Hummingbird Inspirations

The three follow up books to The Architect of Song are set within roughly twenty years of the same time era. And each story connects to the others through family members that are in some way haunted by a ghostly element.

In the case of The Hummingbird Heart,  there's a pair of 18th century Italian shoes which harbors a gypsy curse and is haunted by a vindictive female ghost. The shoes have an amusing yet creepy tendency to move about without a wearer. Willow, the book's heroine, is drawn to these shoes, almost to the point of obsession. They hold a mystical power over her, even before she realizes they also hold the secret of her tragic past.

So, here’s a look at the image that inspired the shoes: Vintage Italian latchet shoesCheck out those inward curved heels and super pointy toes! Ouch.


Having these shoes act almost as a character is similar to book one, The Architect of Song, where a flower embodying a man's spirit becomes an active participant in the intensely emotional relationship between the ghost and the flower's keeper, the young, deaf Juliet.



In each story of this series, "inanimate" or "insentient" objects or creatures serve as game players and/or mirror the characters and their arcs, elevating them to more than just props. Each one takes an active role in the plot, a role that without which, the story wouldn't survive. 


Follow this link to The Hummingbird Heart's pinterest board for visual inspirations.




Playlist



  1. Overture, Reasoner
  2. Quiet, This Will Destroy You
  3. Hotel Sayre, Craig Armstrong & Lana Del Ray
  4. Mrs Darcy, Dario Marianelli
  5. Visitation, Carter Burwell
  6. Mayan Bowl Breaks, Rachel Portman
  7. Rachel's Theme, Anne Dudley
  8. The Rain, Joe Hisaishi
  9. Medieval Waters, Carter Burwell
  10. Liz on top of the World, Dario Marianelli
  11. The Edge of Love, Hayley Westenra
  12. Boats Against the Current and Daisy's Theme, Craig Armstrong + The Brian Ferry Orchestra
  13. Vianne Gazes at the River, Rachel Portman
  14. Waves, Beth
  15. Medhel An Gwyns, Anne Dudley + Eleanor Tomlinson
  16. Ada Plays, Gabriel Yared
  17. Glasglow Love Theme, Craig Armstrong
  18. Lucinda (instrumental) Jo Blankenburg
  19. A Blood Red Moon, Anne Dudley
  20. I Wish I had One Hundred Years, Fernando Velazquez
  21. Scary Music Box, Horrible Sounds
  22. Into the Sea, Aidan Hawken
  23. Unravel me, Noctilucent and Tiffany Wiemken
  24. Love of my Life, Queen
  25. Starlight (Muse), Michel Simone
  26. Sailing, Christopher Cross
  27. Eyes of the Sky, R Armando Morabito
  28. Fairy Tale, Yiruma
  29. AWOLNATION, Sail
  30. September Song, Agnes Obel