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

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

A couple of months ago it was understood that the fourth book would be mainly focused on Simon, but then we found out that a fifth and sixth book are coming out. So is this entire new, trilogy I'll say, all focused on Simon? I know Clary and other main characters will make appearances, but would you call them just that, "appearances", not full on roles?"

*sigh* I wish I could quash this rumor somehow but I guess I'll just have to wait till COFA comes out and people finally realize it isn't about Simon. Yes, once upon a time there was going to be a spinoff book about Simon. Neither City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, or City of Heavenly Fire is that book. As it says on my blog here:

http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com...

1) "Since City of Fallen Angels was supposed to be mostly about Simon, are these latter two books also mostly about Simon?"

No, and honestly it never occurred to me anyone would think that or I would have made a special point of mentioning it in the chat! Yes, when I first proposed City of Fallen Angels to my publisher, it was going to center more around Simon. That was the plan. What I think I didn't get across during the chat is that as I sat down to write CoFA, and realized it was a much bigger story than I had thought, the focus shifted off Simon and more onto the rest of the characters. Magnus and Alec, who orginally were not going to be in the book at all, now have a major role to play. Clary and Jace have a central role to play. That stuff about Simon leaving town? Not happening; the major action takes place in NYC. While I did try to preserve a strong plotline for Simon, in which he is more than an adjunct to the larger drama surrounding Jace and Clary, it would now be very misleading to refer to it as "Simon's book" or indicate that it is mainly about him. It is not. It is as much about Jace and Clary as City of Glass was. If you even notice Simon has a slightly larger part I'd be stunned.

Kelsiee wrote: "My question is did you have it all played out in your head, on how you wanted it to turn out? Or did you just write around until you felt you were satisfied?

I plan everything out in extreme detail. Other people can just wing it, but I am not one of them.

Sandra wrote: "Ive been on your frequently asked questins website and it confirms that Church the cat is immortal. How did that happen?"

SPOILER

The necromantic rituals the Dark Sister used him to perform in CA rendered him immortal.

I'm not a fan of unexpected and really steamy scenes between characters. I was pleased that I didn't really have any problems in TMI or ID. Am I going to have to watch out for that in the later books in both series?

*scratches head* Well, these are YA books. They are not known for explicit sex scenes. But by the time TMI cycle 2 rolls around Clary and Jace have been dating for quite a while — it would be weird if they didn't do *anything*. I guess I would have to ask what your definition of steamy is, and if it only bothers you if it's unexpected (like in the middle of a dinner scene, two characters who've barely spoken fall to the ground and start ripping each other's clothes off?)

I suppose I could say that ID is going to be lighter on the making out scenes because of the time period, but that'd be a lie. There are a few pretty passionate scenes in book 2, though again, explicit stuff is not normal for YA.

Also, Will acts like a real jerk during CA (I wouldnt have have objected if Tessa slapped him and walked away, I'm just saying), is he going to get any kinder or am I just going to have to throw hope for him overboard and jump in the Jem boat?


I'm going to repeat what I said above:

I sense a lot of worry and concern that readers "are not going to find out why Will is so mean." I don't know if that's because there have been a lot of books where the boy treats the girl badly and she loves him anyway (this series is not one of those; I do not think the Will of Book One would be a good romantic prospect and neither does Tessa) but yes, you will find out what is up with Will in book 2. And I would be very surprised if by the end of book 2, a lot of people who don't like Will find themselves reversing their opinion. (Not everyone, obviously - not everyone likes Jace, either!) But yes. You are going to have to trust me as the author on this one. It's not like I don't know he's a jerk or think his behavior is acceptable or romantic.

Karen wrote: "Hi, Cassandra!

When you start a book, do you plan, outline, etc.? Or do you just write it out?

-Karen"

I outline every series, then every book, then every chapter in every book.

Mahesh wrote: "Hi Cassie, I know you love Simon but who is your favorite Female character from ID and TMI? Mines Jessamine and Isabelle are they related? Out of all your books, which scene was the most difficult to write?"

Simon isn't my favorite — I don't have favorites. He is the one I relate to most. Tessa is the one I relate to most in ID because of her passion for reading. Jessamine's fun to write and Isabelle is a blast, I love them both, but they are very very different.

Curls wrote: "I was just wondering how you got inspired ..."

BIC. HOK.

That stands for "butt in chair, hands on keyboard."

Inspiration is nice, but when writing is your job, you can't rely on it. You have to sit down and write. Even if you don't want to, even if nothing is in your head, even if the thought makes you sick. Sit. Write.

SPOILER

Emma (Pulvis et umbra sumus) wrote: "I dunno if you saw my question, or if it's just that it's one of those who cant be answered; but is Nate really evil? I was sitting with a lump in my throat, when he turned against Tessa. I have a ..."

I did see it but you need to put SPOILER above these kinds of questions! Nate is not brainwashed or enchanted. He is acting of his own free will. This is not to say he can't ever be redeemed, but he's responsible for his own actions.

Monique wrote: "I love Will, but why is he so mean? I know it's because of his past and everything, but in those 476 pages we never really got to understand him or learn about him. Will we be able to understand him on the level we understand Jace by the end of the series??"

No, you didn't get find out why Will is the way he is, just like you didn't get to find out whether Edward was going to turn Bella into a vampire in book one, or how Harry was going to kill Voldemort in book one. Will pushing everyone away is not just a character quirk, it's part of the plot. If you found it out in the first book it would destroy the structure of the second book.

I sense a lot of worry and concern that readers "are not going to find out why Will is so mean." I don't know if that's because there have been a lot of books where the boy treats the girl badly and she loves him anyway (this series is not one of those; I do not think the Will of Book One would be a good romantic prospect and neither does Tessa) but yes, you will find out what is up with Will in book 2. And I would be very surprised if by the end of book 2, a lot of people who don't like Will find themselves reversing their opinion. (Not everyone, obviously - not everyone likes Jace, either!)

"in those 476 pages we never really got to understand him or learn about him"

You learned that he has parents who are alive but who he mysteriously shuns; you learned he loves to read; you learned he lets no one close to him but Jem; you learned he is capable of great cruelty but seems to be tortured by actually enacting it. You learned he has a secret he has never told anyone but is about to tell Magnus because he needs Magnus' help. You learned what you needed to know.

Curls wrote: "What effect does Alec and Mundugas's relationship have on how other shadowhunters treat Alec? (Sorry about the spelling!)"

Mundungus????

Sandra wrote: "What impact does the mark of Kaine have on Simons life? is it a huge one?"

Yes.

Sarah wrote: "Hi. Let me just say, me & my friends LOVE YOU!. We read all of your books as soon as they come out. Anyway, I was just wondering in City of Fallen Angels, is there anything you can tell us that happens that wasn't in the preview in COG? :)

Have you read all the teasers?

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

Autumn O'Shea Swan wrote: "I'm 17 and I have lots of medical issues like using a wheelchair. It just occurred to me that all your characters have no problems even as small as hay fever or allergic reaction to bees. Is that the angel blood in the Shadowhunters? Or can they have some health problems?

The Shadowhunters are indeed protected from minor health issues like allergies by their angel blood (the same way they're stronger, faster, etc.) Simon, being a standard human being, does have allergies, specifically to ragweed, as mentioned in City of Ashes.

Annie wrote: "Hey Cassandra!
When you're writing your books do you laugh out loud and cry when you write funny or sad parts?"

Very rarely. I think I got a bit choked up when

SPOILER FOR TMI

Max died.

Curls wrote: "I have tried writing a book many times and I get to about 11,000 thousand words and get stuck. Any advice?"

Do you outline?

Nadia wrote: "This is not really a question, but I wanted to thank you for including LGBT characters in your books, especially a bisexual one. So far it's a first in the YA books I have read! It means a lot :)"

Thanks! I know you can find bisexual characters in Melissa Marr's books but you're right, it isn't common.

Evi wrote: My question is about your writing process-- how far ahead have you outlined/planned in both series? Are you more of a "write-as-I-go" author, or do you map out a whole series before writing? You must have planned pretty extensively for CoB, CoA, and CoG, since the end had to tie in with such small details in the first books, especially regarding Jace. Do you know already who's going to die in TMI Cycle 2, and CPrince and CPrincess?

Yes, I planned extensively for the first TMI cycle, for exactly the reason you noted — there are tiny details in Book One that are important in Book 3. The same in the case for all the series I write. I already know who's going to die in TMI Cycle 2, and CPrince and CPrincess, and who's going to end up together, and who isn't, along with the smaller, backbone details of the story.

Vampyrelover1993 wrote: "***SPOILER(KINDA)***
Why isn't Will and Tessa's relationship like Clary and Jace's? Will seems like a big jerk and is very standoffish... will this change in book 2 and 3?
Thanks :D"

As already answered by someone else, Tessa isn't Clary and Will isn't Jace. They're not the same people, so they're not going to have the same relationship. Also, as has been discussed extensively already here, Will is carrying around a huge secret, thus his "standoffishness." I also already said we'd find out what that secret was in book 2. On top of that, MI wasn't a real love triangle, and ID is. Will's standoffishness is sort of irrelevant if she's going to end up with Jem.

Vampyrelover1993 wrote: "Hello Cassandra (: I was wondering if you would tell me who is on the cover of Clockwork Angel?
Thank you!"

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

Curls wrote: "I am a Booky nerdy geek/aspiring writer any advice?"

Just what's on my writing advice page unless you have a specific problem.

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