Ted Smith worked for over eighteen years in the West African diamond mining industry. He draws his characters and incidents from from his experiences in Africa. Valley of Diamonds is his second no...view moreTed Smith worked for over eighteen years in the West African diamond mining industry. He draws his characters and incidents from from his experiences in Africa. Valley of Diamonds is his second novel, and it is based on a well-known (in certain circles) tale of smuggling diamonds from Guinea to Sierra Leone during the Second World War.view less