Though widely published in medical research, Don Hill never considered himself a sci-fi writer. His fascination lay in the real-world complexities of human health, not the supernatural. But when his colleague, Thomas Cavaretta, proposed an unusual challenge—crafting a medical explanation for vampirism—Hill couldn’t resist.

The result was Vampiro, a novel that reimagined the mythology of bloodthirsty creatures through a scientific lens. Hill took on the role of constructing a plausible hematologic disorder—one rooted in biological possibility rather than folklore. The novel became a haunting intersection of fiction and fact, proving that even the most terrifying legends might have a scientific origin.