Interview with Author Cassandra Clare

Recently TWFT got the opportunity to talk with Cassandra Clare, the bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass.) Since I’m a big fan (*ZOMGthesebooksaresofreakingawesomeSQUEE!*) I was way excited to do this interview. Thanks so much for your time, Cassandra!

KB: What are your five most loved novels of all time?

CC: I don’t have favorites! That’s a big rule with me. Five novels I love: Checkmate by Dorothy Dunnett, Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey, Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers, Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

 

KB: What are you working on right now?

CC: Right now I’m working on The Clockwork Angel, the first in the Infernal Devices series, which is a series of prequels to the Mortal Instruments. It’s set in Victorian-Era London. There’s more here: www.theinfernaldevices.com (and I want to show off the pretty website.)

KB: How has the popularity of the Mortal Instruments series changed your life as a writer and/or regular person?

CC: It’s allowed me to be a full-time writer for the moment, which was always my dream.

 

KB: Have you ever had a moment of doubt in your writing career – a moment when you were afraid you would never be published or felt like giving up? If so, how did you overcome it?

CC: I have doubts all the time. I might be having one right now. I think everyone does. I think you have to think about your work in some ways separate from your goals for publication. You just have to focus on the book, or short story, or project, as an independent entity without thinking about where it might end up, so to speak.

 

KB: Can you tell us about the first story you ever wrote (that wasn’t for a school assignment)?

CC: When I was about 13, I wrote a 1,000 page romantic epic called The Beautiful Cassandra based on the story Jane Austen wrote about her sister when she was twelve. (You can read it here. The Jane Austen story I mean, not my novel. ) It was terrible, but boy did I have fun writing it (and my friends had fun reading it.)

 

KB: If you could choose one fictional character (other than your own) to have a five minute conversation with, who would it be and what would you say to them?

CC: I’d rather have a five minute conversation with an author. I’d ask Raymond Chandler what really happens in The Big Sleep. Although I suppose it’s possible he never actually knew.

 

KB: What tips do you have for dealing with the wait for queries?

CC: I am the last person to ask because I only ever queried one agent and I got a reply the next day. I know, that really makes me sound like a tool, but I was very lucky.

 

KB: What was your querying process like?

CC: I met my agent through one of his existing clients, who had read City of Bones and recommended it to him. He suggested I query him, so I did. I knew I was interested in having him represent me anyway because his client list was impressive and I liked that he only repped kids/YA.

 

KB: How do you deal with writer’s block?

CC: I think sheer terror. I’m afraid of what my publisher might do to me if I miss my deadline.

 

KB: What is your ideal writing atmosphere?

CC: Writing in a big room, lots of comfortable chairs, with other writers around, also working on their projects and filling the room with a feeling of creativity at work.

 

KB: And TWFT’s token ridiculous interview question – What is your favorite flavor of jelly bean?

CC: Cinnamon.

Thanks again for answering our burning questions, Cassandra!

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Check out Cassandra Clare’s bestselling Mortal Instruments trilogy for some kick-ass angel warriors, fantastic world-building, and plenty of romance.