Picture an Ohio storyteller who crafts pulse-pounding tales that keep teens up all night—meet Natalie D. Richards! A New York Times bestselling author, Richards spins young adult suspense and middle-grade adventures that grip readers with twists and turns. From her debut novel to her latest desert thriller, her stories blend creepy vibes, complex characters, and heart-racing plots that make her a standout in YA fiction.
Richards’s knack for suspense comes from a lifelong love of storytelling, sparked by a second-grade writing contest win with a quirky tale about Barbara Frances Bizzlefishes (who refused to do dishes). Today, her novels, like Five Total Strangers and 49 Miles Alone, captivate fans with their unpredictable narratives and relatable teen heroes.
The Making of Natalie D. Richards
Born and raised in Ohio, Natalie D. Richards grew up with a passion for stories, fueled by Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. A tragic early loss—her mother’s death at 51—pushed her to pursue her dream of writing, a goal she’d once shelved as impractical. Before becoming a full-time author, Richards honed her skills in the corporate world, crafting “amazingly boring” business documents. Her leap to fiction was a game-changer, leading to her debut novel, Six Months Later, in 2013. Her persistence and raw talent earned her a double RWA Golden Heart finalist nod, cementing her path as a storyteller.
Natalie D. Richards’s Unforgettable Stories
Richards is a master of young adult suspense, known for her “seat-of-the-pants” writing style that keeps even her guessing how her characters will escape their predicaments. This approach infuses her novels with authentic tension, as seen in Five Total Strangers (2020), a New York Times bestseller about a teen stranded with strangers during a blizzard, unraveling secrets amid mounting danger. Another hit, Seven Dirty Secrets (2021), follows a girl on a scavenger hunt that unearths deadly truths, earning praise for its nail-biting pace.
Her recent work, 49 Miles Alone (2024), dives into the Utah desert, where two cousins confront trauma and survival in a gripping thriller. Richards also ventured into middle-grade fiction with 15 Secrets to Survival (2023), a teamwork-driven adventure lauded as a modern Hatchet. Her stories often explore themes of trust, trauma, and resilience, wrapped in dark, creepy settings that resonate with teens and adults alike.
Richards’s editing process is as meticulous as her writing is spontaneous. She uses tools like the Hero’s Journey, Freytag’s Pyramid, and color-coded timelines to refine her manuscripts, ensuring every twist lands perfectly. Her ability to balance psychological depth with page-turning plots has made her a favorite among fans of authors like Karen M. McManus and Natasha Preston.
Why Natalie D. Richards Matters
Natalie D. Richards has carved a niche in young adult suspense, offering stories that blend thrills with emotional depth. Her novels tackle real teen struggles—grief, identity, and trust—while delivering edge-of-your-seat suspense. A champion of literacy, Richards inspires aspiring writers through school visits and writing workshops, sharing her journey from corporate life to bestselling author. Her connection to places like Utah, where she found healing after personal loss, adds authenticity to her settings, making her stories feel vividly real.
Her impact extends beyond bookshelves, as fans on platforms like Goodreads and Reddit rave about her ability to hook readers from page one. With a growing catalog and a knack for reinventing suspense, Richards continues to shape the YA genre, proving that even the darkest tales can light the way for young readers.
- Key Works: Five Total Strangers, Seven Dirty Secrets, 49 Miles Alone, 15 Secrets to Survival
- Awards: New York Times Bestselling Author, Double RWA Golden Heart Finalist
- Home: Ohio, with her husband, three children, and a furry dog named Wookiee
Ready for a thrilling read? Snag Five Total Strangers and dive into Natalie D. Richards’s world of suspense!