By Sandy Richards

A Far Cry…From Home

A Mother’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Healing…
Through the Eyes of an Angel

By Sandy Richards

A Far Cry…
From Home

A Mother’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Healing…Through the Eyes of an Angel

A Far Cry…From Home was born out of the tragedy of losing my sixteen-year-old son Tyler Richards in an automobile accident. I used journaling to help ease my grief and turned those pages into this award-winning memoir.

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Award Winning Author

Sandy Richards

Sandy Richards is a devoted mom and celebrated author whose experience of losing a child has allowed her to connect, inspire and heal with other grieving parents through her memoir A Far Cry ...From Home and her blog. In addition, Sandy strives each day to inspire children to read, imagine, and smile through her award winning children’s books and ongoing volunteerism in her local school district. Sandy lives with her husband, Joe, in Milford, MI.

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Sandy Richards’

Featured Project

The Radiant Project

Sandy Richards, her son Austin Richards, and others were interviewed for The Radiant Project’s “Help Me Heal” documentary series. The goal of this series was to empower leaders to be unafraid to shine their light and use that light to create a loving, connected world, starting with their own self-love, then their relationships and their community.

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award winning

Memoir & Children's Books

A Far Cry... From Home

A poignant, deeply affecting journey of healing after unbearable loss that is painful yet full of hope and inspiration.

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Grammy Do...

A children’s story that whimsically portrays the special bond between a grandmother and her grandchildren.

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Green Snakes on the Ceiling

A fun, brightly illustrated animal picture book designed to delight, engage and educate young children, K-3.

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Green Snakes on the Ceiling by Sandy Richards is a very well written story that is the perfect bedtime read for small children. It has a great message behind the book, which is that everyone can try different things and not be placed in one specific box. The illustrations by Ella Rose are simple but… Read more “Lesley J.”

Lesley J.
Green Snakes on the Ceiling Review

Who loves to read stories to their precious grandchildren? Grammy Do! Sandy Richards has written this adorable story, Grammy Do… that celebrates the special relationship between Grandmas and their cherished Granddarlings. The book begins with the cutest of rhymes and follows that pattern all the way through. With each turn of the page, a delightful… Read more “Lesa M.”

Lesa M.
Grammy Do... Review

As a Grammy, she has captured us! The illustrations are so darling. Write more books, gals.

Grammy Do... Review

I read this book to three of my five grandchildren. They loved it and were amazed that other Nanas do these things too! My three-year-old granddaughter giggled and giggled every time we said Grammy Do! It was a real hit.

Grammy Do... Review

Words can not describe what this book means to anyone the was blessed to know the author and her son. I have read it 10 times and it never gets old. It is truly an expression of a mother’s love. Sandy Richards thank you for writing this wonderful book and keeping your amazing son’s spirit… Read more “Brittany T.”

Brittany T.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Grammy Do… is a children’s picture book written by Sandy Richards and illustrated by Lori Hohmann. Both the author and the artist are grandmothers, and Hohmann uses their grandchildren as the models for the panels in this book. What is a Grammy? Richards’ story gives the answer by answering a number of questions about what… Read more “Jack M.”

Jack M.
Grammy Do... Review

The entire book is a wonderful mixture of steady rhythm and naturally following rhymes. So many authors attempt to write children’s books using rhyme. So many authors handle that part poorly, but not Sandy Richards. Reading this book out loud provides an almost musical experience as well as a cerebral one. Bravo, Sandy Richards and… Read more “Viga B.”

Viga B.
Green Snakes on the Ceiling Review

This was a gift for my mother, my kids Grandmother, and she LOVES reading it to both her grandkids. Grammy Do…is a perfect book for grandma’s to read to their grandchildren to help explain the love they have for them. The illustrations are colorful and fun to look at. My 2 y/o and 4 y/o… Read more “Amazon Customer 1”

Grammy Do... Review

This was a really sweet story. I actually bought the book for my niece and told her it was a gift from her grandmother (my mom). Of course, that made her and my mom’s day! All three of us sat on the sofa while I read the story to her. She absolutely loved it and… Read more “Jalpa P.”

Jalpa P.
Grammy Do... Review

A great book to share with your grandchildren! It brings out all the love between a grandma and her grandchildren through the simple things done when spending time together.

Grammy Do... Review

Who is there to wipe away your tears when you cry? Who is it that puts a twinkle in your eyes? Grandma can. Grammy Do… by Sandy Richards is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that a child will enjoy reading over and over again. In reading Grammy Do… you will feel the connection between the… Read more “Vernita N.”

Vernita N.
Grammy Do... Review

I would highly recommend this book for ANYONE. It will change your life for the better. The author did an excellent job in depicting the grief process she overcomes through the eyes of an angel.

Victoria Z.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

I knew about the accident from many years ago as I live in the area, and have had the pleasure to work with Sandy over the last year. Reading this from Tyler’s perspective, I felt like I was standing right next to him witnessing and feeling everything as he might have at that moment. Emotional,… Read more “JENNIFER HENIG”

Jennifer H.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Beautiful story of a Mother and her sons deep love for each other. Told from her sons view from Heaven watching over his most precious family. I read this book in three hours, unable to put it down. Raw, heartwarming and filled with love. I cried, yet i smiled at the true love of family… Read more “Cheryl D.”

Cheryl D.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Where to begin. I laughed, I cried, I smiled. Sandy has an incredible way of writing. I actually could feel her emotions. I am a mother of 2 grown sons myself. There were times I had to put the book down and have a good cry, I could feel her hurt. And to know her… Read more “Kevin Smades”

Kevin S.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

A sweetly written, beautifully illustrated children’s book about the special relationship between grammy’s and their grandbabies. Written to delight a small child. My second one purchased. One for me and this one for a gift.

Grammy Do... Review

A mother’s pain, a son’s reflections, a family’s joy and grief. All play out in this skillfully crafted memoir of that incredibly painful journey which is the loss of a child. The author tells the story from the eyes of her departed son, making the story even more touching. If you have ever lost a… Read more “L. Paul”

L. Paul
A Far Cry...From Home Review

This is simply the sweetest book to share with your grandchildren. The thoughts and stories are universal. The artwork is playfully soft watercolors. It warms my heart.

Roberta H.
Grammy Do... Review

This is a wonderful story for children. The rhyming text and beautiful illustrations make it inviting for young children. I can’t wait to be a Grammy and read this story while snuggling my grandchildren.

Grammy Do... Review

A Far Cry…From Home is a powerful emotional journey through grief and healing following the death of a child. I loved that this story was told from the author’s son’s point of view. It was as if they wrote the book together, like he was guiding her from Heaven. The beginning was very sad, and… Read more “Deanna Kahler”

Deanna K.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

This book was amazing! Sandy is a great author and did an awesome job telling Tyler’s side of the story.

Michelle
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Sandy Richards has written a true story of the unbelievable pain and loss she felt after the death of her son … but also the unending love and hope on her path to healing. Everything hit home for me because I lost my son, Devin, too. I cried through some pages, smiled through others, and… Read more “Renee D.”

Renee D.
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Excellent book The author portrays all of the emotions one goes through when losing a child thus establishing a common ground with the reader. In turn, the reader comes to understand that their emotional responses to the death are normal, expected and that there is indeed hope and resolution in their future!

Judy
A Far Cry...From Home Review

Sandy Richards’ picture book for children, grades K-3, Green Snakes on the Ceiling, is a marvelous resource for anyone interested in challenging kids to think creatively. Along the way, they’ll be learning that dreaded subject, grammar, in a decidedly pleasant manner. I loved how each page makes you think a bit about the relationships being… Read more “Jack M.”

Jack M.
Green Snakes on the Ceiling Review

Sandy Richards has captured the essence of what it means to be a “Grammy”. Experiencing the joys of sharing life with your grandchildren are some of the most precious memories we can make. I loved reading her book and look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren!

Cheryl M.
Grammy Do... Review

Sweet, warm fuzzy Grammy love. Darling art work makes you want to hug these adorable Grandchildren. This went straight into my favorite book collection to read to my future Grands!

Cheryl D.
Grammy Do... Review

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