Rick W. Gardner

Rick Gardner is an independent storyteller, musician, and creator of The Human Compass — a virtue-centered children’s series designed to inspire courage, compassion, gratitude, wisdom, and hope in young readers.

Blending heartfelt storytelling with imagination and music, Rick created The Human Compass to help families share meaningful conversations about character, kindness, and the light that lives within us all.

Inspired by years of creative work and a desire to build something lasting for children and families, his vision is simple:

To help children discover that the light they seek has always been within them — guiding them even through the darkest night.

Through the world of Shaka Bird and Ari, Rick hopes to create stories that children not only enjoy, but carry with them for the rest of their lives.

When he’s not writing, Rick enjoys music, swimming, and creating uplifting stories for families. He also releases inspiring music under the name Shaka Bird Studios, available now on Amazon Music.