's some fiction', but 'here are the facts about unicorns'.) I was shocked to hear that she had never heard of your books; I practically grew up on them. (I've even got a stuffed unicorn that I've had since forever named Lightfoot.)
Dragons and Unicorns will always have a special place in my heart, and I love the idea of other worlds that they can inhabit.
A few years ago, I started listening to some of my old favourite books as Audio-books so that I could relive the stories and do other things at the same time- and I discovered Full Cast Audio. I got so I recognised the voices of characters- I got excited when listening to Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher because I recognised Hyacinth Priest's voice, from Lark in The Circle of Magic quartet by Tamora Pierce. My favourite line of Sandry's Book- and perhaps of all three quartets in that world- is "The knives, Briar!" because of the way you said it while voicing Niko- who has become one of my favourite characters.
-Rina
Hello Mr. Coville!
My story echoes other posts here: as a child in the early 90s I read Into the Land of the Unicorns and fell in love, but was heartbroken to find no sequels forthcoming. I'm now in my 30s and on a whim decided to check if an ebook was available- and was thrilled to find not only had you had written sequels, but that the first two books are available in ebook form. I understand from your comments here that you will be self-publishing the reprints of the rest of the series split up differently, I hope that they will all be released via ebook (and soon, please?). Thank you for creating such an enchanting universe that still has a place in my heart after all these years.
My story echoes other posts here: as a child in the early 90s I read Into the Land of the Unicorns and fell in love, but was heartbroken to find no sequels forthcoming. I'm now in my 30s and on a whim decided to check if an ebook was available- and was thrilled to find not only had you had written sequels, but that the first two books are available in ebook form. I understand from your comments here that you will be self-publishing the reprints of the rest of the series split up differently, I hope that they will all be released via ebook (and soon, please?). Thank you for creating such an enchanting universe that still has a place in my heart after all these years.
Mr. Coville,
I discovered “The Unicorn Chronicles” when I picked it as one of the three books I was allowed to get every month from the book order forms from school. “Into the Land of the Unicorns” is (I am both proud and ashamed to say this) the most well worn book I have ever owned. I have read it until the spine is out of shape and the once black cover is striped white from bending it, laying it flat when I had to step away and falling asleep after finishing it for the umpteenth time. The copyright and title pages are no longer attached and I have to paperclip them to the cover in order not to lose them. I have read and reread this book for over twenty years! I know even as an adult I can return again and again and always feel the magic and discover something new.
Unfortunately, I was never able to find the rest of the series as a child/teen/young adult and I have been left wondering all these years. Until now. To keep away from spoilers I have only skimmed some of the comments entry’s in your guestbook and blog to discover that the rest of the series will soon be rereleased(?). I know the first two are ebooks, but I think I might wait and buy all Seven(?) at once. I’m very excited to see what will happen next!
I guess what I really wanted to express is that, even though I did not know it at the time, you were/are a great influence in my life. Because you created such a fantastical world that someone as young as nine could grasp and enjoy, I was given The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to read after your book. I went on to devour Potter and earn a BA in English Literature with the hopes of becoming an author myself someday.
I am so glad you create this wonderful art for children to discover and help them grow! I want to THANK YOU! With all of my heart for being part of my childhood and being a spark that started a fiery passion within the soul of one lonely nine year old!
I discovered “The Unicorn Chronicles” when I picked it as one of the three books I was allowed to get every month from the book order forms from school. “Into the Land of the Unicorns” is (I am both proud and ashamed to say this) the most well worn book I have ever owned. I have read it until the spine is out of shape and the once black cover is striped white from bending it, laying it flat when I had to step away and falling asleep after finishing it for the umpteenth time. The copyright and title pages are no longer attached and I have to paperclip them to the cover in order not to lose them. I have read and reread this book for over twenty years! I know even as an adult I can return again and again and always feel the magic and discover something new.
Unfortunately, I was never able to find the rest of the series as a child/teen/young adult and I have been left wondering all these years. Until now. To keep away from spoilers I have only skimmed some of the comments entry’s in your guestbook and blog to discover that the rest of the series will soon be rereleased(?). I know the first two are ebooks, but I think I might wait and buy all Seven(?) at once. I’m very excited to see what will happen next!
I guess what I really wanted to express is that, even though I did not know it at the time, you were/are a great influence in my life. Because you created such a fantastical world that someone as young as nine could grasp and enjoy, I was given The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to read after your book. I went on to devour Potter and earn a BA in English Literature with the hopes of becoming an author myself someday.
I am so glad you create this wonderful art for children to discover and help them grow! I want to THANK YOU! With all of my heart for being part of my childhood and being a spark that started a fiery passion within the soul of one lonely nine year old!
Mr. Coville, I just wanted to thank you for visiting my school Boght Hills Elementary today.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Thanks, Liam. I had a wonderful time at your school - and it was a great pleasure to meet you. Hope you have a great summer vacation!
BC
BC