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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.
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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938 entries.
Dear Bruce Coville,
My friends and I LOVE your book series The Unicorn chronicles, and we were wondering of we could all do a play of it for our friends and family's. Thank you and please say yes,
Your #1 fan, (you probably hear that alot! )
Amnesia
My friends and I LOVE your book series The Unicorn chronicles, and we were wondering of we could all do a play of it for our friends and family's. Thank you and please say yes,
Your #1 fan, (you probably hear that alot! )
Amnesia
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Amnesia -
So glad to know that you love the books. I would be delighted for you to do a play based on the books for your friends and family. I love theater! Have a great time.
All best,
BC
So glad to know that you love the books. I would be delighted for you to do a play based on the books for your friends and family. I love theater! Have a great time.
All best,
BC
What's your favorite currently running musical? Any plans to do further musical adaptations of your work?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Leann -
What a lovely question. For favorite currently running musical, I'd have to say it's a toss-up between THE BOOK OF MORMON (hands down the funniest show I've ever seen) and MATILDA (which is flat out fabulous). However I haven't yet seen KINKY BOOTS, and I suspect it might be a contender.
As to the second question, oddly enough there has never been a musical adapation of one of my works. Instead, I have turned two of my musicals ("Dragonslayers" and "Out of the Blue") into books. If "Out of the Blue" doesn't sound familiar that's because the book version is called The World's Worst Fairy Godmother.
BC
What a lovely question. For favorite currently running musical, I'd have to say it's a toss-up between THE BOOK OF MORMON (hands down the funniest show I've ever seen) and MATILDA (which is flat out fabulous). However I haven't yet seen KINKY BOOTS, and I suspect it might be a contender.
As to the second question, oddly enough there has never been a musical adapation of one of my works. Instead, I have turned two of my musicals ("Dragonslayers" and "Out of the Blue") into books. If "Out of the Blue" doesn't sound familiar that's because the book version is called The World's Worst Fairy Godmother.
BC
Hey Bruce!
thanks for the tips on the necromancer fortress description! i altered the "Surrounding wall" phrasings so that it is said only once.
i did think up something for my current story recently, but i'm not sure if the idea is a keeper... or if i should scrap it and think up something else.
my idea is... Lila, one of the youngest of the brotherhood members, would have a specific tower in the brotherhood fortress that she uses for protection whenever the castle is under attack, and this tower has only one way in, and one way out. whenever the brotherhoods second in command tells her to "Get to the tower!" he means that the battle would be too intense for her to be in, and that he wants her to stay safe. also this tower, even though it can be seen if you look at the fortress from the outside, is so much of a secret... that only a few brotherhood members would know how to get in or out.
is this a good idea, or should i think up something else?
Please let me know what you think, and thanks!
Byron Lee
thanks for the tips on the necromancer fortress description! i altered the "Surrounding wall" phrasings so that it is said only once.
i did think up something for my current story recently, but i'm not sure if the idea is a keeper... or if i should scrap it and think up something else.
my idea is... Lila, one of the youngest of the brotherhood members, would have a specific tower in the brotherhood fortress that she uses for protection whenever the castle is under attack, and this tower has only one way in, and one way out. whenever the brotherhoods second in command tells her to "Get to the tower!" he means that the battle would be too intense for her to be in, and that he wants her to stay safe. also this tower, even though it can be seen if you look at the fortress from the outside, is so much of a secret... that only a few brotherhood members would know how to get in or out.
is this a good idea, or should i think up something else?
Please let me know what you think, and thanks!
Byron Lee
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Byron -
Sorry to be (ULP!) two years late in responding to this! Guestbook meltdown and overwhelming work issues caused a lot of stuff to slide.
Hope you are doing well and continuing to write.
Though you are probably long past that now, your idea about the tower sounds pretty cool.
All best,
Bruce
Sorry to be (ULP!) two years late in responding to this! Guestbook meltdown and overwhelming work issues caused a lot of stuff to slide.
Hope you are doing well and continuing to write.
Though you are probably long past that now, your idea about the tower sounds pretty cool.
All best,
Bruce
Hi there, I hope you don't mind if I call you Bruce. I will admit that this is actually something I didn't expect to find myself doing tonight while browsing the Internet before going to bed, but for some reason I was thinking about some of your books, and I decided to look you up on Wikipedia. It was a fun trip of nostalgia seeing a listing of all of your books, and at the bottom of the page was a link to your official website; I couldn't resist clicking.
And now here I am, writing a message to my favorite author of the past 20 years. In fact, to this day I still consider my favorite book to be Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. That was the first book of yours that I read, and it opened the floodgates to as many of your books as I could find. From Space Brat to Rod Albright to the Book Of series, your writing was a part of my childhood that I will never forget.
The top shelf of my bookshelf contains a section devoted to Bruce Coville, and from time to time I will pull out the hard cover review copy of my favorite book and flip to the title page to read, "May your heart take wing!", signed by Bruce Coville. That was a gift from my parents about 18 years ago, I think. So it was definitely a team effort by you and my parents to foster my passion for reading.
I suppose everything I've typed up to this point has been somewhat of an ice-breaker. I really want to share a quick story about something I never did and wish I had done. See, I grew up in Ontario, NY, which is roughly an hour from Syracuse. From time to time while I was growing up, I would ask my parents if we could go visit you so I could meet the man that was responsible for all of the magical words I was reading in all of these books. Of course they would always say something along the lines of a 'maybe', and I would leave it at that. Now I'm 26, and I'm off working in our nation's capital, having given up my dream of going to visit someone I've always wished to visit.
This random thought that inspired me to come to this site and write this message is a roundabout way of getting to interact with someone who has absently been a part of my life for roughly 20 years, and I know it's been a long read, but this is my way of saying thank you. Thanks for all of the great stories, thanks for helping to expand my imagination, and thanks for providing me with a way to introduce my children to reading (when I have them some day!)
...And I agree with one thing that you wrote, which I still tell people from time to time whenever it comes up: I think a proper way to describe a group of unicorns is a glory.
-Alex
And now here I am, writing a message to my favorite author of the past 20 years. In fact, to this day I still consider my favorite book to be Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. That was the first book of yours that I read, and it opened the floodgates to as many of your books as I could find. From Space Brat to Rod Albright to the Book Of series, your writing was a part of my childhood that I will never forget.
The top shelf of my bookshelf contains a section devoted to Bruce Coville, and from time to time I will pull out the hard cover review copy of my favorite book and flip to the title page to read, "May your heart take wing!", signed by Bruce Coville. That was a gift from my parents about 18 years ago, I think. So it was definitely a team effort by you and my parents to foster my passion for reading.
I suppose everything I've typed up to this point has been somewhat of an ice-breaker. I really want to share a quick story about something I never did and wish I had done. See, I grew up in Ontario, NY, which is roughly an hour from Syracuse. From time to time while I was growing up, I would ask my parents if we could go visit you so I could meet the man that was responsible for all of the magical words I was reading in all of these books. Of course they would always say something along the lines of a 'maybe', and I would leave it at that. Now I'm 26, and I'm off working in our nation's capital, having given up my dream of going to visit someone I've always wished to visit.
This random thought that inspired me to come to this site and write this message is a roundabout way of getting to interact with someone who has absently been a part of my life for roughly 20 years, and I know it's been a long read, but this is my way of saying thank you. Thanks for all of the great stories, thanks for helping to expand my imagination, and thanks for providing me with a way to introduce my children to reading (when I have them some day!)
...And I agree with one thing that you wrote, which I still tell people from time to time whenever it comes up: I think a proper way to describe a group of unicorns is a glory.
-Alex
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Alex -
Let's see - it's just going on two years since you sent this wonderful message, and here I am, finally getting around to answering.
Like the tortoise in the fable, I may be slow, but I'm sure!
I do hope this will get to you; you should get a notification if your email hasn't changed.
Well, that's just preliminary. Mostly I just wanted to let you know how much this message delighted me. I love knowing that JEREMY THATCHER continues to mean so much to you. (It's my own opinion that this is the book of mine that is mostly likely to still be around 25 years after I'm pushing up daisies!)
Thanks, too, for endorsing my notion that the term for a group of unicorns should be a glory! I was always hoping that would enter common usage . . .
Cheers and regrets for being so tardy,
BC
Let's see - it's just going on two years since you sent this wonderful message, and here I am, finally getting around to answering.
Like the tortoise in the fable, I may be slow, but I'm sure!
I do hope this will get to you; you should get a notification if your email hasn't changed.
Well, that's just preliminary. Mostly I just wanted to let you know how much this message delighted me. I love knowing that JEREMY THATCHER continues to mean so much to you. (It's my own opinion that this is the book of mine that is mostly likely to still be around 25 years after I'm pushing up daisies!)
Thanks, too, for endorsing my notion that the term for a group of unicorns should be a glory! I was always hoping that would enter common usage . . .
Cheers and regrets for being so tardy,
BC
I am a 4th grade teacher writing on behalf of my students. We've just finished reading Goblins in the Castle and loved how this book kept us on the edge of our seat. My students were begging to read just one more chapter each day. They absolutely fell in love with Herky and Igor! They were all disappointed to find out that there wasnt another book with these characters, but theyre making plans to check out more books by you over the summer. My students loved the fact that the idea for the book came from Igors character you used with your students. Were curious, do you have a picture of you dressed as Igor you could share with us? Thanks for giving our imaginations a great mystery to enjoy!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy, Mrs. Heffington's Class!
Many thanks for this lovely message, and my deep apologies for taking over a year to respond. The guestbook got away from me last year, and I am still trying to catch up.
I am delighted that you enjoyed Goblins in the Castle so much, as it is one of my personal favorites - largely, of course, because of my (ahem) personal connection to Igor.
And I have good news for you . . . after more than twenty years, there is indeed going to be a new book about these characters. It will be called Goblins on the Prowl and this time FAUNA tells the story, and we eventually learn her great secret.
I don't have a way to share a picture of Igor with you on the guestbook, but I am going to try to send one to your teacher!
Thanks for being such faithful readers!
All best,
Bruce Coville
Many thanks for this lovely message, and my deep apologies for taking over a year to respond. The guestbook got away from me last year, and I am still trying to catch up.
I am delighted that you enjoyed Goblins in the Castle so much, as it is one of my personal favorites - largely, of course, because of my (ahem) personal connection to Igor.
And I have good news for you . . . after more than twenty years, there is indeed going to be a new book about these characters. It will be called Goblins on the Prowl and this time FAUNA tells the story, and we eventually learn her great secret.
I don't have a way to share a picture of Igor with you on the guestbook, but I am going to try to send one to your teacher!
Thanks for being such faithful readers!
All best,
Bruce Coville
Yes, I just found that out a little while ago and now I feel like an idiot, ha ha:) Stupid technology, I can't keep up!
Reply by Bruce Coville
I spend good portions of my life feeling like an idiot. It's an occupational hazard.
Dear Mr. Coville,
First of all, I don't know how this happened but the last time I wrote you, I spelled my name completely wrong. I know, I'm as surprised as you are.
I just thought I'd share a bitter revelation, I just finished writing a first draft manuscript, and apparently, double spacing after each sentence is no longer the "in thing". I'm sure you knew that, I totally did not.
Off to revise, have a good one;)
First of all, I don't know how this happened but the last time I wrote you, I spelled my name completely wrong. I know, I'm as surprised as you are.
I just thought I'd share a bitter revelation, I just finished writing a first draft manuscript, and apparently, double spacing after each sentence is no longer the "in thing". I'm sure you knew that, I totally did not.
Off to revise, have a good one;)
Reply by Bruce Coville
Fortunately, taking out the double space after a sentence is a very easy thing now that we have search and replace!
Hi Mr. Coville, I remember spending the majority of third grade reading your books. I just wanted to tell you that even now, as I am about to graduate high school, I still keep the song of the wanderer close to my heart. That song just speaks to me so much. For my last AP Art project, I get to paint a chair that is supposed to represent me. It will stay in the classroom for years to come to inspire other students. I am painting all of the places I want to visit on my chair: Dublin, Venice, Jaipur, Ladakh, Kyoto, etc. On the bottom of my chair is a picture of a country road going out into the distance. I also want to put your song in that picture so your words can influence others. Once again, thank you for inspiring kids to dream and imagine the impossible.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Kaitlyn -
Many, many thanks for this. I poured my heart and soul into the Unicorn Chronicles (and nearly broke my brain trying to write the conclusion). So knowing that this book has meant so much to you really touches me. That song, that need to wander, comes from my own restless heart. To my own astonishment, writing has taken me around the world in ways I had never anticipated. I hope that your own life will be filled with journeys of wonder and discovery.
I love the chair project - it's a wonderful idea. And I love knowing that SONG will be part of it. Thanks for telling me.
BC
Many, many thanks for this. I poured my heart and soul into the Unicorn Chronicles (and nearly broke my brain trying to write the conclusion). So knowing that this book has meant so much to you really touches me. That song, that need to wander, comes from my own restless heart. To my own astonishment, writing has taken me around the world in ways I had never anticipated. I hope that your own life will be filled with journeys of wonder and discovery.
I love the chair project - it's a wonderful idea. And I love knowing that SONG will be part of it. Thanks for telling me.
BC
As a child, my favorite book in the world was "I Left My Sneakers In Dimension X." I read it countless times, and took it with me everywhere I went. I shared a room with my younger brother, and many nights, while lying in our bunk beds, I'd read it to him as well. Escaping into the world you painted brought me a great deal of happiness. I don't know where the book went. It was passed down to my other younger siblings.
I'm now 29 years old, and while sitting around one day, reflecting upon fond childhood memories, your book came to mind. Since we now live in the age of the Internet, I hopped onto Amazon and bought a copy of it. I re-read it today, just to relive some of those memories that brought me such joy as a youngster. It probably looked somewhat ridiculous for a married guy who is knocking on 30 to be sitting out on the deck, reading a children's book, but I didn't care. It bought a smile to my face.
Thank you again for writing a book that was such a big part of my childhood. My wife and I are trying to start a family, and I will definitely be reading this to our kids.
I'm now 29 years old, and while sitting around one day, reflecting upon fond childhood memories, your book came to mind. Since we now live in the age of the Internet, I hopped onto Amazon and bought a copy of it. I re-read it today, just to relive some of those memories that brought me such joy as a youngster. It probably looked somewhat ridiculous for a married guy who is knocking on 30 to be sitting out on the deck, reading a children's book, but I didn't care. It bought a smile to my face.
Thank you again for writing a book that was such a big part of my childhood. My wife and I are trying to start a family, and I will definitely be reading this to our kids.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Mike -
I can't tell you how much delight this message gave me. I remember books that I loved that way, and to create something that would have that kind of meaning for some other reader was part of what drove me to write, but also something that seemed impossible to hope for. (Heck, just getting published at all was hard enough!)
As I've said in other messages, I love being a "two generation writer" The idea that you will be sharing this book to your own young'uns gives me great joy. Thanks for stopping by to tell me this.
BC
I can't tell you how much delight this message gave me. I remember books that I loved that way, and to create something that would have that kind of meaning for some other reader was part of what drove me to write, but also something that seemed impossible to hope for. (Heck, just getting published at all was hard enough!)
As I've said in other messages, I love being a "two generation writer" The idea that you will be sharing this book to your own young'uns gives me great joy. Thanks for stopping by to tell me this.
BC
I love Bruce Coville books, they are so fun to read. Whenever I read a Bruce Coville book I cant stop. Ones i got in trouble for staying up at night reading 'Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters' it is incredible and i would love to keep in touch with my favourite author.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Andi -
Thanks for this message. I especially love hearing from my fans in other countries . . . I did not imagine, when I began writing, that my books would be read all the way around the world.
I should probably say that I'm sorry I got you in trouble by keeping you up late at night reading, but getting someone so hooked on a book that he or she can't put it down is actually one of my goals! ;>
All best,
BC
Thanks for this message. I especially love hearing from my fans in other countries . . . I did not imagine, when I began writing, that my books would be read all the way around the world.
I should probably say that I'm sorry I got you in trouble by keeping you up late at night reading, but getting someone so hooked on a book that he or she can't put it down is actually one of my goals! ;>
All best,
BC