About Us | A Desert Dawn

Dawn Renee Darnell

• 2024 - WOMAN OF THE YEAR - Top 100 Registry
• 2024 – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Photography
• 2023 - ARTIST OF THE YEAR and
• 2023 - PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - both by Persons of the Year

Member of:
• Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA)
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
• Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA)
• The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), member and Juror, she judges the Communicator, Davey, and w3 awards

Honored in:
• Who’s Who in America
• Marquis Top Professional
• The Millennium Magazine
• Artist Closeup Magazine and Blog
• The Top 100 Magazine

Mrs. Darnell has had art exhibits at Art Basel-Miami, Florida; Basel, Switzerland; at Expo Metro in New York Times Square; Art Basel Miami; Barcelona, Spain; New York Pier 36; in Red Dot Miami and Spectrum Miami; and in galleries in Zug, Zurich, and Geneva Switzerland; Venice, Italy; Berlin, Germany; Palma, Spain; Athens, Greece; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Milan, Italy; and in the United States.

Dawn Renee is a globally recognized photographer. She has won 58 international photography awards so far, and countless local and state awards. Dawn Renee's images have been published on National Geographic and Smithsonian's website, and in calendars, in books, on book covers, in yearbooks, newspapers, advertisements, zoos, KOA pamphlets, sympathy cards, business cards, websites, used as logos, and sold in Galleries. She has also won an AVA Digital Award, a Communicator Award, and two Hermes Creative Awards.

She has been a board member for five organizations, a New Mexico Delegate, a campaign manager for U.S. Congress, and a Loan Signing New Mexico Notary. She was a private Montessori teacher for 21 years and a Montessori principal. Mrs. Darnell was also an after school Director (Montessori) for 8 years, a Christian Academy Program Director, a houseparent for adults with intellectual disabilities and a Special Olympics Coach, and a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach.

Mrs. Darnell is working on her natural skincare company, Hollyn Renee Skincare.

Dawn Renee and her husband Jim have a ministry in the Ivory Coast, West Africa, supplying French Bibles, musical instruments, building churches and homes for pastors, and paying for seminary tuition, weddings, and funerals. She is an Ordained Minister and a disaster relief chaplain. She won the 2024 Communitas Award for Philanthropy - Community Service for Funding the Ministry in Ivory Coast, Africa.

Her six published books have won 98 book awards so far.

Jim H. Darnell, Jr

Born in Dallas, Jim spent his childhood in West Africa as a missionary kid. He has lived on four continents and has visited over 20 countries. He can speak and write both French and Spanish fluently. Jim is an Ordained Minister, has pastored 3 churches, been a youth minister, and serves as a missionary to Ivory Coast. Jim is also a dynamic speaker. He has developed the skills to draw people in emotionally and cast a vision. Jim has written countless plays, devotionals, teaching lessons and sermons.

A teacher of 24 years in Math, French and Spanish. Jim has written extensive curriculum including a complete course in 6th grade Spanish I. Jim played soccer for Samford University where he starred his freshman year. He has coached 25 seasons ranging from peewee leagues to head coach of a high school team in soccer, tennis, basketball and football. Jim is also a Loan Signing Notary Public of the State of New Mexico.

COLLEGE DEGREES