A great new interview with Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments series, has been revealed. In the discussion, she talks about her own start to being a novelist and how she would describe her series to an outsider.

What has the ascent from “fan fiction writer” to famous, published author been like for you? Did you ever imagine that you’d see one of your novels turned into a film?

I don’t think most writers go into the business thinking that one day they’ll be a bestseller, or they’ll have a movie made of their books. That’s not the reality of writing fiction for a living. I still feel lucky to have done as well as I have. Oh, and I assume the movie project will fall apart at any moment. That’s probably a leftover from working in entertainment journalism before I started writing fiction for a living.

How would you describe The Mortal Instruments for someone who has never heard of the series before?

I would say it’s an urban fantasy series about a world like ours but with a secret, supernatural side ruled by a mysterious organization called the Shadowhunters who have fought demons through the ages. It’s got a smart, strong teen heroine and her growing up and falling in love. Forbidden love!

Was there something specific that inspired you to write The Mortal Instruments? What do you hope that readers take away from it?

I was inspired by my love of old-school urban fantasy, mixing the real and unreal, and by my overwhelming love of cities, especially New York. I believe all cities have a shadow self I love to explore. I’m exploring London in the companion series, Infernal Devices, and looking forward to writing a series set in Los Angeles, where I grew up.

Read the full interview here.

Thanks: The Mortal Instruments Examiner