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.
Featured Author Interview
Steve R. Hartwig on Awesome Gang
From writing at two o’clock in the morning to creating a young Nicaraguan boy who travels into biblical history, Steve talks about the road that led him to becoming an author—and where the journey is going next.
“It’s never too late to discover something new that you’re meant to do.”
Steve R. Hartwig on Book Reader Magazine
From growing up on a small Illinois farm to making a home in Nicaragua, Steve talks about the people, places, and books that shaped his writing—and introduces readers to Mateo and the world of the Eternal Word.
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 completing The Little Chef, I wrote its second book, The Little Chef – The Challenge of the Heart. What had begun almost unexpectedly was becoming something I had never anticipated—a new life as an author.
My next book, Ride the Fire, took me in a different direction. Inspired by the young skateboarders I came to know in León, Nicaragua, the story follows Julio as he pursues his dream while learning about friendship, determination, and the choices that shape his future.
Then came Mateo and the Secrets of the Eternal Word. Mateo began with a simple question: What if a young person could actually step inside the Bible and witness its stories firsthand? That question became the story of a twelve-year-old Nicaraguan boy whose encounters with an ancient Bible called Verbum Aeternum carry him into biblical history.
The first Mateo book, Genesis Thru Babel, has now been published, and I am writing Book Two, which continues his journey through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. I hope Mateo's travels will eventually carry him through much of the Bible, into the New Testament, and perhaps someday all the way to the journeys of the Apostle Paul.
I certainly didn't spend most of my life expecting to become an author. Yet one story led to another, and writing has become one of the great joys of this chapter of my life. At seventy-three, I find myself looking forward not only to the stories I have already told, but to all the ones still waiting to be written.
I hope you'll take a moment to explore my books and join me for whatever story comes next.
I particularly like the next-to-last paragraph for this page because it connects beautifully with the Awesome Gang quote sitting across from it:
“It’s never too late to discover something new that you’re meant to do.”.