<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2014.210" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Dear List,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have a rather odd request. I've been tuning and fixing pianos for = about 20 years and I'm also a writer. I've decided to write a series of = mystery novels with a piano tuner as the heroine. I've started the first one and have = two more ideas in mind.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I want the mystery to revolve around some aspect of music, pianos, = musical instruments. In the first novel a wooden carving is stolen for no = apparent reason from one of the tuner's client's house. It's a beautiful statue = of a monk playing a cello (some friends actually do have a carving like this, and = it's beautiful). My dilemma is this: What wood can the statue be made of, = which would be valuable enough to be stolen by someone who wanted it in some aspect = of musical instrument building, and yet still could be made into a statue = probably about 2 feet high? I had in mind Brazilian Rosewood, does that make = sense?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was going to have it be a harpsichord builder, but then I am told = rosewood was not used on historical harpsichords (thus would not be used = in replicas). Duh! I guess I should have known that. So, either I need = another wood, or I have to change the guy into a builder of historical pianos, = or maybe a violin maker.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The instrument builder, by the way, is NOT the one who stole the = statue. Heaven forbid! He's just a kind of red herring. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If anybody can help me, I would be MOST  grateful. I would = even receive plot ideas graciously! Please reply to me at my home address, <A = href="mailto:anita@proaxis.com">anita@proaxis.com</A>   =    Thanks so much!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anita Sullivan</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>