Passing of Travis Heermann

BattleTech fiction author Travis L. Heermann passed away April 26 from injuries sustained in a serious motorcycle crash several months earlier. He was 54.

Heermann contributed several short stories to the BattleTech universe, including “Arms of the Destroyer,” collected exclusively in BattleCorps Anthology Vol. 7; “Daybreak on Shining Mountain,” from Shrapnel #2; and “Swords of Light and Darkness,” from the Legacy anthology.

“I had the privilege of not only knowing Travis as a wonderful, accomplished writer, but also as a good friend,” said Catalyst Game Labs Executive Editor John Helfers. “His BattleTech stories immediately garnered attention for their fully-realized characters, rich attention to detail, and gripping plots. He will be missed for his warmth, his creativity, and most of all, his friendship.”

Heermann was a prolific creator outside of the BattleTech universe. He authored many books for adult and young readers, was an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, and contributed to several podcasts. His full obituary, as shared by his wife Chanel, appears below, including details on a Celebration of Life planned for Friday, May 17 and information about memorial contributions.

The BattleTech and Catalyst Game Labs teams send their deepest condolences to Chanel and all of Travis’ family and friends.

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Travis Heermann was an author, freelance writer, award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, publisher, and editor. He was also a loving husband and stepfather, who married his wife Chanel Heermann May 29, 2015 and they enjoyed many adventures together. He is survived by his wife and step children Kaylen Helgason, Nykki Seybert, Joshua Seybert; his parents Dorothy and Jerry Heermann; his siblings Cody Heermann, Casey Heermann, and Rachel Brewer; and was predeceased by his first wife, Cheryl Heermann.

Travis had a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska Omaha, a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and was an Odyssey Writing Workshops graduate.  He has worked as an instructor at the University of Nebraska Omaha English Department, facilitator for Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop, and English Teacher in Fukuoka, Japan through the JET Program.

During his prolific creative life, Travis wrote 30 books; many were under his own imprint, Bear Paw Publishing.  These include 9 novels and a novella, plus 3 young-adult novels and 9 middle-grade books under his nom de plume T. James Logan. He also wrote 9 novels and non-fiction titles for his ghostwriting clients.  Based on his writing successes, he was accepted into both the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) and the Horror Writers Association (HWA).

Travis was an accomplished screenwriter and filmmaker. His screenplays have won numerous awards and have been performed on the stage. In 2021, he launched a film production company, Bear Paw Films. Its first project was a horror comedy short film called Demon for Hire, which won multiple awards including Best Director, Best First-Time Filmmaker, and Best Short.

In addition to writing, Travis also produced and appeared on several podcasts, and served on programming at many conventions. In 2022, he was chosen as Author Guest of Honor at Mile High Con 54.

Travis always found time for fun. He was a helluva poker player, along with being an evocative poet and a lifelong biker.  He loved music of all kinds and was a multitalented artist including visual arts and playing guitar. Travis had a passion for travel—having lived in Japan and New Zealand, and traveled extensively. 

Travis enjoyed cycling, collecting martial arts styles and belts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and monsters of every flavor, especially those with a soft, creamy center. 

Travis’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Denver Zen Center, May 17, 2024 3:00 pm.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Travis’ name to: Odyssey Writing Workshops (https://www.odysseyworkshop.org/support-us/).  Please send checks to Odyssey, P.O. Box 75, Mont Vernon, NH  03057, or send via PayPal to jcavelos@odysseyworkshop.org.

Please share your favorite Travis memory or general memoriam with Chanel for inclusion in a future memory book.  Please send to: doctorchanel@doctorchanel.com