Cassandra’s Comments (group member since Aug 19, 2010)

Cassandra’s comments from the Q&A with Cassandra Clare group.

Hello. I have a couple of questions.
But first let's have a hand on you're books. *claps very very loud and screams: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS ROCKS!!* (: It's just a good story and really when I bought the first book I didn't think it'll be all that grand until I finished it two nights after. But anyway let's get back to the questions.

Quetion number One:
So did you have any trouble (like writers block or something like that) while you were writing tMI?

Everyone gets writer's block or gets stuck sometimes.

Quetion Number Two:
How did you come up with the names of their weapons, runes, and well, their names?

The names in my books come from all over the place. Sometimes they can take a long time to develop. Clary Fray is named after two friends of mine. Her name was originally Valerie Frayre (after the artist who does some of the character art on the artwork page), then Valerie Frayne, then (when a friend of mine was also writing a book with a heroine named Valerie) Clary Frayne, then Clary Fray (my editor’s choice) — then when I realized Clary was a nickname, she became Clarice, and finally, Clarissa. (She’s not named after me. She is named after my friend Valerie Frayre, and my friend Clary.) Jace was originally named Will, but Jace is a name I always liked, and it needed to be something that could be short for Jonathan (and now the name Will shows up in Clockwork Angel instead). Max and Isabelle are named for my grandparents. Alec’s name was originally Alex, but Alec is a more interesting version of Alexander, I think. Simon and Maia are named after friends of mine, while Maryse, Robert, Jocelyn and others are simply names I picked out of baby name books and the like. (Luke Garroway I picked because it sounded a bit like loup-garou, which is French for werewolf.)
The names of the angels and seraph blades: Ithuriel, Raziel, Israfiel, etc. come from sources of angel mythology. Paradise Lost, the Bible, the Talmud, the Koran, the Enochian magic system, and so forth. They are all, as far as I know, sourceable to specific mythologies. I did not make any of them up, nor did I make up any of the names of the demons, which come from sources of demon mythology like the Lesser Key of Solomon and, of course, the Bible.

Question Number Three:
How did you come up with the characters?(Like Jace or Simon)

I . . . made them up. Writers, at least the ones I've talked to, always have characters floating around in their heads, bits and pieces of things we know and remember, people we've met, details about historical and literary figures — they all come together during the process of creating a character.

Question Number Four:
Did you worry if anyone was going to read you're book at all?

Of course.

Hello.
CoG Little spoiler.
So I don't know if anyone has asked this yet, but anyway. In CoG on page 525 Theres the girl that Magnus is talking to. Is that girl Tessa? Thanks by the way your books are awsome!

http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/faq...

Rowan wrote: I didn't have time to read all of the previous questions so if mine have already been asked, sorry.

1. Why did Will push Tessa away after the kiss in the attic? Was it because he was worried about his self control? Or did it have something to do with his secret?

It had something to do with his secret. And he was shocked at his own lack of self control as well.

2. This is a prediction I have about Will's secret...When Will was little and living with his family, he opened the box full of demon energies and that has something to do with why he left. He talks about opening a box as a kid and losing everything. So maybe Cecily was the name of his sister that died when he opened it or something. So he left his parents out of shame and anger towards himself and when they came to see him, probably to tell him they forgive him, he couldn't bring himself to see them. So now he's full of a horrible self hatred. Or maybe one of the demon's possessed him and he's in a constant battle with it, to keep it from fully taking him over?

Both are definitely theories I've heard people toss around.

3. I was thinking that maybe Jessamine would fall in love with a Shadowhunter guy, possible Gabriel Lightwood since he seems rude enough, and deal with being a Shadowhunter. Am I even close?

I can't tell you! Except that Jessie will fall in love before the end of the series.

ADRIS wrote: "2198006 I was wondering as to whether there would be a character from another city come to visit the Shadowhunters. I myself am from Louisiana and would love to see how you would portray a character from here. Not that you will, but do you think there might be a character from another city that's not ginormous?

Will's from a small town in England; Maia's from a small town in Jersey. I'm not saying I'll never do anything with a character from another small town or from somewhere farther away, but I'd have to think of an organic reason for it.

Jonathan wrote: "1) I dont quite understand Faerie politics, How much Terroitory does the seelie queen introduced in TMI have, For example is she the queen of Newyork City, State Ect, Is there Multiple Farie monarchs ? ALSO is it possible for there to be a Seelie King.

2) I've never been to one of your book signings ! Are we aloud to take pictures with you whilst you sign are books ?

1) There are multiple faerie monarchs, kings and queens, and their territory does not correspond to mundane state lines or city borders.

2) Sure.

Emma (Pulvis et umbra sumus) wrote: "Julie wrote: "Emma (Pulvis et umbra sumus) wrote: "Are you ever coming to Denmark on tour?"

She has a link on her website that shows her tour dates.

http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/app......"

I know. But Denmark's not on there. I just wanted to know if she was maybe thinking about planning on coming to Denmark? "

Julie's right. If I was thinking about or planning to come to Denmark, it would be on there.

Medha wrote: "Will there be further releases from the Mortal Instruments series after City of Heavenly Fire? And you're already shifting focus from Jace and Clary to Simon, so will there be spinoffs/focus on the other characters? For instance, we know very little about Magnus, even less of his relationship with Alec. It's a tentative couple and a beautiful relationship, and I for one would like to know more about them, individually and together. Alec became my favorite in the first book, before Magnus entered and shifted Alec to second place, and now that they're together, I am truly overjoyed. I was ecstatic after reading a conversation between them from City of Fallen Angels. Let's hope they have a happy ending.

Thank you for telling us more about Simon. His is turning out to be quite a mournful tale, and everyone loves a tragic hero.


""Will there be further releases from the Mortal Instruments series after City of Heavenly Fire?"

I am pleased that you are confident enough that you will like the next three books that you would want more, but no, probably not, is the answer.

"And you're already shifting focus from Jace and Clary to Simon, so will there be spinoffs/focus on the other characters?"

I'm not shifting focus from Clary and Jace to Simon. As I explained elsewhere here, that was the original idea for City of Fallen Angels, but when COFA became a trilogy, that idea was scrapped. CoFA, CoLS and CoHF all focus on the whole group: Clary, Jace, Simon, Izzy, Alec, Magnus, etc.

"For instance, we know very little about Magnus, even less of his relationship with Alec. It's a tentative couple and a beautiful relationship, and I for one would like to know more about them, individually and together."

Well, since the next 3 books are about the whole cast, Magnus and Alec do have their own plotline.

"Thank you for telling us more about Simon. His is turning out to be quite a mournful tale, and everyone loves a tragic hero."

Well, while the next three books no longer focus on him, he does have a strong plotline and I hope you will be pleased with it.

Julie wrote: "First off, I want Will to be a jerk through the series, oddly enough. Too many guys start off as a badboy, or whatever you want to call it, and then turn into a sappy mess after 'falling in love'. Even though I was disturbed with the last chapter of The Infernal Devices, I was glad at the same time.


Anywho, I've been wondering:
-Are there going to be any new supernatural races showing up in The Infernal Devices/The Mortal Instruments?
-Is Tessa's real father a demon that has been mentioned in Mortal Instruments?
-Are all of the upcoming books going to be about the same length as the ones that have already been published, or are they going to be longer/shorter? Or do you not know for sure yet?
-How do you plan/outline everything? Is it based on events, or chapters, or the characters in the scenes, or main points, etc.?
-What is your favorite supernatural group to write about other that Shadowhunters? Such as the Fae, Vampires, Werewolves, Warlocks...

I apologize if this is a lot of questions, or if the questions seem stupid. "

WEll, I like to think there's a middle ground between "sappy" and "sadist."

"Are there going to be any new supernatural races showing up in The Infernal Devices/The Mortal Instruments?"

Not really. The Downworlders are what they are. If there were more Downworlders, they'd probably have noticed by now. I mean there are banshees, goblins, mermaids, etc. but those are all fairies.

"-Are all of the upcoming books going to be about the same length as the ones that have already been published, or are they going to be longer/shorter? Or do you not know for sure yet?"

My books vary between 100,000-130,000 words and will likely continue to do so.

"-Is Tessa's real father a demon that has been mentioned in Mortal Instruments?"

No.

"-How do you plan/outline everything? Is it based on events, or chapters, or the characters in the scenes, or main points, etc.?"

First a synopsis of the series with all main events bullet pointed, then a detailed outline of each book, then a breakdown of each chapter with each section of the chapter bullet pointed. I use Scrivener.

Joe wrote: "hi cassandra. i am a 12 year old boy and i really loved the mortal instruments series. is there a set date that city of fallen angels will come out"

April 5, 2011.

Kelsey wrote: "Is Magnus going to be the new bad guy?"


No. What would turn Magnus evil? Getting a bad haircut?

Lorna Andreé wrote: "I am a big fan of all of your books etc. and I must admit I was content with how TMI ended, I know I won't be able to resist reading the future MI books, but I'm concerned that my enjoyment of the first three might be slightly 'tainted' by knowing what happens afterwards. Soooooo my question to you is...

are you optimistic about the reception of the next few books in TMI series as you, of course, know what you'll be making your readers think/feel?
And secondly (this next question is on behalf of my sister), when you are writing the dialogue for Magnus Bane, does it come to you naturally, or do you base his personality on someone you know??

I must admit I was content with how TMI ended. I am glad that you were. A lot of people really weren't. I will say it was never intended to be the end of every character's story — I already had a deal in place to write Simon's continuing story when I was writing Glass.

Look, there are two types of responses I get about the idea of more TMI books. One is yours — fear that some unnamable thing you won't like will happen and everything will be ruined. The other was terror at the idea that City of Glass was the last book in the series and the reader would never "find out" what happened to the characters or get to see them again. There is no "winning" for me in this scenario — some group of readers is going to be upset whatever I do, so I might as well do what I feel is the right thing and write the story I want to tell.

I will say that I think every time you start a new book you are nervous about how the book is going to make you feel. I think your nervousness is greater the more you have invested in the characters. If you have a lot invested in the TMI characters, three more books is three more opportunities for something bad to happen to them or for something to happen that you won't like. I have absolutely no idea how readers are going to respond. They always surprise me. They fixate on things I think are unimportant and hate things I love. So I'm not going to try to magic-8-ball what they're going to think about the next trilogy. All I can say is that I think you can't go wrong if you stay true to the characters and that I intend to stay true to the characters. I understand that both you *and* the people who demand more books feel protective of the characters. So do I, and I intend to do my best by them. I think there is still plenty of growing for most of them to do and I think that City of Glass deliberately left openings for new story to happen. I know that when I explained the story to my critique group, they were thrilled. I trust them, and I trust they wouldn't let me do anything insane.

Magnus' dialogue comes pretty naturally; I don't think I know anyone like that in my life, though I suppose I've met some people who were a bit Magnusy.

Carlys. wrote: "This is a question about Clockwork Angel. Is it possible that Tessa is really an automaton that's a demon-energy transfer success? The Magister mentioned that Tessa's mom did not know that she was cheating on Tessa's father. So, does that mean it was a shapeshifting demon and then he used some kind of warlock's binding spell to transfer demon energy to the child? Or maybe Tessa was kidnapped, experimented on, and then returned, like all in one night?"

Sure, it's possible. :)

Frederikke wrote: "Hi Cassandra...

I just finished your book, the fantastic The Clockwork Angel, in about 15 hours... I just couldn’t put it down, and my favorite character has to be Jem…
And my question is, what i..."

London is my second-favorite city in the world. I didn't want to have to set everything in New York, and Victorian London has an undeniable draw.

Obviously we see Tessa at the end of COG and know that she is immortal.

What I've never understood, and I apologize for my ignorance, is how she stopped at age sixteen, or whatever younger age she is at COG.

I never really understood how she can grow up to a certain age and stop.
"

Like I said before, the manner in which warlocks stop aging will be covered in the books. To some extent, they can choose it. Also Magnus looks barely twenty-five and there is no indicator of how old Tessa looks in CoG except that Clary calls her a "girl." She could look twenty.

Taylor wrote: "First off I'd like to start by saying how much I love your books. Now on to the question part. I've noticed a trend in your books. In The Mortal Instruments there were two boys the heroine had to choose between. In The Clockwork Angel the heroine is once again drawn to two boys. I was wondering why that is. I still love your books regardless but upon noticing the trend I couldn't help but wonder."

The idea of the main character who has to choose between romantic possibilities can be found in thousands upon thousands of books. It is such a basic literary trope that it is a bit like asking "I notice your books are divided into chapters. Why this trend?"

Part of the reason the love triangle (although that is overly simplistic — in TMI Simon loves Clary who loves Jace who Alec is in love with, who Magnus is in love with, etc. It's more a love rhombus) is so popular is because it is an allegory — who the loved one "picks" stands in symbolically for what life she chooses.

"The Mortal Instruments there were two boys the heroine had to choose between."

Not really. Clary was in love with Jace. There was never any doubt about her feelings. When she couldn't have Jace because he was her brother, she tried to date Simon to help her forget and feel less hurt. Didn't work. She never "chose" between them in any real sense.

"In The Clockwork Angel the heroine is once again drawn to two boys."

I agree with this except for the "again" part. Clary isn't drawn to Simon romantically. Tessa will actually be torn romantically between Jem and Will. The dynamic is completely different. That is another reason love triangles are so popular - because you can ring endless changes on them. They may belong to the same category but they are not the same thing, any more than a bright purple silk t-shirt with the word WAHOO blazoned on it in glitter is the same as a plain black cotton t-shirt. You'd hardly not buy one because you already own the other, whether they are both t-shirts or not.

Nezzo wrote: "Cassnadra - my A to U.

Maybe here we get some mistake! I did not want to sound like an insult or something like this. My point was totally different! I don't like happy end 2, but in the teenage w..."

I'm sorry. I think we're having a language barrier issue. I literally don't understand what you're asking. Maybe you can get someone to translate your question for you into English and we can go from there?

Jessica wrote: "Will we see more of Jace playing the piano? I love the image of him at a piano filling the room with beautiful music."

Yes. Though under odd circumstances...

Just a general post but I thought it'd be of interest here:

I generally tweet teasers for COFA every month on Twitter. And part 1 of the COFA teaser for Sept. is up!

http://twishort.com/abreu

I warn you it is mainly for people who've read CA as well. Tomorrow there will be a teaser for those who have not read CA yet.

Gauri wrote: "*** SPOILER***

Hey Ms. Clare I love your books. I wanted to ask if Simon likes Maia and does Clary get jealous of Simon in any way? I am only on the second one C/A. I love them all."

You're going to get majorly spoilered in this group! Maia is something of a love interest for Simon; Clary gets a little jealous.

Tracy wrote: "This is more of a general question, but: do you know at which point immortal people stop physically growing? Like... in TMI, Magnus is described as a man, while Tessa is a still a girl."

Warlocks can to some extent choose when they stop aging. There's more on it in books to come.