Author Steve R. Hartwig portrait for books and blogs inspired by León, Nicaragua

About Steve R. Hartwig

I was born in 1953 in Peoria, Illinois, and was adopted at the age of two by Henry and Clara Hartwig. Later in life I came to know my biological parents and siblings, though my upbringing and identity were shaped by the family who raised me.

As a child, school was not always easy for me. I struggled with subjects like math and history, and I never considered myself a strong student. One class, however, made a lasting impression on me: phonics. It helped expand my vocabulary and taught me the structure of language in a way that I truly enjoyed. Looking back now as a writer, I realize how important those early lessons were.

Even as a young person, I enjoyed writing. I remember filling notebooks with stories and reflections, sometimes writing about people I admired or moments from everyday life. At the time I had no idea that writing would one day become such an important part of my life

My Journey

Growing up as an only child helped shape my independence. I learned early how to rely on myself and became comfortable exploring life on my own path. That independence eventually led me to travel widely and live in many different places.

In my thirties I returned to school and discovered that I enjoyed learning much more as an adult. I especially thrived in classes such as sociology, psychology, creative writing, and speech. Around the same time, I often remembered something my father had taught me when I was young—how to type on a typewriter. At the time it seemed like a simple skill, but it would later become one of the most valuable tools in my working life and eventually in my writing.

My life has taken many unexpected turns. I hitchhiked across the United States more than once, sometimes traveling with my guitar and my little Pekingese dog, Trip. Later I lived in several cities including Dallas–Fort Worth and Chicago.

For a time, I owned a condominium overlooking Lake Michigan. But city life was not my final destination. After a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I fell in love with tropical living and decided to make a major change. I purchased property on an island near Bocas del Toro, Panama, where—with business partners—we built and operated an eight-room bed and breakfast. I served as the host and cook for guests from around the world.


Becoming an Author

Eventually life led me to Nicaragua. After researching several countries in Central America and the Caribbean, I discovered that Nicaragua offered welcoming residency opportunities for expatriates. Without ever visiting the country beforehand, I decided to take the leap and move.

I first lived in Granada, then spent time near the beautiful Laguna de Apoyo and later in the mountain city of Matagalpa. Finally I arrived in León, a historic colonial city that immediately felt like home. After many years here, León has become the place I now consider my permanent home.

During my time in Nicaragua, I also renewed my faith and spiritual life. I spend much of my time studying the Bible and sharing devotional reflections online.

Six months ago, I suffered a serious fall that left me temporarily unable to walk. I found myself spending long months confined mostly to my home. During that time I rediscovered a story I had started writing earlier.

With the help of modern technology, I was able to organize the scattered manuscript and continue developing the story. That project eventually became my first book, The Little Chef.

Writing quickly became part of my daily life. Soon after, I completed the second book in the series, The Little Chef – The Challenge of the Heart.

Today I continue writing new stories inspired by life here in Nicaragua. One upcoming project follows the journey of a young boy and his skateboard through the streets of León. I am also developing a series of stories based on biblical history.

While I continue recovering from my injury, writing has become both my daily routine and my greatest creative joy. I hope you will return often to see what comes next.

I hope you’ll take a moment to explore my books and follow the stories still to come.