Father Roderick
@fatherroderick.bsky.social
I’m a priest and I’m a geek.
Read my stories via the link below 👇
🔗 linkin.bio/fatherroderick
Read my stories via the link below 👇
🔗 linkin.bio/fatherroderick
The final #Inktober story is here!
Prompt: Award 🏆
Meet Miss Whistleblossom, a pixie with a dandelion hat and more wit than wingspan.
She enters a harvest contest—against giants, squirrels, and too much pie.
Read the tale 🍁
fatherroderick.substack.com/p/miss-whist...
Prompt: Award 🏆
Meet Miss Whistleblossom, a pixie with a dandelion hat and more wit than wingspan.
She enters a harvest contest—against giants, squirrels, and too much pie.
Read the tale 🍁
fatherroderick.substack.com/p/miss-whist...
November 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The final #Inktober story is here!
Prompt: Award 🏆
Meet Miss Whistleblossom, a pixie with a dandelion hat and more wit than wingspan.
She enters a harvest contest—against giants, squirrels, and too much pie.
Read the tale 🍁
fatherroderick.substack.com/p/miss-whist...
Prompt: Award 🏆
Meet Miss Whistleblossom, a pixie with a dandelion hat and more wit than wingspan.
She enters a harvest contest—against giants, squirrels, and too much pie.
Read the tale 🍁
fatherroderick.substack.com/p/miss-whist...
“Why fantasy?” they ask. “Why wizards and dragons when you could write about saints?”
Because sometimes truth hides in unlikely places. In a Hobbit’s courage, an Elf’s sorrow, or even a fallen wizard’s pride. Fantasy can preach the Gospel without ever quoting it.
Because sometimes truth hides in unlikely places. In a Hobbit’s courage, an Elf’s sorrow, or even a fallen wizard’s pride. Fantasy can preach the Gospel without ever quoting it.
October 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
“Why fantasy?” they ask. “Why wizards and dragons when you could write about saints?”
Because sometimes truth hides in unlikely places. In a Hobbit’s courage, an Elf’s sorrow, or even a fallen wizard’s pride. Fantasy can preach the Gospel without ever quoting it.
Because sometimes truth hides in unlikely places. In a Hobbit’s courage, an Elf’s sorrow, or even a fallen wizard’s pride. Fantasy can preach the Gospel without ever quoting it.
#Inktober, Day 24 – "Rowdy".
He was bred for hellfire. Raised on biscuits. His name was Rowdy—and he was. But sometimes, the loudest bark hides the bravest heart.
👉 Read the story of Rowdy the Hellhound here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/rowdy-the-...
He was bred for hellfire. Raised on biscuits. His name was Rowdy—and he was. But sometimes, the loudest bark hides the bravest heart.
👉 Read the story of Rowdy the Hellhound here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/rowdy-the-...
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
#Inktober, Day 24 – "Rowdy".
He was bred for hellfire. Raised on biscuits. His name was Rowdy—and he was. But sometimes, the loudest bark hides the bravest heart.
👉 Read the story of Rowdy the Hellhound here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/rowdy-the-...
He was bred for hellfire. Raised on biscuits. His name was Rowdy—and he was. But sometimes, the loudest bark hides the bravest heart.
👉 Read the story of Rowdy the Hellhound here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/rowdy-the-...
#Inktober Day 23’s prompt “Firefly” lit up memories of the beloved sci-fi series.
I wrote a short story as an homage to its spirit, cast, and crew.
A loving tribute for all the Browncoats still flying.
👉 Read the story here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-firefl...
I wrote a short story as an homage to its spirit, cast, and crew.
A loving tribute for all the Browncoats still flying.
👉 Read the story here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-firefl...
October 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
#Inktober Day 23’s prompt “Firefly” lit up memories of the beloved sci-fi series.
I wrote a short story as an homage to its spirit, cast, and crew.
A loving tribute for all the Browncoats still flying.
👉 Read the story here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-firefl...
I wrote a short story as an homage to its spirit, cast, and crew.
A loving tribute for all the Browncoats still flying.
👉 Read the story here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-firefl...
I'm so excited to launch 'Dragon Patrol', my first serialized fantasy novel today at the LegendHaven Con! You can still get weekend tickets, they're only $10 (legendhaven.com)
October 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I'm so excited to launch 'Dragon Patrol', my first serialized fantasy novel today at the LegendHaven Con! You can still get weekend tickets, they're only $10 (legendhaven.com)
#Inktober Day 16’s prompt was “Blunder.” So I drew… a blender. A playful twist on misheard words. Today, it spiraled into an unusual love story about saying the wrong thing and being understood anyway. Enjoy: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-girl-w...
October 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
#Inktober Day 16’s prompt was “Blunder.” So I drew… a blender. A playful twist on misheard words. Today, it spiraled into an unusual love story about saying the wrong thing and being understood anyway. Enjoy: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-girl-w...
October 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
On Day 13 of the #InktoberChallenge, I experimented with a new drawing style inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts. The prompt was “drink,” so naturally, I had to sketch a monk about to indulge in a beverage he might regret later…
October 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
On Day 13 of the #InktoberChallenge, I experimented with a new drawing style inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts. The prompt was “drink,” so naturally, I had to sketch a monk about to indulge in a beverage he might regret later…
#Inktober2025 Day 12, "Shredded". Experimenting with a couple of new techniques in Procreate. It's an amazing app, and I learn something new every day. #inktober #inktoberchallenge
October 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
#Inktober2025 Day 12, "Shredded". Experimenting with a couple of new techniques in Procreate. It's an amazing app, and I learn something new every day. #inktober #inktoberchallenge
For #Inktober Day 11, the prompt was “sting.”
I imagined a distant world where mining only happens at night… until the ground rebels, the mist falls — and something enormous strikes back.
👉 Read the short story: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/sting-oper...
I imagined a distant world where mining only happens at night… until the ground rebels, the mist falls — and something enormous strikes back.
👉 Read the short story: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/sting-oper...
October 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
For #Inktober Day 11, the prompt was “sting.”
I imagined a distant world where mining only happens at night… until the ground rebels, the mist falls — and something enormous strikes back.
👉 Read the short story: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/sting-oper...
I imagined a distant world where mining only happens at night… until the ground rebels, the mist falls — and something enormous strikes back.
👉 Read the short story: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/sting-oper...
Day 9 of the #inktober2025 challenge: "heavy".
The same burden may feel light to some, heavy to others.
Went for a more cartoon-like style today. This is the stuff I used to draw in high school 😄. #inktober
The same burden may feel light to some, heavy to others.
Went for a more cartoon-like style today. This is the stuff I used to draw in high school 😄. #inktober
October 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Day 9 of the #inktober2025 challenge: "heavy".
The same burden may feel light to some, heavy to others.
Went for a more cartoon-like style today. This is the stuff I used to draw in high school 😄. #inktober
The same burden may feel light to some, heavy to others.
Went for a more cartoon-like style today. This is the stuff I used to draw in high school 😄. #inktober
Today’s #Inktober2025 prompt was "reckless". I started with a drawing: two hobbits singing by firelight, unaware of the dragon behind them. But the short story I wrote next flipped the danger—and the lesson—on its head: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/reckless
October 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Today’s #Inktober2025 prompt was "reckless". I started with a drawing: two hobbits singing by firelight, unaware of the dragon behind them. But the short story I wrote next flipped the danger—and the lesson—on its head: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/reckless
Day 7 of #Inktober2025 – Prompt: "Starfish".
It began on a dying reef, unnoticed. It ends among the stars, waiting.
A sci-fi horror tale about survival, evolution—and the stowaway no one saw coming.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/starfish-s...
#inktoberchallenge #inktober #alien #facehugger
It began on a dying reef, unnoticed. It ends among the stars, waiting.
A sci-fi horror tale about survival, evolution—and the stowaway no one saw coming.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/starfish-s...
#inktoberchallenge #inktober #alien #facehugger
October 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Day 7 of #Inktober2025 – Prompt: "Starfish".
It began on a dying reef, unnoticed. It ends among the stars, waiting.
A sci-fi horror tale about survival, evolution—and the stowaway no one saw coming.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/starfish-s...
#inktoberchallenge #inktober #alien #facehugger
It began on a dying reef, unnoticed. It ends among the stars, waiting.
A sci-fi horror tale about survival, evolution—and the stowaway no one saw coming.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/starfish-s...
#inktoberchallenge #inktober #alien #facehugger
Somehow, the nose piercing didn’t look quite as cool as Pinocchio had imagined.
#Inktober2025 Day 6: "Pierce"
#inktober #inktoberchallenge
#Inktober2025 Day 6: "Pierce"
#inktober #inktoberchallenge
October 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Somehow, the nose piercing didn’t look quite as cool as Pinocchio had imagined.
#Inktober2025 Day 6: "Pierce"
#inktober #inktoberchallenge
#Inktober2025 Day 6: "Pierce"
#inktober #inktoberchallenge
Yesterday’s #Inktober2025 prompt was 'murky'. I sketched an anglerfish, its tiny light glowing in the dark.
☕️ This morning, I woke up with a story to match it. Strange, quiet, and hungry.
🎣 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/murky-waters
☕️ This morning, I woke up with a story to match it. Strange, quiet, and hungry.
🎣 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/murky-waters
October 5, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Yesterday’s #Inktober2025 prompt was 'murky'. I sketched an anglerfish, its tiny light glowing in the dark.
☕️ This morning, I woke up with a story to match it. Strange, quiet, and hungry.
🎣 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/murky-waters
☕️ This morning, I woke up with a story to match it. Strange, quiet, and hungry.
🎣 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/murky-waters
#Inktober Day 4: ‘Murky’.
Experimenting with layers and brushes in Procreate.
Drew an angler fish, its bioluminescent lure glowing in the murky depths of the ocean.
Experimenting with layers and brushes in Procreate.
Drew an angler fish, its bioluminescent lure glowing in the murky depths of the ocean.
October 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
#Inktober Day 4: ‘Murky’.
Experimenting with layers and brushes in Procreate.
Drew an angler fish, its bioluminescent lure glowing in the murky depths of the ocean.
Experimenting with layers and brushes in Procreate.
Drew an angler fish, its bioluminescent lure glowing in the murky depths of the ocean.
I had some more time this weekend, so I redid the drawing for day 2 of #Inktober, ‘Weave’.
It inspired me to write a new short story about an abbot who learns how to weave with magic. 👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/weave-the-...
It inspired me to write a new short story about an abbot who learns how to weave with magic. 👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/weave-the-...
October 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I had some more time this weekend, so I redid the drawing for day 2 of #Inktober, ‘Weave’.
It inspired me to write a new short story about an abbot who learns how to weave with magic. 👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/weave-the-...
It inspired me to write a new short story about an abbot who learns how to weave with magic. 👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/weave-the-...
For #Inktober day 1—Mustache—I sketched a proud old tree with a leafy mustache.
🌳 But as I drew, a story sprouted: one of grumpiness, autumn loss, and an unlikely act of kindness. Oh, and there's a puppy too.
🍁 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/mustache
🌳 But as I drew, a story sprouted: one of grumpiness, autumn loss, and an unlikely act of kindness. Oh, and there's a puppy too.
🍁 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/mustache
October 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
For #Inktober day 1—Mustache—I sketched a proud old tree with a leafy mustache.
🌳 But as I drew, a story sprouted: one of grumpiness, autumn loss, and an unlikely act of kindness. Oh, and there's a puppy too.
🍁 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/mustache
🌳 But as I drew, a story sprouted: one of grumpiness, autumn loss, and an unlikely act of kindness. Oh, and there's a puppy too.
🍁 You can read it here: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/mustache
It’s been exactly one year since I first decided to write a novel. I had no idea how much I would have to learn.
To celebrate my one year anniversary as a writer, here is a new short story. I’ve never written something this bad before.
🍁☕️ fatherroderick.substack.com/p/ive-never-...
— Fr. Roderick
To celebrate my one year anniversary as a writer, here is a new short story. I’ve never written something this bad before.
🍁☕️ fatherroderick.substack.com/p/ive-never-...
— Fr. Roderick
September 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
It’s been exactly one year since I first decided to write a novel. I had no idea how much I would have to learn.
To celebrate my one year anniversary as a writer, here is a new short story. I’ve never written something this bad before.
🍁☕️ fatherroderick.substack.com/p/ive-never-...
— Fr. Roderick
To celebrate my one year anniversary as a writer, here is a new short story. I’ve never written something this bad before.
🍁☕️ fatherroderick.substack.com/p/ive-never-...
— Fr. Roderick
What my eyes saw vs. what my imagination saw:
🐸 Came home to a fat frog on the path. I froze. The frog froze. My brain went: “Eww.”
But what if a whole village reacted that way… and things escalated?
Today’s story hopped out of it: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/when-the-f...
🐸 Came home to a fat frog on the path. I froze. The frog froze. My brain went: “Eww.”
But what if a whole village reacted that way… and things escalated?
Today’s story hopped out of it: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/when-the-f...
September 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
What my eyes saw vs. what my imagination saw:
🐸 Came home to a fat frog on the path. I froze. The frog froze. My brain went: “Eww.”
But what if a whole village reacted that way… and things escalated?
Today’s story hopped out of it: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/when-the-f...
🐸 Came home to a fat frog on the path. I froze. The frog froze. My brain went: “Eww.”
But what if a whole village reacted that way… and things escalated?
Today’s story hopped out of it: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/when-the-f...
What my camera saw: a simple green watering can.
What my imagination saw: a garden that bites.
This creepy little story grew out of one photo and far too much weeding.
In this garden, watering the plants might be the last thing you do…
🪴 Read it now: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-hungry...
What my imagination saw: a garden that bites.
This creepy little story grew out of one photo and far too much weeding.
In this garden, watering the plants might be the last thing you do…
🪴 Read it now: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-hungry...
September 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
What my camera saw: a simple green watering can.
What my imagination saw: a garden that bites.
This creepy little story grew out of one photo and far too much weeding.
In this garden, watering the plants might be the last thing you do…
🪴 Read it now: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-hungry...
What my imagination saw: a garden that bites.
This creepy little story grew out of one photo and far too much weeding.
In this garden, watering the plants might be the last thing you do…
🪴 Read it now: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-hungry...
🍎 New story: The Wishing Tree
It gives what you need—until it takes what it wants.
A dark fairytale about greed, magic, and consequences: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-wishin...
It gives what you need—until it takes what it wants.
A dark fairytale about greed, magic, and consequences: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-wishin...
September 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM
🍎 New story: The Wishing Tree
It gives what you need—until it takes what it wants.
A dark fairytale about greed, magic, and consequences: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-wishin...
It gives what you need—until it takes what it wants.
A dark fairytale about greed, magic, and consequences: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/the-wishin...
I used to be terrified of spiders. Over time, I learned to let them be.
But sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really healed.
Today’s short story is for anyone who’s ever made a truce with fear... and still checks under the couch.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/bob-the-sp...
But sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really healed.
Today’s short story is for anyone who’s ever made a truce with fear... and still checks under the couch.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/bob-the-sp...
August 28, 2025 at 9:13 AM
I used to be terrified of spiders. Over time, I learned to let them be.
But sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really healed.
Today’s short story is for anyone who’s ever made a truce with fear... and still checks under the couch.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/bob-the-sp...
But sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really healed.
Today’s short story is for anyone who’s ever made a truce with fear... and still checks under the couch.
👉 fatherroderick.substack.com/p/bob-the-sp...
What my eyes see vs. what my imagination sees. A hand-painted mailbox inspired today’s Stephen King-flavored fantasy story. Check it out: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/dont-blink... #amwriting
August 26, 2025 at 11:43 AM
What my eyes see vs. what my imagination sees. A hand-painted mailbox inspired today’s Stephen King-flavored fantasy story. Check it out: fatherroderick.substack.com/p/dont-blink... #amwriting