About

Adventure isn’t out there—it’s in you.

I’m Cheyenne Richards—an author and sailor who fell in love with the sea, left behind a predictable life, and discovered a calling I hadn’t expected.

I write historical fiction inspired by real women and my own years living aboard a sailboat. My stories are about resilience, risk, and the quiet courage it takes to change course when everything in you says stay safe.

The Navigator Series grew out of a single question I couldn’t stop asking: What does it take to trust yourself when the world tells you not to? I found part of the answer in Ellen Creesy—a 19th-century woman who helped navigate the world’s fastest clipper ship. The rest, I’m still figuring out. That’s what writing is for.

Before this chapter of my life, I spent years building a career I thought I wanted. I was good at it—but something felt off, like I’d plotted a course that didn’t quite lead home. It took time (and more than a few storms) to realize I didn’t want to build someone else’s vision. I wanted to write.

My first novel, The Prisoner’s Apprentice, came from that same place: a quiet obsession with transformation. It’s based on the true story of a boy shaped by circumstance who has to decide who he’s going to be. I didn’t plan to write a psychological thriller, but the story wouldn’t let go. And honestly, neither did the fear of getting it wrong. That book taught me to keep going anyway.

I’ve lived in California, Australia, Singapore, and aboard a sailboat in the Pacific. These days, I split my time between writing fiction, prepping for a circumnavigation, and reminding myself—just like my characters—that courage doesn’t mean being fearless. It means moving forward anyway.

Whether you’re here for the books, the sailing stories, or your own spark of brave—I’m glad you’ve found your way aboard.

📬 Join the crew and get the free prequel to The Navigator Series.