Golden Age of Piracy · Historical Fiction

Crimson CrossAzure Waves

Charleston burns, a family falls, and sixteen-year-old Samuel Drayton is cast into the lawless waters of the Caribbean — where the line between pirate and patriot is thinner than he ever imagined.

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Coming late 2026 Crimson Cross: Azure Waves cover
Book one of the Crimson Cross series
Setting: the Caribbean, 1700–1718
For readers of authentic maritime adventure
The books

The Crimson Cross series

Crimson Cross: Azure Waves cover
Azure Waves Hardcover
$49.99
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 Crimson Cross: Azure Waves cover
Azure Waves Paperback
$19.99
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 Crimson Cross: The Bermuda Years cover
The Bermuda Years Prequel
$14.99
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Chris Stirling
The author

From the frozen prairies to warm waters

Chris Stirling traded Winnipeg's winters for the reefs of Bermuda, where he found his passion for maritime history. A technology manager by day and adventure storyteller by night, he brings systematic research and a love of human drama to the Crimson Cross series — written between chasing a toddler and following his beloved Winnipeg Jets.

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From the blog

Pirate history & the writing journey

Chasing Pirate Ships Through Three Centuries of Paper
How three centuries of ship's logs, harbor surveys, and pirate articles shaped the world of Crimson Cross: Azure Waves, and why the real history turned out better than the myth.
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Tacking Toward Landfall: An Azure Waves Update
A progress report from the editing desk: where Crimson Cross: Azure Waves stands this summer, what's changed since the first draft, and how to claim your copy.
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The Island With No Law: Nassau in Crimson Cross
Two years before Samuel Drayton ever set foot on its sand, Nassau's own governor took a bribe from the most wanted pirate alive and let him sail free. By the time Crimson Cross reaches its shores, the island isn't hiding what it is.
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