People in My columns

Fictional Characters I Use Often:

Seymour Sharpe:

my age (mid-40s), analytic, philosopher-type

Paige Turner:

writes exciting, fast-paced fiction, but only has a tenuous grasp of reality

Musicians and Their Instruments:

Sue Forebucks:

lawyer, plays a gold, slide ukulele, late thirties, married with kids

Tanya Hide:

husky outdoorswoman, mid-20s, plays gas-powered chansaw (can bend the bar, don't shake her hand)

Maude Lynne and Misty Ida Moshen:

Siamese twins, sing excellent harmony, play a synthesized tambourine, bleeding heart liberals, 50ish

Sloan Down:

older guy, 60ish, plays electric bones

Summer Thyme:

flower-child of hippie parents, plays 18-string guitar

Extras:

Pop Culcher:

indeterminate age, sometimes sounds ancient and sometimes sounds very young, but he's never talked of having children and certainly doesn't seem mature enough to handle any responsibility.

Ferd the nerd:

electronic laser tuner and weapon

science geekette

electronic jaw harp player

Zeke

• Jan: bass player, architect
• Susan:mandolinist, painter-did the amazing wall art at Avogadro's
• Barb: guitar
• Paul and Diane: married, multiple instruments
• Steve: hammered dulcimer, lap dulcimer, guitar, mandolin