James S S GardnerSeaplane pilot, sailor, scuba diver, fisherman, conservationist, world traveler and avid golfer, James Gardner could easily be the hero of his own book, The Lion Killer and the rest of the books in his Dark Continent Chronicles. Yet Gardner says his ead protagonist, Rigby Croxford, is a compilation of the extraordinary characters he's met on his annual trips within the toughest parts of Africa. He remains an ardent advocate for the lives of the people of Africa amid the ongoing injustices against them, their homeland and their lives. Raised in Florida, where he continues to live, Gardner took his first trip to Africa in 1968. He landed in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the midst of the Rhodesian Bush War, which proved to be disconcerting when he confused body bags for golf travel bags at an airport. Flying to Entebbe, Uganda in 1972 proved even more disturbing when a riot ensued because Idi Amin declared that all Indians must leave the country. Gardner continues to go back to Africa. The resilience of the African spirit is his inspiration. Africans are superb survivalists. If they weren't, we wouldn't exist. Born in Albany, New York, Gardner moved to Florida in 1947. He attended the University of Kentucky and Florida Atlantic University where he received a BA degree and met his wife. They have a daughter and two of the best grand kids ever. Read More Read Less