Thanks for your reply. In answer to (two of) your questions:

1) I like the name Jamie, especially the reasons you gave for choosing it. It would be interesting to see if Scott Lobdell just happens to choose this name for the Hudson baby himself!

2) I think your characterization of Birdie is good; (my favorite is the "mind-link" scene between her and Murmur in Chapter 2). Snowbird is a particularly hard character to get a handle on, with her enigmatic behavior and aloof nature. Any writer who can her as a strong and dignified person, is excellent in my book!