Anto Gardas was born in Agici near Derventa on 21st May, 1938. He graduated from the Law School in Zagreb. He has written about forty books, mostly for younger readers: novels, fairy-tales, stories, poems, role plays. He published five haiku collections. He received several awards for his novels and poetry in Croatia. His haiku was awarded and commended on many haiku contests both in Croatia and abroad. Deceased in June, 2004.

Domestic awards:
Puzev se roscic ­ 'Dani Drubravka Ivancana', Krapina, 1999
U tamnoj noci ­ 'Vrabac/Sparrow' Samobor, 2000

International awards:
Zlatnim cavlima ­Kusamakura, Kumamoto, 2000
Mutna rijeka ­ Ito En, Tokyo, 2000
Sjaj mjesecine - Kusamakura, Kumamoto, 2001