H. Thomas Milhorn, Jr. 
Major Works
Novels
- Caduceus Awry (Writer's Showcase, 2000 )
- Schizo (work in progress)
Non-fiction
- The Application of Control Theory to Physiological Systems (Saunders, 1966)
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance (American Academy of Family Physicians, 1982)
- Chemical Dependence: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention (Springer-Verlag, 1990)
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Authoritative Guide for Parents, Teachers and Counselors (Plenum, 1994)
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A Biography of Tom Milhorn
By Nathan Kiser (SHS)
H.
Thomas Milhorn Jr. was born on October 30, 1936, to Howard Thomas and
Fay Milhorn in Kingsport, Tennessee. Milhorn graduated from
Lincoln Memorial University in 1960 with a Bachelor's of Science.
He also attended the University of Mississippi in 1964 where he earned
his Ph. D. In 1975 he obtained his Medical Degree. He
married Katrina Harris, a nurse, on September 14, 1960, and
together they have a son named Toby.
 Thomas
Milhorn is a member of the American Medical Association, American
Academy of Family Physicians, American Society of Addiction Medicine,
Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, and the Lauderdale County
Medical Society.
But before becoming a doctor, he worked as a
mechanical drafter from 1956 to 1957 at a vessel manufacturing company
in California. In 1958 to 1991 he had numerous jobs in
engineering, drafting, and medicine, having earned his MD in 1975. In
1992, retiring from the faculty of the University of Mississippi
School of Medicine as associate professor of psychiatry and human
behavior and professor of family medicine, he was in private practice
for four years until he practiced Addiction and General Medicine at
East Mississippi State Hospital for five years. Now he is
permanently retired and enjoys writing, especially fiction, and
other hobbies.
 Milhorn's non-fiction writings include The Application of Control Theory to Physiological Systems in 1966, Fluid and Electrolyte Balance in 1982, Chemical Dependence: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention in 1990, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Authoritative Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors in 1994. All of his writings have been translated into Japanese. His first novel, Cadeucus Awry, was a finalist in the novel competition of the Eudora Welty Film and Fiction Festival, held annually in Jackson, Mississippi.
Milhorn is now working on another novel entitled Schizo, which takes place in a mental hospital.
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A Review
of Caduceus Awry
by Nathan Kiser (SHS)
Caduceus Awry is
an enthralling novel by Tom Milhorn. The novel grabs the reader's
attention and does not let go until every problem, of which there are
many, is solved. The story is about a plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark
Valentine, who loses his license due to alcoholism and is forced to
work as a second-rate emergency room doctor on a limited institutional
license. Valentine is accosted by a mob ring-leader and must stop
a serial killer at his hospital to save the life of the only man who
can get his license back. Throughout all of these problems,
Valentine faces struggles in his love life and his fight against
alcoholism.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel because the plot had so many twists that
it kept me guessing until the conclusion. Also, I appreciated
Milhorn's ability to be concise in the writing of the novel.
Moreover, I was amazed that I could imagine myself in Dr. Valentine's
shoes as the novel progressed.
The plot follows
Valentine from Atlanta, Georgia, through much traveling, to New
Orleans, Louisiana, where he and the novel eventually stop.
Milhorn has the ability to make these settings come alive to the
reader. Also, the amount of travel keeps the reader
guessing as to where Valentine will end up in the next chapter.
I would recommend the novel Caduceus Awry
as an amazing medical mystery in which to immerse yourself. There
are a few references to sex and alcohol, which may make the novel more
suitable for mature young adults or adults. In addition, there
are some occurrences of violence. However, I do not believe that
these situations subtract from the novel or make it any less desirable
to read.
Caduceus Awry is a novel of
plot twists and flaws of human nature. Dr. Valentine represents
every person who has ever been stretched almost to the breaking point
but finally defies the odds and becomes victorious over his
struggles. I suggest that you read Caduceus Awry. You will not regret your decision.
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An Interview with Tom Milhorn
by Nathan Kiser (SHS) May 10, 2003
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
In
graduate school, working on my Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics.
However, in the sixth grade I started writing fiction. My first work
was this horrible little story entitled “The Sacred Sword of Sabu.”
Was there something in particular that got you interested in writing?
Again
in graduate school, I became very interested in Engineering Control
Theory. After one course on the subject, I began looking at the
application of engineering principles to human systems and more or less
made myself an expert on the subject. I published a number of papers on
the subject. Since the chairman of my department was a well known
author, he inspired me.
How difficult was it to get your first book published? How did you go about it?
It
was not difficult at all. The world's leading publisher of
medical books, W. B. Saunders, wanted a book on the application of
control theory to human systems. They asked the chairman of my
department for a recommendation, and he recommended me. The
publisher sent me a contract and subsequently published “The
Application of Control Theory to Physiological Systems.” My next book
“Chemical Dependence: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention” which was a
book for physicians, was almost as easy. I sent the manuscript to two
publishers and they both wanted it. The third book “Drug and Alcohol
Abuse: The Authoritative Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors”
was a little more difficult. I had to send it to eleven publishers
before I found one that was interested. Finding a publisher for
“Caduceus Awry” was really difficult. I sent it to 40 publishers before
finding one that wanted it.
Is Caduceus Awry, even though fiction, based on your life?
No, although I drew a lot on my professional experience, such as many years of treating people for drug and/or alcohol problems.
Did you base the characters in the book Caduceus Awry on people you know or knew?
No. They are entirely fiction. Again, I drew a lot from my professional experience to form some of their personality traits.
Who is/are your favorite author/authors?
Writers
of medical fiction such Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Michael Palmer,
and Jonathan Kellerman. Dean Koontz is also one of my favorites.
What author do you think has influenced you the most?
Dr. Author Guyton. His “Textbook of Medical Physiology” is the leading textbook in the world on the subject.
How long did it take you to write Caduceus Awry?
About three years. I wrote it while practicing medicine full time.
Where did you get the idea for this book?
Basically
from my past experiences. I just sat down one day and asked myself what
I could write a novel on. The idea came to me fairly quickly.
What kind of student were you in high school?
Terrible.
Maybe worse than that. In college, however, I received an award for The
Best Academic Average in the Freshman Class, and upon graduation
I received an award for The Highest Academic Average in Scientific
Subjects
.
Are you currently working on a new book?
Yes.
What is it called?
Schizo.
When will it be published? What is it about?
I
don't have a publisher for it yet. It is about a psychiatrist in a
state mental institution who becomes involved in the investigation of
bizarre and deadly actions of a few mentally ill people worldwide.
Have you received any awards? (Other than being a finalist in the Eudora Welty Film and Fiction Festival).
Yes.
“Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Authoritative Guide for Parents, Teachers,
and Counselors” made the Academic Top-twenty List in 1994 and the
Top-twenty List of Books Sold through the Internet in 2002. I also
received an award for one of the top four papers (Nicotine Dependence)
published in 1988 by a family physician.
How has Mississippi or living in Mississippi influenced your writing?
I
have been here since I was 23, having grown up in northeastern
Tennessee. I can't think of any ways that living here has influenced my
writing.
Besides writing, what else do you like to do?
Having
participated actively in sports in high school and college, I am a
sports fanatic, especially basketball. I am a huge Kentucky fan. I also
design webs sites and have several on the internet. I am also very
interested in current events, so I watch cable news and daily
read the news on the internet. And, of course, I'm an avid reader of
novels.
Do you have any advice for future writers?
Read
a lot and pay attention to the characteristics of the people around
you. They may come in handy at a later date. Also, as they say – Write
about what you know. I always thought that was strange advice. How can
you write about something you don't know?
Do you have any advice for students today?
Study
hard and stay sober as much as you can. What you learn in high school
and college, no matter how low your opinion is of the subject, may be
important later. Believe it or not, I still use algebra to solve common
problems. Don't do stupid things like diving off a five–story building
into a swimming pool. That way you may live to achieve your aspirations.
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Related Websites
Tom Milhorn's web page has information on Caduceus Awry and biographical information.
Amazon.com provides a place to buy Caduceus Awry and read reviews on this book.
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Bibliography
"Howard Thomas Milhorn, Jr." Gale Group Products: Contemporary Authors. 13 February 2001. Gale Group. 2 May 2003
Milhorn, Tom. Caduceus Awry. San Jose: Writer's Showcase, 2000.
Milhorn, Tom. "Caduceus Awry." 13 February 2003. 2 May 2003 <http://www.geocities.com/milhorn>.
Milhorn, Tom. Email interview. 10 May 2003.
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