When I sat down to write The Crimson Legacy: Ambrose – The Isle of Legends, I didn’t just want to tell a story—I wanted to bring people to life. Not just adventurers and pirates, but complex, layered characters who feel as real as any friend or foe we might meet in life. Characters you could root for, question, grieve with, or grow beside.
Every character in Book One came from a mixture of inspiration, intuition, and emotion. Some were shaped by moments of reflection—echoes of real conversations, fragments of people I’ve met, or feelings I needed to work through. Others seemed to arrive fully formed, as if they had always been there, waiting for someone to write them into existence.
⚓ Ambrose – The Heart of the Journey
At the center of it all was Ambrose—not just a character, but a vessel of courage, curiosity, and quiet strength. She began as a whisper, a child of the sea who had lost everything, yet refused to be broken. As her world unfolded, so did her will. Ambrose was never meant to be perfect—she was meant to feel. To question. To carry a legacy even when it felt too heavy for her shoulders.
Writing her was a deeply personal experience. In many ways, Ambrose became a reflection of the fears and hopes I carried in my own heart—especially the desire to rise again after grief, and to hold onto wonder even when the world feels dark.
🌊 Pathfinder, Flintlock, Tarti, and the Crew
Each supporting character added new depth and color to the story:
- Pathfinder, mysterious and intuitive, was born from the idea of someone always searching—geographically, emotionally, spiritually. He became a moral compass in murky waters.
- Flintlock carried a rough exterior, but writing him revealed hidden loyalties and unexpected tenderness. He’s the grit that balances the grace.
- Tarti offered much-needed levity and loyalty. A character with a sharp tongue and a soft heart, she reminded me of those friendships that never fail, even in the stormiest moments.
What amazed me most during the writing process was how these characters took the wheel. They made choices I didn’t anticipate. They challenged each other—and me. They felt alive, and because of that, the world they moved through became all the more real.
🗝️ Why Characters Matter First
Before the twists, the battles, the ancient maps and forgotten islands—it was always about the people. I believe a story lives or dies on the strength of its characters. If readers see themselves, even in the smallest ways, in these voices I’ve created, then I’ve done my job.
These characters taught me that stories aren’t about filling pages—they’re about connecting hearts. They reminded me that even fictional people can show us real truths.
And while they were born in The Isle of Legends, their journey—like ours—is only just beginning.
With heart,
Ambrose Fider
Author of The Crimson Legacy Series