When I started the sixth book in the Neverending Saga, I checked all the previous novels to see which characters got the first (or first couple) of chapters from among the four characters who are allowed points of view in the series. That’s when I realized someone was way overdue, so it was an easy choice. By choosing that narrative voice, there was also a natural best choice for beginning the seventh novel.
Early in his life, this character began to think of himself as a lone crow. He was kidding himself, and I think he’s only now beginning to realize it. Crows aren’t loners. Not only do they stay in units that can include family members from multiple generations, but they’re monogamous and mate for life.
The birds in the corvid family hold endless fascination for me. They include choughs, crows, jackdaws, jays, magpies, nutcrackers, ravens, rooks, and treepies, but not grackles or the various blackbirds who come from other groups.
I like grackles, but there are a lot of parking lots and public areas in Houston where so many grackles gather that a walk is laced with all the suspense of a Hitchcock movie.
Of the corvids, I’m most drawn to crows and ravens. Debby gave me a beautiful drum with a raven on it.
It’s actually been a great rhythm instrument for me to use when I pause while writing the “Lone” Crow. The back of the drum is as beautiful as the front.
Far more musical than me playing the raven drum would be:
Frank Sinatra, The Columbia Years three-CD set; Patti Smith, Gone Again; Soundgarden, Superunknown and King Animal; Spin Doctors, Pocket Full of Kryptonite; and The Very Best of Dusty Springfield.
Right now I’m midway into listening to a group of ten CDs from another “S” artist, though it’s distressing me a bit when I realize all of the Harvey-drowned albums I haven’t replaced from this particular collection. Can you guess the artist?
More to come; gotta get back to my crow.
There’s a fun song by the Wilderbeats performed for children that will help you identify a crow versus a raven. Now that I think of it, I have a character who likes to sing to children. But I digress.
ETA: I almost never remember the significance of this date to me personally. I’m mostly glad about that. ♥
The drum is beautiful. What a great gift!
I recently saw a photo of a couple of crows titled ‘Attempted Murder’ – which I thought was rather clever.
Why do you think we are so drawn to corvids?
They are very intelligent birds and also enshrouded in folklore – perhaps they have something to do with it?
Maybe! Also, it tickles me that they tend to scold humans when we cross them and also mock us.