About the Author

Meet the Mind Behind the Monsters

Blending science, imagination, and storytelling into unforgettable adventures.

The children of the peaceful, quaint Vermont town of Killington are disappearing.

It begins on Halloween night with a very cruel prank and a very angry witch. Then come the rumors that no one can explain. Ancient mummies snatching up kids in the days before Thanksgiving. Slippery, slimy lagoon creatures luring boy and girl scouts to their doom with a beacon light that doesn’t belong on any menorah. Phantoms in the opera house capturing the young actors of the annual Christmastime performance of The Nutcracker.

Holidays, they say, are for the children. But what happens when there are no children left?

Now the people of Killington are in a panic, blaming monsters for their misfortune. But not all monsters are . . . well, monsters. In fact, to save the holiday season, some monsters may well be heroes. Like Frankenstein’s monster, Saul to his friends, the patchwork EMS captain who has dedicated the life his scientist father gave him to helping others. Or Dr. Ralph Ellison, whose own groundbreaking research has made him an invisible man.

She puts the her in hero.

There’s Aoife, whose lycanthropy is no curse at all, but rather a reflection of the alpha heroine she always was. And right by her side is her husband, Count Dracula himself, a vampire whose centuries of life have taught him that though blood must be drank, it must never be spilled save in the defense of innocent lives. But the witch Bridgett Bishop is ready. Her forces are gathered. And if this ragtag group of monsters mean to rescue the children, they’ll have to fight for it.

John DeGuire, M.D. is a retired physician and surgeon who brings a unique scientific lens to the world of fiction. His work combines imagination with realism, creating stories that feel both fantastical and grounded.

A lifelong fan of comic books and classic monster tales, John writes with a cinematic style—crafting stories that unfold like a movie, filled with action, emotion, and vivid characters.

Author Story

“Holiday Spirit” was written during a deeply personal time in John’s life. While staying in his childhood home during one final winter season, he found himself surrounded by silence, memories, and extreme conditions.

Snowed in and isolated, he turned that experience into inspiration—creating a story about monsters, family, and the meaning of the holidays.

It became more than just a book.
It became a reflection of memory, resilience, and imagination.

Inspired by Achievements

Award-Winning Stories That Readers Love

The Holiday Spirit series has captured the attention of readers and critics alike, earning recognition for its creativity, storytelling, and unique take on classic monsters.