John Reynolds Gardiner was an American author and engineer, best known for his popular children's book, Stone Fox. Born in Los Angeles, California, he earned his Master's Degree in Engineering from UCLA. Initially working as a successful engineer, Gardiner transitioned into writing, drawing inspiration from legends he encountered during his travels. He lived and worked in countries such as Germany and Central America and taught writing workshops globally.

Gardiner's writing career began serendipitously after writing classes and trials in television writing. His persistence paid off when his story about a boy and his dog was published as Stone Fox, which achieved international acclaim, selling over 3 million copies and being adapted into a television movie. He also edited children's stories for television. In his personal life, Gardiner was known for his creativity and humor, once running a novelty company selling aquarium ties. Despite challenges with spelling and grammar, he proved that storytelling transcends technical writing skills.

John spent his final years in California with his wife, Gloria, and their three daughters. He passed away due to complications from pancreatitis in Anaheim, California and is survived by his family.