Hoaker Croaker! Rob Thompson to Sign 1st Young Adult Novel at Homecoming ‘11
Dr. Rob Thompson, an Atlanta pediatrician and now novelist, was a first-generation college student at Georgetown. He proudly pointed to two first cousins who attended GC after him – Tarra Williams Hutchinson ’06 and Cristina Williams ‘10.
“I’m also looking forward to connecting with a lot of my college friends,” said the Atlanta pediatrician, whom classmates will know as Rob.
“I chose the pseudonym Ashland Menshouse for a couple reasons. It’s a family name and it separates my professional career from my glorified hobby,” said the native of Ashland (hence the first name). “Also, the name Rob Thompson is a little generic.”
The Last Seer and the Tomb of Enoch is about five kids who stumbled into a battle between a clan of Bigfoot and a ghost over an ancient tomb of buried angels. Thompson wrote, “It’s a young adult adventure blend of science fiction and spiritual fantasy, but so far adults who have read it have enjoyed it as well.”
The website is www.hoaker-croaker.com for a very kid-friendly reason that parents will appreciate. “There is no profanity, or sexual innuendo in the novel, since it’s written for kids,” he said. “And, instead of using ‘Darn’ or ‘Jeez’ – which are derivatives of other words – I created novel expletives for the kids to use. Hoaker Croaker! is one of them.”
Thompson had such a rich Georgetown College experience it’s no surprise some of that might be felt in the reading of The Last Seer… “My spiritual growth at GC certainly helped create a fruitful fund of knowledge on which to draw spiritual lessons and references written in the book,” he said.
A Dean’s List Chemistry and Biology double major who claimed both the General Chemistry and Organic Chem awards, Thompson also found time to be President of the Academic Team, a member of the Forensics Team and a copy editor for The Georgetonian. He was also a President’s Ambassador, a member of Lambda Chi fraternity and did some behind-the-scenes (sound and light) duty with College Maskrafters.
Thompson said he loves his “real job” as a pediatrician in the Emergency Department at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. “Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed, but I have no intention of giving up my day job,” he wrote. “I went to school way too long to learn how to do it.”
But, take heart, Hoaker-Croaker fans! Thompson – er, Menshouse – is 30 chapters into his second novel and hopes to have a first draft by year’s end. For a title, he’s trying to choose between The Last Guardian and the Keeper of the Magi or The Last Seer and the Keeper of the Magi.
“I haven’t reconciled all the details yet,” Thompson wrote. “The second book is a continuation of the first, approximately six months later in book time, when an old and a new dark enemy attempt to rear an army of hidden creatures in Lake Julian.”
Calling All Alumni/Faculty Authors!
We are expecting close to 30 “GC authors” for the annual Homecoming Book-signing, but to participate you must confirm with Holly Hardesty at The Store. Contact her at holly_hardesty@georgetowncollege.edu or (502) 863-8135. Be certain to give her information such as: your graduation year (if a GC grad), what you are doing now (e.g. “English teacher at Scott County High), or what you did (and where) just prior to retirement.
In addition to Thompson, those confirmed are: current professors Joe Lunceford (New Testament) and James Klotter (History, the state historian of Kentucky; retired History professor Lindsey Apple; Interim Campus Minister Bryan Langlands; and alumni Phyllis Stump ’60, Bill Ellis ’62, and Rosalee Anderson ‘70 alum.
I can hardly wait to see you at Homecoming, buy the book, and read it. I am so proud of you, but then i always was.
Thank you forever for helping me find Dr. Myerson in Baltimore for my ankle surgery. I also love your mom, and I am looking forward to buying your book so I can send it to kids I know. What a wonderful thing, to have your baby published. Good luck, I hope this is the beginning of something big for you.
Rob, we are so proud of you, you have come a long way, since the night I was trying to teach you to drive at the Walmart parking lot, many years ago, and security stopped us , wanting to know what we were doing. Also, Aunt Patti was really into your book, and I think it scared her, and that was the reason I had to take her to the ER, All kidding aside, she seems fine today , with a follow up to her family DR., the afternoon. Uncle Bill.
Look forward to reading your book since we do not have a book store any more can I get it on amazon or can I get it in the Bible Book Store. Good luck I know Sandy is sp proud of her boy and I am too! God bless you our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Glenn & Ellen
Ellen – it is now available at amazon.com. Hope you enjoy. When you coming this way girlfriend. It has been way too long since we have seen you. Sandy (aka room 33).
Rob…I look forward to reading your book. I’ll be visiting with your Mom @ the cabin in mid Sept. We are all so proud of you.