The Redemption, The Reliance
An in-depth look at the main characters
Lady Charlisse Bristol
Brief Description: Charlisse is fair skinned with light
blonde hair that falls to her waist and holds a natural wave.
Her eyes are the color of a tropical sea in the full sun.
Though she appears to harbor the natural weakness of her
gender, inside Charlisse is as brave and strong as any
man. Abused as a child by a demented uncle, she was
also raised in nobility and carries herself with a
haughtiness expected of her station. She is spoiled,
demanding, and can be difficult to get along with,
especially when she is upset or threatened, but this stems
from a deep wound in her heart. I named Charlisse after the actress Charlize Theron,
and I picture her looking much the same: a raw beauty that speaks of strength and yet
innocence.
Strengths: Courage, Determination, heart of gold
Weaknesses: Pessimist, bitter, angry and insecure. She doesn't trust anyone
Quirks: Charlisse plays with her hair when she is nervous or upset
Inspiration for character
Charlisse is a character that was born out of my own personal life journey. She is a
kind-hearted woman with a zest for life that was squelched early on by a difficult
childhood. She never knew her father and her mother died young, leaving her at the
mercy of a disturbed uncle. Charlisse runs away from all she knows to search for the
father she never knew, believing that once she finds him, he will give her all the love
she's been missing her entire life. In my own life, I also never knew my father and
searched for many years for anything to fill that empty void. And like Charlisse, it
wasn't until I turned to God and He showered his love and acceptance upon me that I
finally found the love, acceptance, and fulfillment I'd been seeking.
Captain Edmund Merrick
Brief Description: Merrick is tall and
big boned. He wears his long
coal-black hair tied behind him,
cavalier style. He is tanned and well
muscled from having spent years
sailing across the Caribbean. Once
known as the most notorious pirate
captain, he has now repented of his
wicked ways and become a godly
man. And though he continues to sail the seas, he now brings to justice those who
commit acts of violence and piracy as he used to do. His dark, piercing eyes are
his most notable feature.
I always pictured Merrick to look a lot like the actor, James Caviezel: strong, dark,
and brooding.
Strengths: Wisdom, Courage, Decisive, Loyalty
Weaknesses: Bad temper, pride, arrogance, women, alcohol
Quirks: Runs a hand through his hair when he is frustrated or confused
Inspiration for character
When God gave me the idea to write a story about a Christian pirate, I got very
excited. I mean, what a dichotomy! I wanted to portray a man who wasn't just an
ordinary pirate but a man who came from nobility in England, a man who was
running away from something and who had spent years committing acts of thievery
and violence upon the seas. So much so, that he was now feared by his fellow
pirates. Then I gave him a life-changing conversion to Jesus Christ and watched
what he would do with it. Amazingly, he stayed on the seas and took to privateering
instead. Determined to become a better man, a godly man, he still battles his old
weaknesses of women and drink, both of which are tested when he rescues the
lovely Charlisse from a deserted island.
Background for the books:
In my first novel, The Redemption, Lady Charlisse Bristol abandons her wealth
and title in London and sails to the Caribbean in search of a father she has never
known. She has turned her back on God and believes only the love of her real
father can fill the emptiness in her soul. Shipwrecked on an island, she is rescued
by a band of fierce pirates and their handsome captain, Edmund Merrick. Though
at first terrified of Captain Merrick, Charlisse discovers she has nothing to fear from
this man whose strong faith in God baffles her. Edmund offers to help Charlisse on
her quest-until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the
cruelest pirate on the Caribbean.
In my 2nd novel, The Reliance, Believing his wife, Charlisse, has been killed,
Captain Merrick turns his back on God and returns to a life of piracy. Captured by
the villainous pirate, Kent, Charlisse escapes and takes command of Merrick's ship
to search for her husband. Along the way, she faces battles and mutinies as she
struggles with the unfaithfulness of the man she once trusted. Disgusted with himself,
Merrick repents, and seeks his old ship. Unaware that his wife is still alive and in
command of her, he is shocked when the ship fires upon him. Will Charlisse be able
to overcome her anger and forgive her husband? Will Merrick be able to trust God
when he faces once again a decision to put Charlisse in grave danger?
Copyright 2007 by MaryLu Tyndall.
All rights reserved.