About Me

If you made it this far, then color me impressed. To honor that dedication, I will grant you what you have sought so far and wide: biographical facts about me, Stephen A. Roddewig.

I even threw in pictures!

Portland Head Light in Portland, Maine at the start of Stephen's one-day lighthouse marathon — Portland Head Light in Portland, Maine

Lighthouse Fanatic

If there’s one thing that unifies my life, it’s lighthouses. My grandparents gave me a lighthouse model for every visit, birthday, and holiday. Later, I started touring the country to visit every light station I could find. A hunt that continues to this day.

Stephen on the southwestern point of Ocracoke, North Carolina midway through his Outer Banks roadtrip — Springer’s Point in Ocracoke, NC

Road Trip Warrior

Related to the lighthouse obsession, I am also a road trip warrior. Some of my favorites are a 12-hour marathon along the Maine coastline to see 8 lighthouses in 1 day, driving the whole of the Outer Banks both ways, and driving to the end of the Mississippi Delta for an authentic po’ boy.

Stephen the second after sabering champagne bottle — My first-ever sabering

Champagne Saber Savant

After viewing Alton Brown’s tutorial, I became determined to try and saber open a champagne bottle. I succeeded on the first try (albeit after three strikes) and proceeded to hit a record four bottles at our New Years party. It is just as nerve-wracking as you might think.

Stephen with brothers and father — Left to Right: Dad, Me, Brian, Michael

Tall, Yet Short

Growing up the youngest of four brothers, I had what some might call “an inferiority complex.” None of that was helped by being the shortest sibling despite being 6’3″. But I get my revenge every doorframe I walk through without ducking.

John Fogerty Concert in September 2023 — John Fogerty concert at Wolf Trap in August 2023

Concert Enthusiast

Living just outside Washington D.C., I’ve had a unique opportunity to see many great bands in my time. Some of my favorite performances have been Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, Judas Priest, Genesis, and the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire.

Stephen with Kulfi while wearing D.C. Defenders shirt — Me with my friends’ cat Kulfi

Cat and Dog Lover

Lest you saw the picture of me on the home page and assumed I only played for Team Dog, rest assured: I love cats just as much. Likely due to growing up in a house full of cats and dogs (see slideshow below).

Pets, Pets, Pets

Growing up, we had a rotating cast of 10 pets (6 cats, 4 dogs). And that’s not counting the 3 black labs we fostered until they were old enough to be trained by Border Patrol.

Plus the ferrets my brothers had. And my beta fish. And the finches that they brought home until serial slayer Nicholas caught wind that there were birds inside the house to hunt now, too. Don’t worry, none of them died, though Nick did achieve one of the greatest coups of all time pulling the “unreachable” cage off its perch six feet up the wall. The finches went on to live a long and happy life with my grandparents. They even had chicks!

Boy, this is giving me a whole new appreciation for all my parents went through raising us.

I should point out, the vast majority of these pictures came from after I got my first smartphone in high school, so some of the pets only make very short cameos while there’s an absolute ton of the “modern day” animals. Also, not all of these were originally shot horizontal, so I did my best.

Jinxy girl
Celeste
Peter
Oreo and Fancy (I’ll let you figure out who is who)
Obi (He is beauty. He is grace. He does not share couch space.)
Nicholas (he loved a nice hot blacktop)
Queen Mittsie (with mouse!)
Kitty (I know, I know. I didn’t pick the name.)
Chessie (grandparents’ cat who became my brother’s cat after they passed)
Queen Jackie

My Boring Writing Bio

If you desire to know more about my writing background, you can find my official author bio below.

(…but you could also just stick with the pet pics. I would.)

Stephen A. Roddewig is an author from Arlington, Virginia. His latest feat of cutting back from four to two cups of coffee a day has convinced him that he is superhuman, and his membership in the Horror Writers Association hasn’t disproven that belief. When not pushing the bounds of human endurance, he has published three dozen short stories and two novels. Mostly, though, he spends his time reading incredible war fiction from William Peter Grasso while cycling in the gym and cooking like his savings depend on it. You can find more of his speculative fiction and comedy at stephenaroddewig.com (AKA return to the homepage)

(There. Happy now?)