Erik Schmidt writes, because

writing is how I think, discover new things, and create. I’m an author and senior writer + brand strategist for agencies, nonprofits, and higher education.

I specialize in not specializing too much: I’m a curious generalist who’s usually brought in to make make technical or complicated topics more human and relatable. My education and work experiences blend creative writing with hard research, marketing, and editorial management.

My first book, “Black Tulip: The Life and Myth of Erich Hartmann, the World’s Top Fighter Ace,” was published by Casemate in 2020, translated into several other languages, featured in Smithsonian Air & Space magazine and other fun places, and re-released in paperback in early 2023.

Today I’m writing two new books at once (either a really good idea or a silly one) and both deal with the history and science of aviation.