About The Author

John McKillop is a Greenville, South Carolina–based author, medical doctor, and patent examiner whose life has taken him from the beaches of Miami to the fast-paced world of medical patent law. His path has been anything but linear—blending science, storytelling, creativity, and community into a life rich with experiences that shape his writing. 

A graduate of Davidson College and the Medical University of South Carolina, John has worn more hats than most: college professor, charcoal portrait artist, biomedical researcher, cover-band keyboardist, and even a mediocre wedding photographer. Every one of these roles contributes a different layer to his curiosity and voice as a writer.

Married for 23 years and a father of four, John draws inspiration from the joy, chaos, and perspective that come with family life. He’s a storyteller at heart—mixing humor, run-on sentences, and big, unanswerable questions best explored around a campfire or over a well-poured drink.

John is also co-founder of the Medicinal Whiskey Charity, a Greenville-based nonprofit that has raised roughly $2 million for pediatric care. The camaraderie, bourbon culture, and late-night tasting memories from this community directly inspired much of the world behind his debut novel, Bourbon Brothers.

When he’s not writing or evaluating new biomedical innovations, John can usually be found chasing his kids, limping through marathons, strumming a guitar, or exploring the Carolina coast with his family. His passion for storytelling, fatherhood, friendship, and vintage bourbon remains central to everything he creates—essential ingredients in a life well lived.