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.
Hello, Bruce! My name is Courtney and I'm 24 years old. I just wanted to write and thank you for your books. I always appreciated, even as a kid, the fact that you didn't seem to "talk down" to your readers the way that some YA writers do. I was a very introverted kid (and adult, if I'm being honest) and I feel as though your books really helped me to feel like a part of something bigger at a time when I felt quite by myself. The "My Teacher" series in particular made a very big impact on how I view the world now as an adult and my appreciation for the world around me is in part due to you. As well as my love of sci-fi and fantasy, which your novels opened the door to for me. I just wanted to let you know that your work really did make an impact on a lonely middle schooler years ago. Thank you. 🙂
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Courtney -
Many thanks for this. It has always been a specific goal in my writing not to "talk down" to kids, so it pleases me a great deal to know that you were aware of that. I think working as a teacher helped me in that regard . . . it gave me a sense of how smart kids really are that not all adults have.
Your words about the books helping you to feel part of something bigger go straight to my heart. I couldn't ask for a better affirmation of what I am trying to do.
Thanks for taking the time to tell me what the books meant to you.
All best,
Bruce
Many thanks for this. It has always been a specific goal in my writing not to "talk down" to kids, so it pleases me a great deal to know that you were aware of that. I think working as a teacher helped me in that regard . . . it gave me a sense of how smart kids really are that not all adults have.
Your words about the books helping you to feel part of something bigger go straight to my heart. I couldn't ask for a better affirmation of what I am trying to do.
Thanks for taking the time to tell me what the books meant to you.
All best,
Bruce
My boys (ages 5 and 8) love your Moongobble and Me series. I have read them too many times to count over the last three years. We are curious if you are planning on writing anymore in the series. We think they are wonderful.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Deann -
So pleased that your boys are enjoying the "Moongobble and Me" stories. My wife (who illustrated) and I had so much fun creating them, so it's good to know that others are having fun reading them!
I've got more ideas for Moongobble stories but, alas, it seems my publisher has moved on to other things.
You might want to try the SPACE BRAT books. It's science fiction rather than fantasy, but written at exactly the same level, and with some really hilarious illustrations by my wife.
Cheers,
BC
So pleased that your boys are enjoying the "Moongobble and Me" stories. My wife (who illustrated) and I had so much fun creating them, so it's good to know that others are having fun reading them!
I've got more ideas for Moongobble stories but, alas, it seems my publisher has moved on to other things.
You might want to try the SPACE BRAT books. It's science fiction rather than fantasy, but written at exactly the same level, and with some really hilarious illustrations by my wife.
Cheers,
BC
Thank you for emailing me!!!! When school starts I'll talk with my librarian and see if we could start a fundraiser!!! If we get enough I'll see you there!!!!!!!!!
Aubrey out!!
Aubrey out!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Very cool! Fingers crossed, Aubrey.
BC
BC
Do you have any writing power songs? Any songs that inspire you and make you want to sit down and write?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Julia -
Nope, not really.
Also, I can't listen to anything with lyrics when I'm actually writing. However I often play classical music while I work.
BC
Nope, not really.
Also, I can't listen to anything with lyrics when I'm actually writing. However I often play classical music while I work.
BC
Dear Bruce,
Do you want a video recording of the unicorn cronicles play when its done?
Your #1 fan,
Amnesia
Do you want a video recording of the unicorn cronicles play when its done?
Your #1 fan,
Amnesia
Reply by Bruce Coville
Would love one! Thanks, Amnesia.
BC
BC
Thank you Bruce! All of my friends told me to also say thank you for letting us do a play! now... All I have to do is write it... :)! I love to write!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Have a fabulous time!!
BC
BC
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