INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR CASSANDRA CLARE TO PUBLISH THIRD SHADOWHUNTERS SERIES WITH SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING

NEW YORK, March 12, 2012– Cassandra Clare, award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series, has signed an agreement with Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, for a third young adult fantasy series featuring her immensely popular Shadowhunters. The new series will be entitled "The Dark Artifices."

With more than six million copies of her books in print in the U.S. alone, Cassandra Clare's works have been published in 34 languages. Ms. Clare took the world of young adult literature by storm in 2007 with her debut novel, City of Bones, which immediately became a New York Times bestseller. "The Mortal Instruments" series—which includes City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels—and "The Infernal Devices" series—which includes Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince— have gone on to become New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestsellers. City of Lost Souls, the fifth installment in "The Mortal Instruments" series, will be published in all formats on May 8, 2012.

The first book in "The Dark Artifices" is scheduled for publication in 2015. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, the series follows Emma Carstairs, the fiercest warrior and most skilled young Shadowhunter since Jace Wayland, and Emma's sworn partner in arms, Julian Blackthorn. Despite Emma's complicated feelings for Julian, the two must band together to investigate a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

"Beloved by teens and adults alike, Cassandra Clare is a powerhouse writer whose books cross many genres, and it is an event each time one of her books is published," says Jon Anderson, Executive Vice President & Publisher of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. "The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices have both been tremendous bestselling series for Simon & Schuster and we're thrilled to be able to offer readers more memorable books from Cassandra Clare for a long time to come."

"Simon and Schuster has been a wonderful home for the Shadowhunter books for many years, and I am so excited to be able to embark on this new adventure with them. I know readers will come to love Emma, Mark, Cristina and Julian just as they have loved Jace, Clary, Will, Tessa and Jem. Readers have often asked what will happen in the Shadowhunter world after the events of the Mortal Instruments and this series will give them a chance to find out."

A film of "Mortal Instruments" is currently in development. The producers of the the film adaptation of "The Mortal Instruments" are expecting to make a big announcement about the project in coming weeks. One of the producers, Robert Kulzer from Constantin Film, did express his enthusiasm about his collaboration on the film project with Cassandra Clare: "Everyone working on the film is really excited to be in business with Cassandra Clare, one of the most brilliant, prolific and successful authors of our time. And we congratulate Cassandra on her new book series."

In the deal, which is for North American rights and includes audio to be published by Simon & Schuster Audio, the author was represented by Russell Galen of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Inc. Karen Wojtyla, Editorial Director of Margaret K. McElderry Books, who has worked with Ms. Clare since her first publication in 2007, will continue on as her editor.