More than 250 excited teens packed the Mission Viejo Council Chamber on Sunday for the chance to see bestselling authors of urban fantasy Cassandra Clare and Holly Black discuss their newest novels for teens, “Red Glove” and “City of Fallen Angels,” in the popular Writers Present program.
Fans traveled from Long Beach, San Diego, Tucson and Mexico – and many places in between – to see the energetic authors, who embraced their young fans and signed books after the event.
Many – like “Shadowhunters” Sue Stanley and her daughters Elizabeth and Emily and friend Hannah Volkland of Aliso Viejo – even sported their favorite character T-shirts to show their love of the authors. Others – like Adela Malik of Foothill Ranch – became fans after reading the series at the suggestion of another.
Clare’s fast-paced, contemporary urban fantasy series, “The Mortal Instruments,” chronicles the adventures of an ordinary girl thrust into the mysterious world of shadowhunters, who fight against demons. A movie based on the series’ first book, “City of Bones,” is currently in development by Sony Pictures.
Black is popular among elementary school audiences for writing “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” a fantasy series with a vintage feel. A 2008 film based on the series was produced by Nickelodeon Movies and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The enthusiastic crowd stayed for more than two hours after the event to get their books signed and speak with the authors. The program was sponsored by A Whale of a Tale Bookshoppe and the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library.
For more information about the Writers Present series, call 949-830-7100 x5105.
