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!

Fields with * are required.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fields marked with * are required.
964 entries.
marissa from USA wrote on October 4, 2013
i love the drawings and im thinkin bout reading one of the books!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Well stop thinkin' about it and start readin' You'll have more fun that way! ;>

BC
Cage,Joven, and Warren from Los Angeles, California USA wrote on October 3, 2013
Dear Bruce,
Jeremy Thatcher is our favorite book! How were you inspired to write it? You should write a sequel. What book will you write next? Do you have a title for it? What was your favorite book when you were a kid? We want to Read the Alien Series. What is your favorite thing about being an author? Also, how old were you when you wrote your first book?
From,
Cage, Joven, and Warren
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Cage, Joven, and Warren -

Glad JEREMY is at the top of your list! Believe it or not, I actually meant this to be a short story. But once I started writing the things that happened to Jeremy and Tiamat kept getting bigger . . . and bigger . . . and BIGGER! (Sort of like Tiamat herself, now that I think of it.)

I had a lot of favorite books when I was a kid (I was a kid for a long time). One was THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE.

I wrote my first book between the ages of 17 and 19, but it wasn't very good. My first book that was good enough to get published I wrote when I was 25.

Keep readin'!

BC
destiny collins from jefferson city, tennessee USA wrote on October 3, 2013
your book seem cool they are also very interesting
Reply by Bruce Coville
I try to make them interesting. That's my job!
Jacob, Ethan,and Jallen from Los Angeles, California USA wrote on September 30, 2013
September 26,2013
Dear Bruce Coville,
We like your book, "Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher". It's very interesting. Could you make a movie out of it? We think it's very fun to read. How did you come up with the name "Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher?" How did you come up with Tiamat? You have inspired all of us to write and draw. Thank you for making "Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher"
Sincerely,
Jacob, Ethan, and Jallen
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jacob and Ethan and Jallen!

Hey, thanks for the message. I'm delighted to know that you liked JEREMY THATCHER. I would love to see a movie of the book myself, but that's not something I would be doing on my own. I write books. Hollywood makes movies!

How did I come up with Tiamat? Well, I know there was going to be a dragon, I just had to work out its personality. The name itself comes from ancient mythology.

Thanks for writing. Keep reading!

Bruce Coville
Kim DeCoste from rochester, ny USA wrote on September 27, 2013
Hi Mr. Coville, I am here with another group of fantastic readers and writers that have been inspired by you. We wanted to tell you that we love your Space Brat and Moongobble stories because they are full of amazing details. We are learning to be better writers because of you. Please keep writing!!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Kim and Class -

What a great message! I can't tell you how much I loved writing the books about Blork and Moongobble. Part of what made them fun, of course, was that my wife was doing the art, and we had a blast talking about the story and the pictures and how to make them fun.

That you are learning to be better writers because of me is a wonderful compliment, and I think you for it. Keep going!

Your friend,

Bruce Coville
J.R. Oler from Story County, Iowa USA wrote on September 24, 2013
Hey Bruce I read your Unicorn Chronicles very fast (on page 147 in The Last Hunt...) because I JUST ADORE them. Its people like you that inspire me to write/brainstorm ideas/image...
I am gonna be one of those writers that LOVES fantasy. I am still just an adolescence but my mind is filled with bright colorful splats of ideas, and yeah you are one of my inspirations...:):):):):):)
Love Oler
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, J.R. -

Hey, delighted to know that you are enjoying the books so much . . . and that you're finding them inspiring. It was the work of authors that I loved when I was young that inspired me to become an author myself, so knowing that I am inspiring someone else makes me feel that I am part of a beautiful chain.

I love the phrase "bright colorful splats of ideas"!

BC
Sara from Texas USA wrote on September 23, 2013
Dear Mr. Coville,
So, I have always wanted to be a writer. But cause of school, i have no time. What should I do? On weekends, I am busy with homework and writing books take a lot of time. I really dont like waiting so to wait 10 years until i can have a job is bothersome.
Sincerley,
Sara
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Sara -

Ah, I understand your predicament and, sadly, I have to tell you there is no easy answer. The truth of the matter is that people who really want to write will find a way to make time for it. When I was a teacher I used to get up at five in the morning so I could have an hour or two to write before heading off to school.

For almost everyone, making the time to write means giving up some time from something else.

All best,

BC
A.Besch from Los Angeles, California USA wrote on September 19, 2013
My class has been reading Jeremy Thatcher,Dragon Hatcher.It is one of my favorite books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am making Teamot I am coloring him right now. He looks cool. In class we are making Magic stories.Why did you want to become an author? What is your favorite story that that you have written? What do you think will happen next in the story?What is your favorite series?P.S. You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From:A.Besch
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, A. Besch -

So glad that you are reading (and enjoying!) JEREMY. Jeremy and Tiamat are two of my favorite characters out of all the ones I've written about.

I wanted to become an author because I loved books so much that I wanted to make my own. I can answer that question happily. I don't like to choose favorites among my books and series though. That would be like saying which of my children I loved the best!

Keep readin'!

BC
Danielle Van Kersbergen from Windermere, Florida USA wrote on September 16, 2013
Mr. Coville, I am a former Wetzel Road Elementary student from 1979-1985. In fact my brother was in your class and Brian in your original production of the Dragonslayers at the school. As luck would have it a few years later my class also performed the Dragonslayers and I had the part of Oliver. I still have my script and, to my husbands amazement, could still remember my closing dialogue and song 🙂
I now live in Florida and have 2 sons, age 2 and 6. My oldest is becoming quite a good reader and we have been reading full length novels to him for about a year now. One chapter a night at bedtime. One of my favorite books as a kid was "The Monster's Ring". I very much want to read it to my oldest because I think he will love it as much as I did. I can't seem to find my copy you signed in the 80's. I went online looking for another copy and was excited to see all the other books you have written for children. Hopefully I will find my copy otherwise I will be ordering a new one.
I was wondering do you ever do book signings, or can I order another signed copy? I would love to have an autographed copy to give to both of my boys since it has sentimental value. My dad still lives in Syracuse so he could go somewhere local if needed.
Thanks,
Danielle Van Kersbergen (maiden name Bland, brother Shel Bland)
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Danielle -

Lovely to hear from you. I remember your brother with great fondness. He was wonderful as Brian, and brought terrific life to that first production. It delights me to know that the closing song and dialogue have stayed with you all these years!

You can order a signed copy of The Monster's Ring from my website. It might surprise or puzzle you a bit . . . I expanded the book for its 25th anniversary, so it has some scenes you won't remember!

Your dad could come to my office in the university area to pick up the book if you want, or you can just have us ship it to you if you order online.

Please give my regards to Shel!

All best,

Bruce
Duke Jenkins from Bentonville, Arkansas USA wrote on September 12, 2013
Dear Bruce,
I went to Barnes and Noble's web site and searched Spilling Ink. It's on my To-Buy list. Thank you for suggesting it to me.
Thanks a Million,
Duke Jenkins
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Duke -

Let me know how you like the book!

All best,

BC