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.
I was so excited to see a Nina Tanleven ghost story on Smashwords! I loved "The Ghost in The Third Row" and read it a dozen times as a kid. I always wished the stories would go on beyond the two sequels that you wrote, so it was really fun to read "The Ghost Let Go" on Smashwords--like a childhood dream come true 🙂 Thank you so much for giving Nine and Chris another adventure!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Lisa -
I'm sorry not to have answered sooner. I just found (to my horror) that gmail had been flagging some guestbook entries as SPAM. I didn't notice it before, because others were coming through. Very distressing!
Anyway, I'm so pleased to know that you found and enjoyed "The Ghost Let Go" It's the only short story I've written about Nine and Chris, and it's one that I'm really fond of. Maybe I should try doing another!
All best,
BC
I'm sorry not to have answered sooner. I just found (to my horror) that gmail had been flagging some guestbook entries as SPAM. I didn't notice it before, because others were coming through. Very distressing!
Anyway, I'm so pleased to know that you found and enjoyed "The Ghost Let Go" It's the only short story I've written about Nine and Chris, and it's one that I'm really fond of. Maybe I should try doing another!
All best,
BC
Hi Mr. Coville! My name is Sam. I LOVE the dragonslayers alot. In fact, I was a (some other knight) in the Syracuse Children Theater's Musical Production! I even saw you come and talk to the cast! I just wanted to tell you how cool that show is. Thank you for changing my imagination forever!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Sam! Glad to hear from you. I fear you will not see this response, as you didn't leave an email address. (Also, it's late because of a problem I was having with gmail on this side.) Anyway, I loved watching you guys do "The Dragonslayers" - whenever someone is performing that show I am happy. It's one of my favorite things I've ever written.
BC
BC
Oh my gosh, Mr. Coville I love your Magic Shop series! I actually am a writer myself (just for fun) and do you think it's okay if I write my own Magic Shop book?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Blake -
Glad you love the Magic Shop books! You should feel free to write a Magic Shop book or story as long as it is just for yourself and your friends. (You couldn't try to publish it, of course, as that would violate my copyright.)
Have fun!
BC
Glad you love the Magic Shop books! You should feel free to write a Magic Shop book or story as long as it is just for yourself and your friends. (You couldn't try to publish it, of course, as that would violate my copyright.)
Have fun!
BC
We enjoyed the illustrations. We enjoyed seeing how you still have your unique eyebrow 🙂 We like the topics in your books. For example, we enjoyed seeing the unicorns, aliens, and dragons. We look forward to reading some of your books or maybe even submitting some of our artwork too!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy Mrs Gates and Company!
Thanks for this message. Your enthusiasm for what I write makes me really happy!
If I could see you in person I would raise my eyebrow just to amuse you!
Keep reading!
BC
Thanks for this message. Your enthusiasm for what I write makes me really happy!
If I could see you in person I would raise my eyebrow just to amuse you!
Keep reading!
BC
i love ur books and how you write! do u have a dog?love u sweets!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Karina -
Glad you love the boks! No dogs at our house, though I do like dogs. We are cat people, and have three of the critters.
BC
Glad you love the boks! No dogs at our house, though I do like dogs. We are cat people, and have three of the critters.
BC
i like ur books. especially jeremy thatcher dragon hatcher.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Nari -
Thanks for this. I'm glad you liked JEREMY - I think that out of all my books it is the one most likely to outlive me!
BC
Thanks for this. I'm glad you liked JEREMY - I think that out of all my books it is the one most likely to outlive me!
BC
I love, Love, Love all your work! Someday I wanna meet you in person, that would just be the best. Anyways I was wondering what inspired you to write the unicorn Chronicles? And will there be any more books after the last hunt?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Elizabeth -
Sorry to be so long in answering. The guestbook got completely away from me last spring. Still trying to get caught up!
I was invited by Scholastic to create a series about unicorns, and building a fantasy world like Luster was something I had always dreamed of doing, so I turned to it with delight.
Alas, I don't think there will be any more books after LAST HUNT. Scholastic, in their way, have turned their attention in other directions. MAkes me a bit sad . . . I had many more stories about Luster that I wanted to tell.
Many thanks for letting me know that you love the stories. It makes me very happy!
BC
Sorry to be so long in answering. The guestbook got completely away from me last spring. Still trying to get caught up!
I was invited by Scholastic to create a series about unicorns, and building a fantasy world like Luster was something I had always dreamed of doing, so I turned to it with delight.
Alas, I don't think there will be any more books after LAST HUNT. Scholastic, in their way, have turned their attention in other directions. MAkes me a bit sad . . . I had many more stories about Luster that I wanted to tell.
Many thanks for letting me know that you love the stories. It makes me very happy!
BC
Hello! Just wanted to say, I love your books, I'm in college now and will still curl up with Song of the Unicorn or Monsters of Morley Manor when I need a good book to read.
I also had a question, do you have any suggestions for a writer trying to finish her first book? I'm trying to finish a fantasy novel and I'm kinda stuck at the moment. I'd love any advice you could give!
Thanks 🙂
I also had a question, do you have any suggestions for a writer trying to finish her first book? I'm trying to finish a fantasy novel and I'm kinda stuck at the moment. I'd love any advice you could give!
Thanks 🙂
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Dia -
Sorry to be so long in replying. The guestbook got away from me completely this spring, and I'm still trying to get caught up!
It delights me to know that you're still reading the books now that you're in college.
Two thoughts about finishing your novel: (1)I've found that having a big scene in mind for the ending, a scene I really want to write, sometimes helps me wade through some of the interim material (2) Don't worry about getting it right the first time, just worry about getting it on paper; you can't revise and craft and improve until you've got a full draft to work on. If you'll excuse the slight vulgarity, I sometimes tell my students to just "vomit on the paper" - just get something down. Then you can start the real work.
Good luck!
BC
Sorry to be so long in replying. The guestbook got away from me completely this spring, and I'm still trying to get caught up!
It delights me to know that you're still reading the books now that you're in college.
Two thoughts about finishing your novel: (1)I've found that having a big scene in mind for the ending, a scene I really want to write, sometimes helps me wade through some of the interim material (2) Don't worry about getting it right the first time, just worry about getting it on paper; you can't revise and craft and improve until you've got a full draft to work on. If you'll excuse the slight vulgarity, I sometimes tell my students to just "vomit on the paper" - just get something down. Then you can start the real work.
Good luck!
BC
Hi Mr. Coville,
I am a fellow Phoenix Firebird living in Washington DC. I just read The Foolish Giant to my 2 year old son for the first time. Your name sounded so familiar to me that I looked up you bio and then remembered that you visited my class at Elm St. Elementary. How wonderful that your books live on through the next generation of readers. They are such delightful stories. I cannot wait to read him more. Must say my favorite part of your bio is when you wrote that your only regret was the time you spent watching TV. My kids (1 and 2 years) don't watch TV and it is starting to feel socially unacceptable. Love that line... Best wishes and thanks for the stories.
I am a fellow Phoenix Firebird living in Washington DC. I just read The Foolish Giant to my 2 year old son for the first time. Your name sounded so familiar to me that I looked up you bio and then remembered that you visited my class at Elm St. Elementary. How wonderful that your books live on through the next generation of readers. They are such delightful stories. I cannot wait to read him more. Must say my favorite part of your bio is when you wrote that your only regret was the time you spent watching TV. My kids (1 and 2 years) don't watch TV and it is starting to feel socially unacceptable. Love that line... Best wishes and thanks for the stories.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jamie and Fellow Firebird! -
Sorry to take so long to respond. My email queue/the guestbook spun totally out of control this year.
I am so delighted to know that you shared The Foolish Giant (which was my very first book) with your son this year.
Yay for you for sparing your kids from TV! And I totally understand the "feel socially unacceptable" thing. Feh!
Keep on keeping on!
BC
Sorry to take so long to respond. My email queue/the guestbook spun totally out of control this year.
I am so delighted to know that you shared The Foolish Giant (which was my very first book) with your son this year.
Yay for you for sparing your kids from TV! And I totally understand the "feel socially unacceptable" thing. Feh!
Keep on keeping on!
BC
Mr. Coville,
I apologize for the previously cut off message. My browser does not like me today. I came across your books when I was a small child, as most have, and was captivated by the Unicorn Chronicles. Like others, I have shared them with friends. I do not come here to speak for myself, but I speak for another who cannot. My friend Rosie Lee, whose obituary I have linked to, was murdered 2 1/2 years ago. She was an avid fan of your books, which I had introduced her to, and often wore unicorns on her person. To others, she will be remembered as many things. To me, she will always be the girl who loved unicorns and sat around arguing with me over Luster.
I apologize for the previously cut off message. My browser does not like me today. I came across your books when I was a small child, as most have, and was captivated by the Unicorn Chronicles. Like others, I have shared them with friends. I do not come here to speak for myself, but I speak for another who cannot. My friend Rosie Lee, whose obituary I have linked to, was murdered 2 1/2 years ago. She was an avid fan of your books, which I had introduced her to, and often wore unicorns on her person. To others, she will be remembered as many things. To me, she will always be the girl who loved unicorns and sat around arguing with me over Luster.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Amber -
Totally understand about the cut off message. I have that kind of problem all the time!
It delights me so much that you still remember my books from your childhood.
Your words, "I speak for another who cannot" are very powerful. My heart catches in my throat even now as I re-read your message. I wish I could reach out and give you a hug in remembrance for your dear friend lost, the girl who loved unicorns.
With love and sorrow for your loss
Bruce
Totally understand about the cut off message. I have that kind of problem all the time!
It delights me so much that you still remember my books from your childhood.
Your words, "I speak for another who cannot" are very powerful. My heart catches in my throat even now as I re-read your message. I wish I could reach out and give you a hug in remembrance for your dear friend lost, the girl who loved unicorns.
With love and sorrow for your loss
Bruce