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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:
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955 entries.
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
Bruce, sorry I meant to say AH HUMBUG ! To the editors not "!" So ya sorry;)
Reply by Bruce Coville
LOL! I won't tell you what I thought you meant!
Hey Bruce, thanks for trying and I hope u cant do more books in the UC but if u cant then "!" to the editors because I LOVE the UC and it makes me sad to that they don't wanna do anymore so I hope they do product another one!
Your fan, Khexi
Your fan, Khexi
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Khexi -
Thanks for your support. The situation makes me sad, too. I can tell you that I am trying to find ways to change it!
BC
Thanks for your support. The situation makes me sad, too. I can tell you that I am trying to find ways to change it!
BC
HI bruce me and my friend kaitee are doing an Inglish project and we have to chose our fav writer,hi im kaitee i never read your books before but i bet their great! hi im skye and my fav book you wrote was jeremy thatcher the dragon hatcher its sooooo GOOD!
sincerely,
skye and kaitee
sincerely,
skye and kaitee
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Kaitee and Skye (great names, by the way)
Hope you'll enjoy working on your project. Kaitee, you'll need to get crackin' and read at least one of the books! ;>
Hope you two get a good grade!
BC
Hope you'll enjoy working on your project. Kaitee, you'll need to get crackin' and read at least one of the books! ;>
Hope you two get a good grade!
BC
hey bruce!
thanks for the tips. i'll keep them in my thoughts.
my new question is, do you have any characters in your stories that are "bully" characters?
i can only remember Billy Becker from Aliens ate my Homework. do you have any other characters who are similar?
i made up a character named Jax Tramin. and i am intending to make him a bully character. (also,i want him to be the character that people will LOVE to HATE!)
please let me know! i could use your help!
Byron Lee
thanks for the tips. i'll keep them in my thoughts.
my new question is, do you have any characters in your stories that are "bully" characters?
i can only remember Billy Becker from Aliens ate my Homework. do you have any other characters who are similar?
i made up a character named Jax Tramin. and i am intending to make him a bully character. (also,i want him to be the character that people will LOVE to HATE!)
please let me know! i could use your help!
Byron Lee
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Byron -
As always, I am impressed with your dedication to your writing.
As to bullies - oh, yes, indeed. Many of my books have bullies in them. That is because they are so prevalent in real life, and so many kids have the experience of being bullied. Two specific bullies are Eddie in THE MONSTER'S RING and Duncan Dougal in MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
BC
As always, I am impressed with your dedication to your writing.
As to bullies - oh, yes, indeed. Many of my books have bullies in them. That is because they are so prevalent in real life, and so many kids have the experience of being bullied. Two specific bullies are Eddie in THE MONSTER'S RING and Duncan Dougal in MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN.
BC