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!
964 entries.
Growing up I have enjoyed some of your books, and still have them today! "A Glory of Unicorns" for example! Time has flown by and I am now graduating this May with a Bachelor's Degree from Cazenovia College! I am in the process of finishing my first children's books! I was wondering how I can go about getting it published? Thank you
Amy
Amy
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Amy -
Thanks for this message. I love knowing that you still remember the books so fondly. And congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
As to wondering how to get your book published, the short answer is "Start sending it out and never give up." (Secret to my success? Bone-headed obstinance!)
The long answer is much too long for a venue like this, as entire books are written on the subject. From my point of view, the single best one-stop place to get this information is with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org) Their initial packet is chock full of information.
Harold Underdown's book THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS is also an extremely good resource for someone trying to learn the ropes.
Hope that helps!
All best,
BC
Thanks for this message. I love knowing that you still remember the books so fondly. And congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
As to wondering how to get your book published, the short answer is "Start sending it out and never give up." (Secret to my success? Bone-headed obstinance!)
The long answer is much too long for a venue like this, as entire books are written on the subject. From my point of view, the single best one-stop place to get this information is with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org) Their initial packet is chock full of information.
Harold Underdown's book THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS is also an extremely good resource for someone trying to learn the ropes.
Hope that helps!
All best,
BC
Im so exitcited that you are coming to my school soon!I love reading, I was in reading olympics. What's you favorite book that you made andd read? Thank You,
BL
BL
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, BL -
I'm looking forward to coming to your school. The answer to "what is my favorite book" is long and complicated, but I will try to answer it when I am at your school.
All best,
BC
I'm looking forward to coming to your school. The answer to "what is my favorite book" is long and complicated, but I will try to answer it when I am at your school.
All best,
BC
Bruce Coville I am so very excited for you to come to my school soon!!!!! and I have a few questions to ask you I really can not wait
DK
DK
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, DK -
I'm looking forward to the visit, too. I will be trying to leave a nice chunk of time for questions at the end of my presentation. I hope that I can answer your questions then.
BC
I'm looking forward to the visit, too. I will be trying to leave a nice chunk of time for questions at the end of my presentation. I hope that I can answer your questions then.
BC
mY TEACHER IS READ MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN AND RELLY LIKE IT SO MUCH
Reply by Bruce Coville
Glad you liked it! The publisher is going to release a new edition this year with a brand new cover to celebrate the book's 25th anniversary!
BC
BC
Hi Bruce im really excited that you are going to visit my school soon! I have a question for you. What new books are you planning to write in the future? Thank You, TW
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, TW -
I'm excited, too. I love doing school visits. I just finished work on two books. The first is a sequel to Goblins in the Castle. Unfortunately, I don't have a title for it yet. Still working on that! The second is called The Diary of a Mad Brownie and I think it is very funny. I hope readers will agree!
BC
I'm excited, too. I love doing school visits. I just finished work on two books. The first is a sequel to Goblins in the Castle. Unfortunately, I don't have a title for it yet. Still working on that! The second is called The Diary of a Mad Brownie and I think it is very funny. I hope readers will agree!
BC
I follow you on Facebook so I know that you have finished both the Goblins sequel and Diary of a Mad Brownie. Congratulations! I can't wait to read them!
I saw from one of the other Guestbook posts that Brownie seems to be based on your short story Clean as a Whistle. I enjoyed your last book based on one of your stories Always October.
I saw from one of the other Guestbook posts that Brownie seems to be based on your short story Clean as a Whistle. I enjoyed your last book based on one of your stories Always October.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Chrissy -
Well, I still have editing work to do on both books, but, yep, I've finished them, and it feels good!
You've got the source for MAD BROWNIE right. Thing was, "Clean As a Whistle" was pretty much a relationship story, with the brownie and Jamie working out how to live together. To make it book length I had to come up with a real plot.
Bruce
Well, I still have editing work to do on both books, but, yep, I've finished them, and it feels good!
You've got the source for MAD BROWNIE right. Thing was, "Clean As a Whistle" was pretty much a relationship story, with the brownie and Jamie working out how to live together. To make it book length I had to come up with a real plot.
Bruce
Gabbie, please stop texting Bruce Coville stuff like i started to write a book this is the title i was thinking about: TRATION NO WAY
Reply by Bruce Coville
I take it you and Gabbie know each other.
please give me info on you my teacher said I only got till today
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ameer -
Look on the website. There is a whole biography of me there.
BC
Look on the website. There is a whole biography of me there.
BC
do you have any suggested books with blood and horror (they have to be for kids) by you or any other authors that your fans of? If you do, please let me know. Thank you!
Sincerly,
Zoe
Sincerly,
Zoe
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Zoe -
Though I enjoy reading horror books, I am not very fond of ones that are full of blood and gore. I prefer suspense, which I think is scarier. It's very easy to fill the pages with blood splashing around. Takes a great deal more skill to make a reader truly frightened.
For a truly scary book try CORALINE by Neil Gaiman. No blood, but plenty spooky. Also WAIT TILL HELEN COMES by Mary Downing Hahn, a really good ghost story.
BC
Though I enjoy reading horror books, I am not very fond of ones that are full of blood and gore. I prefer suspense, which I think is scarier. It's very easy to fill the pages with blood splashing around. Takes a great deal more skill to make a reader truly frightened.
For a truly scary book try CORALINE by Neil Gaiman. No blood, but plenty spooky. Also WAIT TILL HELEN COMES by Mary Downing Hahn, a really good ghost story.
BC
are you writing any other books like Juliet dove queen of love because the magic shop series is a really good series and i hope you are wring more
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Cheonnie -
Alas, there are no plans for any more Magic Shop books at this point.
BC
Alas, there are no plans for any more Magic Shop books at this point.
BC