Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices Lovers! discussion

For everyone not linked to Cassandra Clares tumblr and website here's the latest info...

Q-Why was Gideon described as worse than Gabriel in CA? I don't understand it, because you have us thinking of some really nasty person but when Gideon finally appears in CP1 he's actually pretty sweet and neutral. Unless he has some sort of dark side...?

A-Because, as Gideon explains, he was a completely different person before he went to Spain (ah, lovely Spain - but it really could have been anywhere) got out from under his father’s influence, and realized that the way that he’d been taught to think his whole life was wrong. He returns thoughtful and unhappy and introverted, trying to sort out his priorities. He is not the person that the other Shadowhunters remember. Because people do change.

Q-Who is older? Mark or Julian? ><
A-It’s an interesting situation, but Mark.

Q-OMG! TDA news = overwhelming! Quick Q (and even though you probably can't answer this, I'll still give it a try): So Emma is the most skilled shadowhunter since Jace, does that mean she has angel blood? Or is she just purely talented meaning that, basically she's better than Jace because he has angel blood in him?

A-Keeping in mind I don’t want to commit entirely to anything at this early stage, Emma does not have special Shadowhunter powers. She isn’t even so much purely talented as incredibly determined and works incredibly hard. She wants to be an exceptional Shadowhunter and it’s what she’s devoted her life to

Q-Thank you for signing up to write the Dark Artifices! My friends and I love all of your series! Since he doesn't have a Tumblr, one of my friends wanted me to ask if the characters in the Dark Artifices are going to be diverse (ethnically and sexuality wise) like in the other series. He lives in L.A and gets angry when the media usually portrays L.A as "full of white, straight people" (his words, not mine). He also thanks you for creating great characters no matter what orientation or ethnicity.

A-That is a great question. I grew up in Los Angeles and certainly there is nothing accurate about an all-white LA. There are Latina, Asian, and mixed-race characters in TDA, as well as gay and lesbian characters. I will  do my best not to mess it up.

Q-Have you told us what Mark's full name is?
A-Mark Blackthorn.

He is Julian’s brother.

Q-Is Tessa going to be a part of the DA series or will the story of Tessa stay in the ID series?
A-I’m sorry, I can’t answer any questions about whether Tessa will show up in future TMI or TDA books. Too spoilery.

“andlookatmeimwearingavegtable asked you:

Will Magnus be in the Dark Artifices seires? or any of the TMI characters since it’s only set 5 or so years later?” Ditto really questions about the other characters. I will say that TDA takes place five years after the events of TMI. Surviving characters from TMi will be 22, 23 years old. They’re also pretty famous in the TDA world (as you can see from the summary and Emma’s desire to be as badass “as Jace Lightwood.”) They’re old enough to have jobs … to have gotten married … to have had kids … or not … but we will find out. I just can’t tell you details, because then you know who lives. And that’s not fair play a’tall!

Q-HI CASSIE. it's been a while since i've sent you an ask. very excited to hear about all the news. now, i have a legit question. you know how all the mi books are "city of..." and the id books are "clockwork..." what will the dark artifice books be? can you give us a title in the making? ;)
A-Good question!

The working title of Dark Artifices #1 is Lady Midnight.

Q-love your books! I read them all even the extras and I always keep checking your tumblr for anything new. I got my friend to read your books and she loves Jem very much now. I really wish the boys you create are real. I was wondering about the Dark Artifices, why would Emma and Jules become parabatia if they have feeling for each other? Could someone stop being parabatia? May there be a loophole, or shall they suffer that forbidden love and make us suffer as well?! :/”

A-Well, it’s me. How could there not be suffering? Where would be the fun?

I think it is very hard to talk about the intricacies of character motivation in books that aren’t out - that haven’t even been written yet! Obviously Julian and Emma wouldn’t decide to be parabatai if they were in love with each other and they knew it. So that’s not what happens. 

People are complicated. They fall in love in all sorts of ways. At first sight, over time, back in love with people they fell out of love with before. Emma and Julian don’t live in the same world as Clary and Jace, either. They have to deal with the fallout of the events in City of Lost Souls and Heavenly Fire, which change the whole world of Shadowhunters. Practically everyone in TDA has some kind of PTSD.

Q-chairmanmeows asked you:Whereas everyone wants to know about the badass Emma and the gorgeous Julian, there is one character I’m dying to know about - Tiberius. Because that’s the best name you’ve ever used.”

A-Tiberius would be so pleased. He hates his name. I’ve seen some confusion about the Blackthorn names in TDA. They do all have something in common.

You cannot have Tiberius without Olivia. Livvy without Tibs (actually no one calls him that after he’s like eleven). They are twins and they are inseperable. As I said everyone in TDA has some sort of PTSD pretty much, and Tiberius and Olivia have come to live in their own bubble, somewhat. Tiberius can go for days at a time without talking, so Livvy talks for him when he does. She explains him to other people, and other people to him. But Ty can be extremely insightful despite his tendency to get lost in his own head. It just depends if he’s paying attention.

Family names and meanings for the DA

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The Dark Artifices updated

Q - In the Dark Artifices, what kind of dating history Emma will have? I know that Tessa and Clary had little to know experience in dating, but when you described Emma she sounded more like Jace then any of your other characters, so I was wondering whether she would have some ex-boyfriends or current boyfriends when the book starts.

A-Poor Tessa! One really couldn’t “date” in the Victorian period. Fortunately she is more than making up for it in CP. So yes, Clary and Tessa, both no dating experience, but Emma has both past and perhaps current boyfriends when the book starts. Who can say? She does threaten a vampire that she is going to turn him into a heap of ashes and use it to stuff a teddy bear for her boyfriend with, but perhaps she’s just talkin’.