Tom Deitz
Encyclopedia
Thomas Franklin Deitz was an American
novelist from Georgia
. He had the A.B.
and M.A.
in medieval English from the University of Georgia
. He was the author of the "Soulsmith Trilogy," comprising the books Soulsmith, Dreambuilder, and Wordwright. He also wrote a popular series consisting of Windmaster's Bane, Fireshaper's Doom, Darkthunder's Way, Sunshaker's War, Stoneskin's Revenge, Ghostcountry's Wrath, Dreamseeker's Road, Landslayer's Law, and Warstalker's Track. His stand-alone novel The Gryphon King centers around a few of the characters from the later novels in the last series mentioned.
Deitz also won the Phoenix Award in 2007. This award is given at the annual DeepSouthCon
to a professional who has done a great deal for Southern Fandom.
Deitz was a well-liked college instructor as well, with stints as an adjunct English faculty member at Gainesville State College
, Lanier Tech, and Tri-County Community College
, and received a tenure-track appointment as assistant professor in Fall 2008 at Gainesville State College. He was recognized as GSC's adjunct faculty member of the year in 2008.
In addition to writing, Deitz's creative outlets included visual art (murals, fantasy art, and more); drama (with minor roles in a number of community and college productions); model automobile collecting; costumery; and other pursuits via the Society for Creative Anachronism
. He was a founding member of the SCA's Barony of Bryn Madoc.
Deitz died on Monday, April 27 2009 of heart failure. He had a heart attack in January of that year and was a candidate to receive a Ventricular assist device
(VAD) but had suffered too much damage to his heart for the device to be implanted.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He had the A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in medieval English from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. He was the author of the "Soulsmith Trilogy," comprising the books Soulsmith, Dreambuilder, and Wordwright. He also wrote a popular series consisting of Windmaster's Bane, Fireshaper's Doom, Darkthunder's Way, Sunshaker's War, Stoneskin's Revenge, Ghostcountry's Wrath, Dreamseeker's Road, Landslayer's Law, and Warstalker's Track. His stand-alone novel The Gryphon King centers around a few of the characters from the later novels in the last series mentioned.
Deitz also won the Phoenix Award in 2007. This award is given at the annual DeepSouthCon
DeepSouthCon
The DeepSouthCon is an annual science fiction convention, which is hosted in different cities in the Southern United States. Site selection is by vote of the membership of a given DSC, for the convention to be held 2 years in the future. DSC is often, but not always, held in conjunction with an...
to a professional who has done a great deal for Southern Fandom.
Deitz was a well-liked college instructor as well, with stints as an adjunct English faculty member at Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College is a state college of the University System of Georgia serving northeast Georgia since 1964. The Gainesville State College Gainesville Campus, located 45 miles northeast of Atlanta and six miles southwest of downtown Gainesville in Oakwood, is on Georgia State Route 53...
, Lanier Tech, and Tri-County Community College
Tri-County Community College
Tri-County Community College is a community college located in the westernmost tip ofNorth Carolina. It is a member of the North Carolina Community College System.-Accreditations:Approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Arts...
, and received a tenure-track appointment as assistant professor in Fall 2008 at Gainesville State College. He was recognized as GSC's adjunct faculty member of the year in 2008.
In addition to writing, Deitz's creative outlets included visual art (murals, fantasy art, and more); drama (with minor roles in a number of community and college productions); model automobile collecting; costumery; and other pursuits via the Society for Creative Anachronism
Society for Creative Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...
. He was a founding member of the SCA's Barony of Bryn Madoc.
Deitz died on Monday, April 27 2009 of heart failure. He had a heart attack in January of that year and was a candidate to receive a Ventricular assist device
Ventricular assist device
A Ventricular assist device, or VAD, is a mechanical circulatory device that is used to partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart...
(VAD) but had suffered too much damage to his heart for the device to be implanted.