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!
949 entries.
i'm older already (19) but when i was younger (and okay still now) i love your books. please write more! especially the magic shop books. did you get the idea for that series from the twilight zone show the chaser? i was wishing that there was a movie of that and suddenly i see that show! anyway please continue writing the magic shop books!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, L.
Thanks for the message. So glad you love the books! As to your question - nope, I didn't get the idea from a Twilight Zone episode. In truth, this is the magic shop I always wanted to find when I was a kid. I never did find it, so I started to write about it instead!
I have an idea for another magic shop book, but I am pretty unhappy with the publisher who does them right now, so I'm not sure when or if I will write it. Sigh.
All best,
BC
Thanks for the message. So glad you love the books! As to your question - nope, I didn't get the idea from a Twilight Zone episode. In truth, this is the magic shop I always wanted to find when I was a kid. I never did find it, so I started to write about it instead!
I have an idea for another magic shop book, but I am pretty unhappy with the publisher who does them right now, so I'm not sure when or if I will write it. Sigh.
All best,
BC
HI! I just wanted to say i am in the Syracuse Children's Theater of the Dragonslayers! You can hear the rest when my letter gets delivered to you!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Samuel -
I'm so excited about this production. Todd and his crew do a great job. I hope you'll have a barrel of fun rehearsing and performing!
BC
I'm so excited about this production. Todd and his crew do a great job. I hope you'll have a barrel of fun rehearsing and performing!
BC
hi i signed your guest book once before because i was doing a project powerpoint on my favorite author and well you had told me that you had been thinking of igor and the other characters from goblins in the castle and said you were going to make a sequal to the book and i just wanted to know how that was coming along. anyway best wishes hope to hear from you soon.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Madeline -
Interesting you should write to me about GOBLINS at this time. I have finished a complete draft of the sequel to the book. Unfortunately, my editor felt it had some very serious problems, and I am hard at work on revising it now. Wish me luck!
BC
Interesting you should write to me about GOBLINS at this time. I have finished a complete draft of the sequel to the book. Unfortunately, my editor felt it had some very serious problems, and I am hard at work on revising it now. Wish me luck!
BC
Hi Bruce,
It was great meeting you at the SCBWI Conference in Miami a few weeks ago. I loved your your workshop on Friday and your presentation on Saturday. You not only made me laugh but you also gave lots of great advice and insight for an aspiring writer like me. Unfortunately, I have always been a horribly slow reader, but when I do pick up a novel yours are at the top of a pile, with my favorites so far being the Magic Shop series. Your stories have that perfect combination of humor and imagination that a struggling reader like me needs.
We hope to see you at another conference in Florida soon. Thanks again for coming, and have a great weekend.
Kind regards,
Angela Padrn
It was great meeting you at the SCBWI Conference in Miami a few weeks ago. I loved your your workshop on Friday and your presentation on Saturday. You not only made me laugh but you also gave lots of great advice and insight for an aspiring writer like me. Unfortunately, I have always been a horribly slow reader, but when I do pick up a novel yours are at the top of a pile, with my favorites so far being the Magic Shop series. Your stories have that perfect combination of humor and imagination that a struggling reader like me needs.
We hope to see you at another conference in Florida soon. Thanks again for coming, and have a great weekend.
Kind regards,
Angela Padrn
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Angela -
Many thanks for these very kind words. I see you so often on Facebook that it was very nice to have you in the intensive the Michael and Elizabeth and I taught.
I love the Florida conferences, and would love to return again before too long!
Bruce
Many thanks for these very kind words. I see you so often on Facebook that it was very nice to have you in the intensive the Michael and Elizabeth and I taught.
I love the Florida conferences, and would love to return again before too long!
Bruce
hey Bruce! thanks for everything!
i wanted to share the description of Lila with you and see what you think of it.
There was a teenage girl standing in the doorway about 12 feet away from them. She was lean, about 5 4 in height, and very beautiful. She wore a red and blue outfit that revealed her arms, the lower half of her legs, and her midsection. Her skin was beige, and had a slight glow to it. She had sandal-like brown leather shoes on her feet, and wore a bright red full length cape secured around her neck with the same kind of chain as Byrons green cloak. She also had very pretty brown hair that extended down to her waist, her lips were thin, and her eyes were of a deep blue, like the sea after a violent tempest.
is this a good enough description of her? or is there something i'm missing? PLEASE let me know!
Byron Lee
i wanted to share the description of Lila with you and see what you think of it.
There was a teenage girl standing in the doorway about 12 feet away from them. She was lean, about 5 4 in height, and very beautiful. She wore a red and blue outfit that revealed her arms, the lower half of her legs, and her midsection. Her skin was beige, and had a slight glow to it. She had sandal-like brown leather shoes on her feet, and wore a bright red full length cape secured around her neck with the same kind of chain as Byrons green cloak. She also had very pretty brown hair that extended down to her waist, her lips were thin, and her eyes were of a deep blue, like the sea after a violent tempest.
is this a good enough description of her? or is there something i'm missing? PLEASE let me know!
Byron Lee
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Byron -
It's a very vivid and clear description. I would suggest two possible changes. (1) I think "about 5' 4" in height" is too specific . . . it's as if there's a measuring stick right beside her. I'd go with something like "a bit over 5 feet in height". (2) Conversely, "very pretty brown hair" is too vague. Why/how is it pretty? Is it glossy? Is the color particularly rich? Is it long and thick? "Very" is almost always a wasted word . . . I go through my manuscripts it cut it as often as I can. And "pretty" doesn't convey much information.
I realize that suggestion 2 is almost the reverse of suggestion 1. The difference lies in what one can observe with a quick inspection.
Over all, good work! Carry on!!
Bruce
It's a very vivid and clear description. I would suggest two possible changes. (1) I think "about 5' 4" in height" is too specific . . . it's as if there's a measuring stick right beside her. I'd go with something like "a bit over 5 feet in height". (2) Conversely, "very pretty brown hair" is too vague. Why/how is it pretty? Is it glossy? Is the color particularly rich? Is it long and thick? "Very" is almost always a wasted word . . . I go through my manuscripts it cut it as often as I can. And "pretty" doesn't convey much information.
I realize that suggestion 2 is almost the reverse of suggestion 1. The difference lies in what one can observe with a quick inspection.
Over all, good work! Carry on!!
Bruce
I would love to see a lot more books in The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed series. My daughter loves mysteries and loves ghost books and these are GREAT!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Stephanie -
So glad you and your daughter are enjoying the Nina Tanleven books. I do have another book half finished. Alas, when I finally sent that part in (and I will admit that I was terribly late, for a variety of reasons) the original publisher decided that the series was "dated" and that they didn't want to continue it. I may go ahead and finish it and then self-publish it. I do love those characters . . . partly because Nine and Chris are based on my daughter and her best friend!
all best,
BC
So glad you and your daughter are enjoying the Nina Tanleven books. I do have another book half finished. Alas, when I finally sent that part in (and I will admit that I was terribly late, for a variety of reasons) the original publisher decided that the series was "dated" and that they didn't want to continue it. I may go ahead and finish it and then self-publish it. I do love those characters . . . partly because Nine and Chris are based on my daughter and her best friend!
all best,
BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
I have been a fan of yours for years. While making a list of books (there is a huge book fair here in AZ next month) I came across your website. I remember I wrote in this guest book back when I was 13, and I actually found my message! That was back in 2000. I am now 26. I started with your Unicorn Chronicles series. I finally had the pleasure of finishing the series last year, when I finally got my hands on 'The Final Hunt'. It was a long journey (more than half my life lol), but I was glad to have the privlige of reading that series. Bravo on the ending, and I hope you continue to write more stories such as that.
I have been a fan of yours for years. While making a list of books (there is a huge book fair here in AZ next month) I came across your website. I remember I wrote in this guest book back when I was 13, and I actually found my message! That was back in 2000. I am now 26. I started with your Unicorn Chronicles series. I finally had the pleasure of finishing the series last year, when I finally got my hands on 'The Final Hunt'. It was a long journey (more than half my life lol), but I was glad to have the privlige of reading that series. Bravo on the ending, and I hope you continue to write more stories such as that.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Grace -
Thanks for this lovely message. It's a delight (and a relief!) to know that you approve of the grand finale. I will always be embarrassed that it took me so long to get there. However I take some satisfaction in feeling that I got it right, which doesn't always happen when someone rushes to finish a series. Thanks for sticking with me for all those years!
I'll probably keep writing stories as long as I can get my fingers to the keyboard . . .
All best,
BC
Thanks for this lovely message. It's a delight (and a relief!) to know that you approve of the grand finale. I will always be embarrassed that it took me so long to get there. However I take some satisfaction in feeling that I got it right, which doesn't always happen when someone rushes to finish a series. Thanks for sticking with me for all those years!
I'll probably keep writing stories as long as I can get my fingers to the keyboard . . .
All best,
BC
One of my favorite books growing up was Sarah's Unicorn. I loved the story and spent hours looking at the wonderful drawings. I was so happy when I had my own little girl to be able to share the magic of one of my favorites with her. I am still amazed by the drawings and love to imagine what it must be like to have a unicorn as a friend.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Carrie -
What a lovely message! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and tell me this. SARAH'S UNICORN was only my second book, but it's still one of the ones I'm most proud of. It delights me to know that you are now sharing it with your daughter!
BC
What a lovely message! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and tell me this. SARAH'S UNICORN was only my second book, but it's still one of the ones I'm most proud of. It delights me to know that you are now sharing it with your daughter!
BC
Bruce, LOL! well good night I will type to u tomorrow
Reply by Bruce Coville
G'night. I will not wish you "sweet dreams" Instead I wish you "thrilling and fascinating dreams"!
BC
BC
Bruce, thanks for NOT telling us what u thouht i meant! Cause it probably wasnt very good!;)
Reply by Bruce Coville
Khexi - you're right, it wasn't. Beyond that, my lips are sealed! ;>
BC
BC