Anchors Up! Time to Sail.

Today is the day! The Riptide has hoisted up her anchor and is moving out into the horizon, and I am so excited for everyone to meet Merrin, Winters, Tom Birch, Jomo, Dunn, and the rest of the crew. Oh, and Evangeline. It wouldn't be a story without her.

I have a funny habit of "casting" out my characters as I write them. I find it helps me get into their heads if I can visualize them. Luckily, I've been able to work with the fabulous Lindee Robinson of Lindee Robinson Photography and some very incredible models to bring the Riptide's crew to life. Meet the crew below...and be sure to scroll to the bottom for some behind-the-scenes secrets of this ragtag crew! Merrin is represented by the stunningly beautiful Katlin who is as lovely inside as she is outside. Click to follow her on Instagram. An orphan who calls Isla Perla home, Merrin Smith is determined to find out who she really is, and how she arrived on the island. She is friendly only to Claudette, although she feels a strange and powerful attachment to Evangeline Dahl--a woman to which she has never actually spoken. Merrin can't shake the feeling that her fate is deeply tied to that of Evangeline, and when the island's most enigmatic proprietress vanishes without a trace, Merrin defies the rules of piracy and joins the crew of the Riptide helmed by ruthless Captain Winters, Evangeline's rumored lover. Claudette is no angel (just wait till you read her story), but she is represented by one! Click to follow Angel on Instagram. Claudette Abobi is Merrin's sister in arms at The House of Sparrows, the brothel where Claudette works and Merrin lives on Isla Perla. She is island-born and beautiful, equal parts cunning and loyal. Claudette helps Merrin assemble the necessary pieces of her disguise, although she makes it known that she doesn't want Merrin to go, and fears for her fate at sea. The relationship between Merrin and Claudette is left unexplored (for now!), but it is hinted that there is more than friendship between the two women. There was no one who could play Winters but Evan, who is every bit as badass and dedicated as the captain. Click to follow him on Instagram. Erik Winters is the rumored madman that helms the pirate ship Riptide. Tenacious and sometimes ruthless, Winters is known as much for his disposition as he is for his connection to Evangeline Dahl. Upon Evangeline's disappearance, Winters leads the Riptide's crew through a series of bloody battles as he tries to recover his love. But, after two years of failures that have only added to his brooding and  ill-tempered personality, Winters believes that the sea itself has stolen Evangeline. We meet Winters as he prepares to sail to the mythical island of Bracile to steal her back.
Brandon Dunn is the surly quartermaster of the pirate ship Riptide, and the closest confidant to Captain Erik Winters. When Merrin seeks to join the Riptide's crew, Brandon Dunn is the first sailor that she meets, and throughout the journey Dunn serves as both Merrin's friend and agitator. He is as obsessed with the legends of the sea as Winters and just as surly, but insistent upon them in a way that Winters is not, particularly concerning the ghosts of the ocean and the legend of Mélusine. His is prone to drink and smoke cigars, which he does primarily when in celebration. Tom is represented by Andrew, who has dark hair and lovely blue eyes, but was the best Birch around. Click to follow him on Instagram. Tom Birch is the handsome, unassuming boatswain of the Riptide. He is kind and friendly, with a stature like his namesake, an easy laugh, and saltwater green eyes. When Merrin joins the Riptide, she can't help but be drawn to Birch, though he is the person from which she struggles most to keep her identity hidden as she strives to ignore her developing, and completely unexpected, feelings. When she finds herself doubting everyone else--especially herself--Tom is the one person she'll give everything up to keep safe. Likewise, whether its by curse or fate, Birch develops feelings for Merrin that even he is powerless to avoid. Evangeline Dahl is the cunning and successful proprietress of the tavern Goodnight Mermaid, and the rumored lover of Captain Erik Winters. She is described as having both unsurpassed beauty as well as possessing of the unpredictable personality of the ocean itself. When Evangeline vanishes from Isla Perla, Winters bleeds the waters in his unrelenting search to find her. He believes she has been taken hostage by the gods of the sea as retribution for becoming so powerful in her ability to manipulate and control the trade of merchants and pirates sailing the Caribbean. There are some missing faces from this line up, but as the Daughters Jones trilogy continues, so will the casting! All of these characters mean so much to me, and I have been so fortunate not only to find faces to represent the Crew, but to make some wonderful new friends along the way. Katlin, Evan, Angel, and Andrew, and of course Lindee, are all incredible artisans and genuinely lovely people, and I am honored that they have joined this adventure!

One other thing I just can't help but mention, is that (if you didn't notice on IG!) Katlin and Evan, our Merrin and Winters, are actually a real life couple! It's a little odd to see Merrin and Winters all cuddled up together, but these two are simply such an incredible couple that I can't help but spread the love. Image belongs to Katlin and Evan. Used with permission.