I remembered your recent comments about being inspired in the shower as I was posting this. I wonder if it's because the brain has so little external stimulation and the body is working by rote, so all that's left is to focus internally.

I appreciate the review. You are right about Liss not being as strongly drawn as the other characters; I've often thought that her characterization is the weakest part of the story. Youth is part of it, but I have the same problem with her as Gabaldon does with Brianna -- she exists to move the plot forward, not for any reason in herself. I've tried to make her more three dimensional but it's not easy. The other original characters do exist more clearly in my mind, particularly Arelle and Kal. This may come through in the story; I don't know.