Shiver me timbers, a fierce wind is blowing!!!

It's my great pleasure to introduce you to M. L. Tyndall and her book The Redemption. I know some of you have already visited blogs with her on them, but as you know, my interview questions are different from the others. You'll find out other things about MaryLu as a person. She's one of my newer friends, but there are several reasons I really like her. First, she is published by my publisher, so we're work companions of sorts. Anoter reason is that I, too, have written a pirate book, Pirate's Prize, that was released to bookstores in June of this year. Our books are vastly different. Hers is a trade paperback which is much longer than my mass-market size, so hers is much more involved. Another important reason is that she's a wonderful writer, and I loved the book. It's intriguing, visually and historically accurate, with a story that keeps the reader turning pages.

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

It’s hard to avoid writing a character that doesn’t have at least some part of me in him or her. It depends on which character, of course. Usually the heroine in the story carries more of me in her personality than the other characters, most often in her weaknesses, but when it comes to her heroic qualities, often those are the ones I wish I had. For instance, would I have the courage to confront a band of ruffians and take over a pirate ship? I think not. But it would be really cool if I did.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I went and saw the Pirates of the Caribbean movie in the theaters with my daughter thirteen times (yes you heard it right).

Hey, call it professional research, and it doesn't sound too quirky. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

As a teenager, I often found myself spending my spare time writing poems and stories that popped into my head. I wrote my first full-length novel at sixteen and had a poem published in the high school yearbook.

That's interesting. My first publishing credit was in the college literary magazine my freshman year.

I love this cover. Aren't you pleased with the design company Barbour uses? I've loved all of my covers from them. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love reading all types of fiction. Historicals are my favorite, but I also enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and suspense, or anything involving a romance.

Good. You might like my books, too. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

Book 2 of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series: The Reliance
Currently working on Book 3: The Restitution
I have also written an unpublished science fiction novel, Forgotten Freedom.

I hope you find a home for the science fiction novel, too. I know I'd read it. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I spend an hour each morning with God. I read the Bible and pray, and it sets the tone for the day. Also during the day, I keep a running conversation open with Him which helps keep me calm on those days when I feel like pulling my hair out. I also take care of myself by eating right and exercising, and I set reasonable goals for each day, allowing for times of rest.

Very wise. I'm not as good at those last couple of things as I should be. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I try and find names with meanings that match my character’s personality. If I don’t like any of those names, I choose a name that I’ve heard before in a book or movie or simply a friend’s name that I really like. For instance, the hero in The Redemption, is named Captain Edmund Merrick. I chose Edmund from The Count of Monte Cristo, and Merrick from a character in a movie called Timeline. But in the book I’m currently working on the heroine’s name is Isabel, which I chose because it means God’s promise.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My two children, Joshua and Crystal, are by far my most precious and worthwhile accomplishments. I thank God every day for them.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d like to say I’d be a lioness or a jaguar, an animal that is sleek, powerful, brave, yet gentle when necessary, but alas, in reality, I’m more like a deer, skittish, shy, and someone who definitely freezes in the headlights (or spotlights).

What is your favorite food?

Tough question. I like so many different foods. I’d have to say chocolate, of course, popcorn and BLTs (yum).

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

The Redemption was borne not only out of my interest in pirates and my love of the tropics, but from my own personal search for a father’s love. I grew up in a divorced home and had no contact with my father. I spent much of my life searching for the protective, unconditional love that only a father can give, and wasted many years looking for it in all the wrong places—with dire consequences. Not until my late thirty’s did I discover that only God’s love can truly fill that empty hole in my heart. In my novel, the heroine, Charlisse, escapes from an abusive childhood to search for her father. She has rejected God, as I did when I was young, and must go through a similar process to find the true Father’s love. The Redemption is also filled with grand adventures: a shipwreck, tavern brawls, ship battles, pirating, a mutiny, a prison break. I guarantee that it will keep you enthralled page after page. If you like romance, you’ll enjoy the relationship that develops between Charlisse and Captain Merrick. He is a fierce pirate captain who has only recently given his life to God and become a privateer for England. Struggling with a sordid past and trying to resist the beautiful lady he has taken aboard his ship, he discovers the father she searches for is his arch enemy and the most evil pirate on the Caribbean.

What's that sound I hear? I think it's many feet rushing out to buy this wonderful book. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. Thank you, MaryLu, for spending this time with us today. I look forward to meeting you in person. Hope you'll be at the ACFW conference in Dallas in September.

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Redemption.