I am in Questionable Content! For those not in the world of webcomics, QC is an awesome comic, like a massive hilarious/touching soap opera packed with references, drawn by Jeph Jacques (who also is responsible for Simon’s “Clearly I have made some bad decisions’ t-shirt). 

I have always wanted to be a comic character. Ideally Wolverine, but I will take “rando who compliments Marten on his suit”. Also delighted to be in a comic with Holly. Jeph has gotten us very well, especially our expressions and exactly what we would wear to a wedding (Holly: black.)

Hee!

In which Holly explains (in a kind way, for Holly is always kind) why writers delight in the pain of their readers.

hollyblack:

So, since yesterday, many Shadowhunters appear to have washed up on my shores with many questions. I am going to attempt to answer some of them in a quick round-up post.

Q: Hi Holly! I’m another nephilim that wants to give you a question, expecting to have an answer. Well, you said that you know The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices end. Do you know The Infernal Devices end? And I’d love to read your opinion (obviously, without spoilers)

Yes, I also know how Infernal Devices ends (and so will you, very soon). I have often referred to that series as having the Kobayashi Maru of love triangles and I think the ending is perfect for the story, but there’s nothing else I can really say without spoilers.

Q: I’ve recently been seeing fan’s write in asking you and Cassandra Clare the question of ‘Do you know how _____ ends?’. As an novice writer I must ask this: Is it bad that I actually don’t want to know how my story ends before I finish it? That’s how I’ve been writing (admittedly it’s fan fiction but even my original story is like this)

When I first started Tithe, I didn’t know how the book ended. Because I didn’t know how it ended, I also didn’t know what happened in the middle. Because I didn’t know what happened in the middle, I spent years writing and rewriting the beginning. And so, once I was finally done, I swore I would never start a book without having an ending in mind.

So I always have a plan for how a book ends, even if that plan doesn’t turn out to be the right one. And that doesn’t bother me at all — I just want the security of having some possible ending.

But I have friends for whom the idea of having an ending from the start is really stifling. They want to go on the journey of discovery as they write and part of going on that journey, for them, is having no limitations, no guard rails, no fencing. 

And I have other friends who know the ending right from the start and when they get to the end, everything works seamlessly. They don’t change things along the way or reevaluate the way that I do. They have a plan and stick to the plan.

So long as your process is working for you, then its exactly what you should be doing and exactly how your should be doing it. Don’t worry if it’s different from the way other writers do things. Everybody’s different.

Q: Did Cassandra Clares books inspire you to write your new book on Faeries?

No, I’m afraid I’ve been writing about faeries for a long time.

Q: So how many people die in COHF?? Im sooo scared!!

Thousands. See, it doesn’t really help to know…

Q: No wonder you and Cassie Clare are friends. You both absolutely enjoy torturing us, your fans, don’t you?

Yes, but not in the way that you mean.

We like that you care about our characters (and each other’s characters). It’s a lonely thing to be a writer sometimes, because one knows a whole bunch of people who aren’t real and therefore can’t come to dinner parties and meet the rest of one’s friends. And we care about our characters. We worry over them and we hurt them; we redeem them and damn them; we reward them for misdeeds and punish them for heroic acts. We think about them in our idle moments. Occasionally, we think about them when we should be doing something else and get scolded for it. They are a huge part of our lives and often a secret part too.

So, when you’re curious or anguished or frightened or breathless with anticipation, it makes us happy not because we’re cruel and want to drink a river of reader tears, but because it means that you care about these people that we care so much about and you want to know what happens to them next. 

There really is no bigger compliment and no greater delight for a writer.

hollyblack:

I sure do.

I know how Unbroken ends too. And I think I know how Dark Artifices ends, although admittedly, it’s early days and I imagine lots will change. Both Cassie and Sarah know how my new faerie book ends, even though it doesn’t even have a title yet. (ETA: Not true! As Sarah explains, we call it Fairie Hussy Bonanza.)

As writers, we show each other stuff. We ask: is this good? does it make sense? did I go too far? did I not go far enough? did it break your heart? will you read it again and did I make it better this time? does it break your heart now? do you love them yet? do you love them enough? can I make you love them more? is this good? could it be better? is it great yet?

There’s no way to answer that without knowing the end.

This is Cassie Clare here and I want to tell you about the Project for Awesome.

Well, okay, it’s actually Holly Black posing as Cassie Clare. But Cassie DOES want to tell you about the Project for Awesome. She’s just off in a tropical paradise, so she’s given me her password. I promise to use it only for good! Like Sarah did!

First of all, the Project for Awesome is a charity drive where the YouTube community comes together to raise both awareness and money for charities. It’s been going on every December since 2007, was started by John and Hank Green, and raised over $70,000 last year.

Hee! It’s actually on my website in the section about The Iron Trial.

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

hollyblack:

I am going to guess that Cassie tweeted/posted this line at some point, but I didn’t see her and it FREAKED ME OUT. It was as though someone had looked into my VERY MIND — well, my very mind and also my Scrivener file.

This event will be held at Oblong Books & Music, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY.

RSVPs are required for this event. Please RSVP to rsvp@oblongbooks.com  

Holly Black (Black Heart), Cassandra Clare (City of Lost Souls), & Sarah Rees Brennan (Team Human) come to the HVYAS!

A monthly series, the HVYAS brings the best and brightest YA authors to the Hudson Valley in a memorable and fun party-like “literary salon” atmosphere, with refreshments, conversation, and giveaways for attendees.  

Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. Her books include The Spiderwick Chronicles, White Cat, and Red Glove.  

Cassandra Clare is the author of the bestselling Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series. Her books include City of Bones and Clockwork Angel.

Sarah Rees Brennan’s newest book, Team Human, is co-written with Justine Larbalestier. Sarah is also the author of The Demon’s Lexicon.  

——- 

We’ll be reading, signing books, and answering questions. I’ll bring something special to read, be it the draft of Clockwork Princess or even a scene or two from The Dark Artifices!

The Iron Trial fanart. Adorability! 

jemherondale:

Twelve-year-old Callum Hunt has grown up knowing three rules by heart. Never trust a magician. Never pass a test a magician gives you. And never let a magician take you to the Magisterium. Callum is about to break all the rules. And when he does, his life will change in ways he can’t possibly imagine.