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Young adult author shares his story in Austin

Mystery lives at Mr. Elives Magic Shop, as Bruce Coville tells it. From spiders the size of dinner plates to an old man — “Antique” as Coville describes him — with eyes like black diamonds, there’s plenty of intrigue to go around.

Intriguing was the phrase of the day Tuesday as Coville entertained, humored and won over countless Austin students with stories about his stories and tales about writing. Coville, a 61-year-old renowned young adult fiction author, was in town discussing his work and teaching elementary students the values of writing and imagination.

“I love stories,” said Coville.

Coville — famous for books such as “My Teacher is an Alien” — grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., where he said he was inspired to write at an early age after getting an assignment in sixth grade to write a short story. Though he didn’t have much success in previous writing assignments, Coville jumped at the opportunity to create his own story.

“I just had a blast writing it,” he said with a grin.

Coville was hooked on writing by 17, writing his first children’s picture book when he was 19. He wouldn’t get published until 1977, about eight years after he pitched his first story. During that time, he worked a variety of odd jobs, including digging graves and teaching elementary students. Coville credits his eventual success at writing to “bone-headed stubbornness,” and has since gone on to write dozens of children’s and young adult books.

“I’m in that 8-to-12 mindset,” Coville said. “I never grew out of that. I never felt the need to go away from kids stuff.”

Coville’s books are beloved by generations of children, as he’s created stories with unicorns, aliens, dragons, monsters and more while keeping youngsters engaged. His 100th book, “Always October,” is based on a short story he wrote for “Bruce Coville’s Book of Monsters” and will be released in September and he’s already at work on another novel based on “Goblins in the Castle,” a previous title.

His work was appreciated by plenty of Austin students in recent weeks, as the Friends of the Austin Public Library bought about 700 copies of Coville’s books “My Teacher is an Alien,” “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher,” and “The Monster’s Ring” to give to students at Neveln and Pacelli Elementary Schools, as well as to donate through the library. Pacelli second- through fifth-graders received one copy of each book, as did Neveln third- through fifth-graders.

That’s what made Coville’s Tuesday visit to Pacelli and Neveln all the more special.

“It’s just good,” said Lillian Dolph, Neveln third-grader. “He did funny jokes.”

Parents agree, as Coville gave a lecture — what he calls “pedagogical stand-up comedy” — for local residents at the library Tuesday night about his works and his advice in writing.

“The recipe for a story is very simple: Take somebody you like, and get them in trouble,” Coville said with a grin Tuesday night.

Parents were impressed by Coville’s performance.

“He was pretty entertaining,” said Karen Hart, mother of Banfield first-grader Sterling Hart.

Coville’s time in Austin far exceeded what Ann Hokanson, library executive director, had hoped for as residents packed the large conference room for Coville’s talk.

“Mr. Coville really showed the kids how to be a writer,” Hokanson said. “His humor just keeps the kids on the edge of their seats.”

Coville’s visit is part of a five-city tour in Minnesota, with his trip to Austin paid for by Legacy amendment funding and Friends of the Austin Public Library. Hokanson was thrilled with the turnout for Coville’s talk.

“Going into the schools, taking programs into the schools is always great … but when you get a great turnout at the public library you know people chose to do that,” she said.

Yet it was Austin’s students who benefited most, as students like Southgate Elementary fourth-grader Gracen Rambadt got to meet the author of “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher,” which she is enjoying because she likes dragons.

“He’s a really good author,” Rambadt said.