When you came up with your story idea did you intend to write a trilogy or did the story just take on a life of its own?
I came up with the idea of a trilogy that was loosely structured on the Divine Comedy - if you look at the titles of each part in City of Bones, you'll see they all have "descent" in them. In City of Ashes, the theme is hell or inferno. The structure is descent, inferno, ascent — it's the hero's voyage into and out of the underworld — so I pictured it in three parts.
City of Bones really does have almost every imaginable supernatural or fantastic creature in it. Did you spend a lot of time researching creatures?
Yes, and that was enormously fun. I read all sorts of texts about fallen angels and demons, a lot of faerie lore, and various myths. What I discovered was that every culture has its myth of evil spirits or demons. Some are aspects of existing gods, as in Indian and Persian myths, and some are agents of some overwhelming evil force that's locked in a battle with a single god — as in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism — while in Native American mythology they personify the destructive aspects of the natural world, like tornadoes and earthquakes. I even tried some demon-summoning spells, but not with any success.
What was the best part for you about working in a world where you could create anything you wanted? Did you find it limiting at all?
Well, I don't think there's ever a situation where you can do anything you want — first you establish the rules of your cosmology and magic system, and then you have to stick to those rules. If it's not limited in some sense, then there aren't enough consequences in the story to keep it interesting.
Do you have a favorite character from your novel? I have to admit that I'm rather partial to Simon myself.
My boyfriend will be happy to hear that. He's convinced Simon is based on him. My favorite character is Magnus. He's so much fun to write. He's always wearing and saying something fabulous and dramatic.
How has your writing group been helpful?
Oh, they're fantastic. I'm lucky to be in a writing group with such amazing people. The first few group meetings I could barely even say anything because I was so overwhelmed. When we had our City of Bones meeting I went home with six copies of the manuscript written over in red ink. I had to lug the ten-pound bag of paper on the train from Boston, but their comments were invaluable.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - yareader
Thank you for posting the interview with Ms. Clare. I liked her willing to go over questions about her new book. I am a fan of how she names her characters too. I think the visual descriptions of the surroundings were amazing. I felt like I could smell, see, and feel in the vampire hotel. Thanks for giving a forum to new authors.
2 - Julianne
Thank you for such an insightful interveiw. I recently read City of Bones and enjoyed it enormously. It's a witty and well-written page-turner.
I enjoyed reading her comments about the book and the creative process. I met her at a signing recently and she is as witty in person as she is on the page. That really came across in your interview.
3 - unknown
i really enjoyed the book and her future books seem promising except the fact she made jace and clary borther and sister...noo that was so wrongggggg
4 - lise
city of bones was amazing!
I loved all of the characters sarcastic combacks and their wit in general
PLEASE do NOT let JACE die...
it bad enough that CoB ended with clary being his sister!!
5 - sandy moon
i love the 1st few chapters but in the middle thats were it got me
6 - no name
thanks for posting the interview! i'm really looking forward to the next book, but i DON'T want either clary, simon or jace to die.....
7 - vbvnbn
WOAH. WAIT. PLEASE DONT KILL JACE!!!! OMG I WOULD DIE. i mean....i'm still not over him and clary..i thought maybe they would find out that they were wrong and that they werent brother and sister becuase they are perfect and i love them and i DONT WANT HIM TO DIE..
lol sorry. But I just wanted to say that the book was amazing. Thanks
8 - Ashley
i loved first book city of bones until the end i was like whoa WHAT THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM
HOW COME THEY ARE RELATED
this would have been a top book if she didnt make them related
i was sooo sad
i dont think i will be able to read the next book
i just can't bare it. then now she is saying she going to kilLi ONE OF THE MAIN THREE CHARACTERS WHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! i
i rather not know than be disappointed
i hate to see characters i get attached to die!!!
9 - brittany
no i really liked the book,and the fact that clary and jace ere related added a really twisted side, i pretty much loved it from begining to end.it also looked like it had the same back-ground as holly black's books. my only beef is killing of the characters,but i think itll have to be jace(sorry)
10 - mya
i too think you should have made the brother's! it was a real surprise but not a good one! i mean it was too wierd!!
but i for sure will read the next book!
but i am a bit afraid of who your going to kill..
11 - Amy
Thank you for the interview. I recently read City of Bones and loved it.
I appreciate and enjoy an author that includes such detail in their books that it allows you, the reader, to really picture yourself there within it's pages.
The story's main characters may be teens, however the story itself is a timeless one that any adult would also enjoy.
I applaud Cassandra Clare for sticking to her guns and being true to her characters instead of changing them to suit someone else.
I am very much looking forward to her next installment of the trilogy.
12 - cassandra
hi mi name is cassandra yut is yre name
13 - Ali
Man, I LOVE City of Bones!
I let my best friend read the book and she loves it too! :)
But I think she will kill me if I tell her that Simon, Clary or JACE will die.
We both LOVE Jace and I would really hate to see him die.
PLEASE don't kill him...well it's ur book.
Not like I can change ur mind 'bout what u wanna do but I just wanted to put my feelings out there :)
Out of the 3 that I heard about dying, I say kill...Simon. I'm sorry. I love Simon but the main character can't die and it wouldn't be City of Ashes without Jace.
(I really love all the characters, even Valentine. But my favoritist characters have to be Jace, Alec and Isabelle!)
Lookin' forward to 2 & 3!
14 - staarry
OMG i loved the booK BUT WUT WERE U THINKING MAKING THEM RELATED! it ruined the book for me
15 - Bella
No, I don't think there is any possibility that Jace could die in book 2. Seriously, Miss Clare wouldn't do something like this to Clary's mother.. I actually cannot see the point. I remember the interview when Cassie said that there would to be some kind of twist changing the Clary-Simon relationship and I suppose that's it.We're not considering Clary, are we? XD
And I love the fact that Clary & Jace are related. Simply, it makes the City of Bones different than Cassie's famous fan fiction.
16 - Sharmanie
i really loved the first book but i was a little let down by the ending, i think by making them related after making them kiss was just too wierd, i cant wait to read the next one i just REALLY REALLY hope that you dont kill off jace, he gives the story that charm and hottness that makes it so great.
17 - Elizabeth
I think the first book was madd although the ending of it was a bit of a let down. the thought of a brother and sister having crushes on each other was just a little wierd for me, but it still got me hooked so i have to read the next one, just PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont kill jace he's a big part of why i'm gonna read the next one. keep up the good writting.
18 - kimberly ashley
city of bones is the best book in the world!
and Jace is baare sexxy
i hope he dosent die
i'd rather twas simon
19 - Samantha
omg i loved city of bones! i like fell in love with jace lol... i was sooo hoping that clary and him would get together but they are related!
i hope that in city of ashes they find out that valentine was just messing with them and they arent actually related! and i really hope they dont kill off jace! anyway i cant wait til the other books are out
20 - LOVE IT!!!
I LOVE CITY OF BONES...IT'S MAY FAVOURITE BOOK AT THE MOMENT. I WAS SOOOO SAD TO HEAR THAT JACE AND CLARY WERE RELATED AND THAT WAS THE WORST PART OF THE BOOK FOR ME BECAUSE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS STRONG AND THEY SUITED EACH OTHER SO WELL....THAT SORT OF RUINED IT FOR ME...BUT I LOVE IT ALL THE SAME AND CAN'T WAIT TO READ CITY OF ASHES!!!!!!
21 - Em
Wow! I love city of bones! I really can't wait for the city of ashes!! But, I can't believe that either Jace, Clary or Simon is going to die! It sooooo can't be Clary because she’s the main character and the book wouldn’t have a point without her. I soooo don’t want Jace to die because he brings humour and a twist to the book. But I don’t want Simon to die either. If I had to chose though, I’d prefer Simon to die! Although, I heard that Simon gets kidnapped by Valentine for a sacrifice and Jace tries to save him! So either Jace dies saving Simon or Simon is used as a sacrifice!!!!!!
22 - Allison
Can't wait for the next book, but please no!!! Don't let anyone die!!!! I luv luv luv Simon, Clary, and Jace!!! At least bring whoever it is back to life somehow. I mean there's magic, who said you can't bring people back to life?? Can't wait!!! :)
23 - louise
this book is awesome
24 - Mary-Lou
I loved city of bones sooo much!
I can even understand why she made Clary brother and sister....it was all about the aspect of Forbidden love. Although I LOVED Clary and Jace!
I can't wait for City Of Ashes to come out!
And pleaseee don't kill Jace!
He's my favorite Character!
25 - M.
Okay, I would just like to point out that this interview is completly random. Everything seems normal, like every other interview, and then you read the last paragraph.
It goes from, "My favourite book is the Silver Chair" to "Oh, yeah I forgot to metion, one of the three main characters dies. Have a nice life."
What the hell?
Everything was normal and then, this big gigantic bomb went of.
Like I said, RANDOM.