B&A: As a reader, would a character's ethnicity be of any importance to you?

It depends on the story. Sometimes its important and sometimes it isn't. However, I do think its nice to have some diversity in a story. But if race/ethnicity isn't a huge part of the story, I would rather have a character's ethnicity revealed subtly and not made into a huge ordeal. That just seems like you're trying too hard. I think names are usually a safe way to go. Perhaps the way they talk. For example I once had a Mexican-American character who threw a little Spanish into his dialogue every once in a while. Again, I think its better to be kind of subtle about it. Readers are smart enough to figure things out.