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 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
My name is Bar and I am in 4th grade. I just finished reading your book Jeremy Thatcher dragon Hatcher in Hebrew. I couldn't stop reading it. I stayed up late until I finished it.I was really tired in school. I love dragons and all sorts of mythical creatures like the phoenix, griffin and of course dragons. Can you please write more Jeremy Thatcher books?
Thanks
Thanks
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Bar -
Many thanks for this message. I knew that JEREMY as going to be coming out in Israel, but you are the first reader there I have heard from! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the book so much. Like you, I love mythical creatures . . . writing about them is one of my favorite things to do.
It's not likely that I'll write another book about JEREMY. The Magic Shop series is odd in that each book is about a different kid . . . what continues from book to book is the Magic Shop itself.
Thanks for reading . . . and for taking the time to say hello.
All best,
BC
Many thanks for this message. I knew that JEREMY as going to be coming out in Israel, but you are the first reader there I have heard from! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the book so much. Like you, I love mythical creatures . . . writing about them is one of my favorite things to do.
It's not likely that I'll write another book about JEREMY. The Magic Shop series is odd in that each book is about a different kid . . . what continues from book to book is the Magic Shop itself.
Thanks for reading . . . and for taking the time to say hello.
All best,
BC
I love the Moongobble series, but finished reading all of them. I still listen to the ebooks every night. My mother is reading some of the other books to me, but I really like the characters in Moongobble. Will you write any more books for kid my age?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Mitchell -
Oh, I'm glad to know you love the MOONGOBBLE books. I had so much fun writing them, and loved having my wife make the pictures. I'm especially glad to know you like the audio versions, since I produced those myself.
There is another series that is very much in the same style and reading level as MOONGOBBLE, and it is called SPACE BRAT. Like the Moongobble series, there are five books, but I think only the first is available right now.
I would love to do another series like this, but first I have to finish up some other projects.
Thanks for writing to me.
BC
Oh, I'm glad to know you love the MOONGOBBLE books. I had so much fun writing them, and loved having my wife make the pictures. I'm especially glad to know you like the audio versions, since I produced those myself.
There is another series that is very much in the same style and reading level as MOONGOBBLE, and it is called SPACE BRAT. Like the Moongobble series, there are five books, but I think only the first is available right now.
I would love to do another series like this, but first I have to finish up some other projects.
Thanks for writing to me.
BC
I grew up reading your books and I absolutely loved them. I particularly loved the Magic Shop series, the My Teacher Is An Alien series, and the Rod Albright series. 20 years later, My wife and I have our first child and I'm already tracking down my favorites so that I will be able to read them to him (or him to me) when he's older. I just wanted to than you and let you know that your stories are gearing up to entertain the imaginations of yet another generation.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Drew -
Many thanks for this. There are stages in how you feel about you work when you write for kids. First you just want to get published. Then you hope that kids will love the books. Then you hope, hope, hope that some of them will remember you even when they're grown. The crowning thing is to find that you have become a two-generation writer, and your first readers want to share the books with their children. It's really the best and most beautiful affirmation.
In case you couldn't tell, your message made me very happy. I hope you and your kids will get many, many hours of pleasure from sharing those stories.
Thanks for remembering me.
All best,
BC
Many thanks for this. There are stages in how you feel about you work when you write for kids. First you just want to get published. Then you hope that kids will love the books. Then you hope, hope, hope that some of them will remember you even when they're grown. The crowning thing is to find that you have become a two-generation writer, and your first readers want to share the books with their children. It's really the best and most beautiful affirmation.
In case you couldn't tell, your message made me very happy. I hope you and your kids will get many, many hours of pleasure from sharing those stories.
Thanks for remembering me.
All best,
BC
your unicorn chronicles books are amazing my whole family and my friends love it!!! we love them so much we think you should write more they are excellent books! I can tell that you worked pretty hard on them! your work has paid off because they keep me on the edge of my seat! I hope you visit Kentucky someday.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Bethany -
Oh, man, I'm so glad you love that Chronicles! I've been trying to convince my editor that we should do more, but I haven't had any luck yet. It's frustrating, because I have soooo many ideas!
Thanks for letting me know that you and your family and friends all love the books.
BC
Oh, man, I'm so glad you love that Chronicles! I've been trying to convince my editor that we should do more, but I haven't had any luck yet. It's frustrating, because I have soooo many ideas!
Thanks for letting me know that you and your family and friends all love the books.
BC