Songbird

As a writer I must admit that music plays some part in providing my inspiration. The tone, beat, and sometimes, but not always, the words, often help with the task of keeping within the vein of the scene. For example, when I write about sixteen year old Lillian, a heroine from my Lillian Riece series, I tend to select playful tunes. Her personality is that of someone youthful, someone in high-school, someone just beginning to live--neither woman, nor child. Eliza Doolittle's 'Rollerblades' is a perfect little ditty for Lillian.
In my opinion, music is a medium that transmits in all forms and kind. Even from the most unexpected sources, such as my muse. For those of you who haven't heard this about my spectacular husband, you might be interested to know that one of his alias's is Songbird.  Yes, that's right. On occasion he prefers to go by Songbird, but it could just as easily be Nightingale. Or at least that's what I've been told...many, many, times. According to him, he comes by it honestly, it's in his blood.
This story is actually worth repeating and to tell you the truth, I thought he was making it up until I actually cross googled the name Jenny Lind and Songbird this morning.  According to several sources, Johana Maria Lind (Jenny Lind for short), was a swedish operatic soprano who in 1850 took the eastern U.S. by storm. She was a hit not only here, but also in her home country where she was even featured on a 50 Swedish Kroner bill.

To think that all these years I've rolled my eyes and snickered behind my husband's back every time he's mentioned his natural born talent.  Here I was thinking he should stick to basketball and leave the singing to the professionals - or to anyone else who might be able to sing in key. But he's related to "The Swedish Nightingale", so there may just be something to his claims. ...hmmm....I wonder if by marrying him I might have picked up on some of that singing talent, too...