Fritz Sehring, class of 2020, teaches English in Seoul and writes fiction in the quiet moments between. 

Sehring traces his writing back to Mrs Brown’s class at Notre Dame Academy, where a short story called “All Summer in a Day’ flipped this switch in his brain.

“I was 19 when I began writing my first book,” Sehring told the Creative Writing class last week, a class still taught by Mrs. Brown.

At only 19, while waiting for a flight in Atlanta, he opened the Notes app on his phone and began writing what would eventually grow into his debut novel.

“I just started jotting things down; the story matured with me after that,” Fritz recalled. 

The book, The Art of Blood, follows a man from an influential family who uncovers secrets after his uncle’s sudden death. The novel explores themes of religion, loyalty and family legacy.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from the University of Indiana, Sehring sold beer in Chicago, studied abroad in Italy, and eventually moved to South Korea through a competitive English teaching program. 

Now in Seoul, he balances teaching with writing, often drawing his creative fuel from the cultural contrasts surrounding him.

“In Korea, everything feels collective,” Fritz said. “The subways tend to be quiet; people understand the rhythm. In Chicago, it’s pure chaos.”

Even lunchtime taught him something. “They didn’t give us forks and knives in the lunch hall, so I became a master with chopsticks.”

He hopes to teach in Spain next, but for now, Fritz Sehring is building a story that keeps getting better with each page.