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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.
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966 entries.
Hi Mr. coville! I loved J.T.D.H. It was the best book I have ever read. I am from ms. Holland's forth grade class. I love your Magic Shop series. I think you are the best author.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Drew -
Glad you loved JT,DH. Did you know that in the first draft Tiamat never got bigger than a dog . . . and Jeremy never got to fly with her? That's why authors do many drafts! The story wouldn't be the same without those scenes!
BC
Glad you loved JT,DH. Did you know that in the first draft Tiamat never got bigger than a dog . . . and Jeremy never got to fly with her? That's why authors do many drafts! The story wouldn't be the same without those scenes!
BC
Hi Mr.Coville You are a great writer you are my favorite author. I loved your book Jermey Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. I recently checked out your book from my school library Jennifer Murdley's Toad Thank you for writing this great book(: Sincerly,Jr
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jr -
Oh, I'm glad you're going to go on and read JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD. I think it is one of the the three funniest books I ever wrote. I hope you'll enjoy it!
BC
Oh, I'm glad you're going to go on and read JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD. I think it is one of the the three funniest books I ever wrote. I hope you'll enjoy it!
BC
Dear Bruce Coville
I loved your book J.T.D.H it was the most funniest book I have ever read well read to, my teacher read it to the whole class. I bet it is kind of hard to right a book . I have tried to wright a book it is hard .I am in Ms.Holland 4th grade class. With 32 stuffed dragons . I did have a question how did you get the name Timet . How long does it take you to wright a whole book. Are you going to right a new book You are the best. Talk to you later . One of you fans Lottie.
I loved your book J.T.D.H it was the most funniest book I have ever read well read to, my teacher read it to the whole class. I bet it is kind of hard to right a book . I have tried to wright a book it is hard .I am in Ms.Holland 4th grade class. With 32 stuffed dragons . I did have a question how did you get the name Timet . How long does it take you to wright a whole book. Are you going to right a new book You are the best. Talk to you later . One of you fans Lottie.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Lottie -
Glad you think that JEREMY was so funny. I love making kids laugh!
Yep, you are correct - writing a book is hard! The thing is, once you do it, you can feel very good about having done it!
The name Tiamat comes from mythology . . . in Babylonian mythology Tiamat was a very important dragon.
I am working on a new book now. It is called DIARY OF A MAD BROWNIE.
BC
Glad you think that JEREMY was so funny. I love making kids laugh!
Yep, you are correct - writing a book is hard! The thing is, once you do it, you can feel very good about having done it!
The name Tiamat comes from mythology . . . in Babylonian mythology Tiamat was a very important dragon.
I am working on a new book now. It is called DIARY OF A MAD BROWNIE.
BC
Hi Mr Coville i would just like to say that i love the Nina Tenleven Ghost story's. i have always been a big fan of ghost story's of any kind. I'm currently in college as a television major but I'm also working at being a children's horror author. Back in the summer/early fall i was able to get my first book published. My main reason for writing you is that since I've started doing my own writing I've fund my self going back and rereading your books and some of my other favorite child hood books, and it been you and countless other authors which have been my biggest inspiration. Also if its not too much to ask what would be the biggest piece of advice you could give to a new author.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Wesley -
Thanks for this message. The Nina books are close to my heart, because Nine and Chris are based on my daughter and her best friend. (And Nine's dad is an improved version of me ...)
Congratulations on your first book. I hope it will be very successful. Glad I had a hand in inspiring you!
A major piece of advice I would give to an aspiring author is "Master the tools of your craft." Great storytelling trumps everything, but just as I would not trust a carpenter who does not take care with his tools, I am wary of a writer who is careless with the tools of our trade.
Best of luck with your work!
BC
Thanks for this message. The Nina books are close to my heart, because Nine and Chris are based on my daughter and her best friend. (And Nine's dad is an improved version of me ...)
Congratulations on your first book. I hope it will be very successful. Glad I had a hand in inspiring you!
A major piece of advice I would give to an aspiring author is "Master the tools of your craft." Great storytelling trumps everything, but just as I would not trust a carpenter who does not take care with his tools, I am wary of a writer who is careless with the tools of our trade.
Best of luck with your work!
BC
Dear Mr.COVILLE
How did you come up with J.T.D.H? If you were to make a movie and if it was good would you add more people or change a few things at all? Would you make another book with Jeremy and Timat and what would you call it? I really enjoy your books and think think that you are a great author.
Dexter
How did you come up with J.T.D.H? If you were to make a movie and if it was good would you add more people or change a few things at all? Would you make another book with Jeremy and Timat and what would you call it? I really enjoy your books and think think that you are a great author.
Dexter
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Dexter -
After I wrote The Monster's Ring, the first Magic Shop book, I wanted to do a sequel. But the editor was not enthusiastic about the idea. However I loved the Magic Shop and didn't want to let go of it, so my next idea was to do a series of stories about different kids who went into the shop and came out with a magical item. One afternoon I sat down to brainstorm what you might find in the shop. I came up with about a dozen idea, and my favorite one of all was a dragon's egg.
So that's where the book got its start.
I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
BC
After I wrote The Monster's Ring, the first Magic Shop book, I wanted to do a sequel. But the editor was not enthusiastic about the idea. However I loved the Magic Shop and didn't want to let go of it, so my next idea was to do a series of stories about different kids who went into the shop and came out with a magical item. One afternoon I sat down to brainstorm what you might find in the shop. I came up with about a dozen idea, and my favorite one of all was a dragon's egg.
So that's where the book got its start.
I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
BC
hey coville i love j.t.d.h. it was awsome. I'm from Ms.Hollands class we all wrote to you on the same note you singed my teachershope your .t.d.h. the newer book its so cool to talk to my faorite aouthor your the best coville and yes, if you want to know i haave my own computer i got it years ago like maybe 4 your best once again bye 🙂
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jillian -
Glad you think I'm the best! I think you must be in a really good class.
BC
Glad you think I'm the best! I think you must be in a really good class.
BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
Our class loved J.T.D.H.! It was a great adventure filled with amazing details that put pictures in our heads! We felt the book was realistic and fun to read. Jeremy and Tiamat made a great team. All of us love the way they communicate. We are excited that you have other books with Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, it would be a fun place to explore! Our class has 32 stuffed dragons, and one is red, named Tiamat. You signed the copy of our teacher's book years ago because she loved the story so much. You are a wonderful author. Thank you for writing this book!
Ms. Holland's 4th grade class
Our class loved J.T.D.H.! It was a great adventure filled with amazing details that put pictures in our heads! We felt the book was realistic and fun to read. Jeremy and Tiamat made a great team. All of us love the way they communicate. We are excited that you have other books with Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, it would be a fun place to explore! Our class has 32 stuffed dragons, and one is red, named Tiamat. You signed the copy of our teacher's book years ago because she loved the story so much. You are a wonderful author. Thank you for writing this book!
Ms. Holland's 4th grade class
Reply by Bruce Coville
To My Pals in Ms. Holland's 4th Grade -
Thanks for your message! I'm delighted that you enjoyed J.T.D.H. so much. Of all my books, I think this is the one most likely to outlast me.
Glad that you like the Magic Shop . . . basically it's the shop I always hoped I could find when I was a kid myself.
It's very cool that you have 32 stuffed dragons in your class, and it makes me feel good to know that one of them is named Tiamat!
It sounds as if you guys have a lot of fun in Ms. Holland's 4th grade. I used to teach 4th grade myself - it's my favorite year!
BC
Thanks for your message! I'm delighted that you enjoyed J.T.D.H. so much. Of all my books, I think this is the one most likely to outlast me.
Glad that you like the Magic Shop . . . basically it's the shop I always hoped I could find when I was a kid myself.
It's very cool that you have 32 stuffed dragons in your class, and it makes me feel good to know that one of them is named Tiamat!
It sounds as if you guys have a lot of fun in Ms. Holland's 4th grade. I used to teach 4th grade myself - it's my favorite year!
BC
Hey I loved your book J.T.D.H. I love to write books I am writing a story called Tracy the toad and it takes place in a friend ship shop. I just wanted to tell you what a great aurther you are!!!!!
macy
macy
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Macy -
So glad you loved JEREMY!
Good luck with your own book about the Toad named Tracy!
BC
So glad you loved JEREMY!
Good luck with your own book about the Toad named Tracy!
BC
I love to read your books your great
Reply by Bruce Coville
Thanks, Connor! - BC
Thanks, I own all 4 books and continue to keep rereading them(actually, my paperbacks are coming undone,(not to mention the other books I've reread over and over)so i went out and got the hardbacks); I was asking about The Boy with Silver Eyes and The Guardian of Memory-they have to be avaible!!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Tracy -
Ah, I understand what you are talking about now. So, here's the first thing you need to know: both of those titles are short stories set in the world of the Unicorn Chronicles. Both actually are available in print, as part of larger collections. You can find "The Guardian of Memory" in the anthology A GLORY OF UNICORNS. "The Boy With Silver Eyes" is to be found in my solo collection ODDEST OF ALL.
A side note: I wrote "Silver Eyes" as a piece to perform with the Syracuse Symphony. I read the story while they played music from the orchestral repertoire to enhance the emotional impact. It was a blast!
BC
Ah, I understand what you are talking about now. So, here's the first thing you need to know: both of those titles are short stories set in the world of the Unicorn Chronicles. Both actually are available in print, as part of larger collections. You can find "The Guardian of Memory" in the anthology A GLORY OF UNICORNS. "The Boy With Silver Eyes" is to be found in my solo collection ODDEST OF ALL.
A side note: I wrote "Silver Eyes" as a piece to perform with the Syracuse Symphony. I read the story while they played music from the orchestral repertoire to enhance the emotional impact. It was a blast!
BC