backstory in your verse MATTERS, indeed. your characters aren't flat, and their flesh comes from the whole history file you have on record. it shows through in your characterizations. and an editor with a biased pov's makes more sense anyway as peer reviewers are standardly reading blind (at least most science journals proceed as such).

ok, before i leave lj tonight, for real, i have to tell you about a book called "in another light" by andrew greig. i recommended it to marie a few weeks ago, then re-read it over the last few nights, and i absolutely think you'd be enthralled by it. it's equal parts intellectual and sensual, which matches your writing style and tone. i read it years ago and it moved me in its own unique way.