Born Again in a Biker Bar: A Memoir

Born Again in a Biker Bar tells the compelling story of a codependent woman and her alcoholic husband, set against the backdrop of the iconic Johnny’s Bar & Grill in Hollister, California-the bar made famous by the 1953 Marlon Brando film The Wild One. When Charisse Tyson bought Johnny’s in 1996, she had no idea of its fame or historical significance but was well aware of her husband Tommy’s struggle with alcoholism. Within months of the purchase, Tommy quit his job and sank deeper into his addiction, threatening not only his health but also their marriage.

On the brink of divorce, Charisse attended her first Al-Anon meeting, where she uttered the transformative words, ＂Hello, my name is Charisse, and I’m a codependent.＂ This moment sparked a profound journey of self-examination, faith, and healing. Embracing the Christian roots she had abandoned, Charisse began her recovery-a process that eventually led to Tommy’s as well. Now married for over 35 years, their story is one of redemption, resilience, and the power of faith.

In 2015, Born Again in a Biker Bar earned the Bronze Medal in the Living Now Book Awards for Inspirational Memoir, celebrating its impact as a guide for better living. Whether you’re struggling with codependency or seeking hope in the face of dysfunction, the pages of this memoir offer help, healing, and inspiration.

Charisse Tyson was a self-confessed, enabling, co-dependent. With God’s help she is enjoying a transformed life with her husband Tommy. They have been together for more than twenty six years and he just celebrated ten years of sobriety. Charisse has owned and operated the famous biker bar Johnny’s Bar & Grill in Hollister, California for almost twenty years. She hopes to one day sell the bar and pursue her writing career full time. In the meantime the bar continues to supply her with plenty of material for her writing endeavors. As one of four children of a single mother, Charisse came by her caretaking tendencies at an early age. When she became a single parent herself at seventeen, her sense of responsibility was compounded. Having a dysfunctional upbringing and an A-type personality made Charisse an excellent candidate for codependency. Having overcome it, she shares her many life experiences to offer help and healing to those who know the suffering codependency brings. Charisse offers one on one coaching sessions to those who want to face the issue of codependency head on. She hopes to help others see and accept the part their enabling behavior plays in the scope of their loved ones alcoholism. She believes that until a person admits to their dysfunction there is no hope of changing it. Charisse has had articles published in three major biker magazines and has contributed many essays to her local paper. Despite having only a tenth grade education, she is blessed with ability to touch people with her words. Using her God-given talent to help others that struggle with codependency has been a dream since she found recovery.