Erik Schmidt MFA '11 Publishes First Book

Erik Schmidt MFA '11 published his first book, Black Tulip: The Life and Myth of Erich Hartmann, the World’s Top Fighter Ace in February 2020. Black Tulip is the dramatic story of history's top fighter ace, Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. It's also the story of how his service under Hitler was simplified and elevated to Western mythology during the Cold War.

Schmidt was featured in an online interview with the Kitsap Sun on Dec. 22, 2020 where he discusses the complex nature of his book's subject and his interest in aviation which emerged during middle school.