The River (The Life Journals of William Thacker, #1)

From the Life Journals of William Thacker comes a story that brings us into the heart of the Amazon River Basin.
The year was 1967. Will and three of his fellow biology students mount an expedition to Leticia, Colombia, on the banks of the fabled river. They are in search of scientific specimens for the State Museum of Florida in Gainesville. But as Will finds his way along jungle pathways, he rediscovers the true spirit of his quest.
In this thrilling saga, the author weaves tribal customs and the natural history of the region and its wildlife into a tale of true adventure.

Ever since four-year-old William Thacker got to hold a black rat snake, he has been fascinated by animals. As a child, he kept a menagerie in his family's back yard in Florida, then moved his collection to Clermont's Citrus Tower where, at the age of fifteen, he was giving guided tours and "milking" rattlesnakes for the public at The Wildlife Arena.
Throughout his life, William has involved himself in traveling, collecting, and teaching about wildlife. He has been a youth camp nature director, a teacher, and a television host. He has operated an import company, an exotic animal shop, and has worked as a zoo educator.
In 2019 William returned to Florida and began writing Thacker Tales. He now resides in the Black Hammock Wilderness Area where he continues to pen the stories of his incredible life with animals.