About Dawn
From the paint layers on her fine art canvases to the heartwarming pages of her Brave Little Hearts Series®, Dawn Marie Hooks’ work as an award-winning author, artist, and educator is dedicated to the power of dreams and determination at every age.
When Dawn was a little girl, she slept hugging her favorite picture book, The Mitten. As she grew, her collection and passion for books grew. While earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Science in Education, Dawn’s favorite courses explored how children’s picture books integrate art, academics, and inspiration. She minored in art and became a teacher, incorporating children’s literature in every subject she taught.
This lifelong love for art and literature eventually transformed into creating her own picture books. After years of study in writing and illustration, Dawn graduate course project was her first self-published book, Oh, Cookie!. Since then, she has not stopped working on turning more ideas into books. Today, she paints watercolor illustrations and writes heartwarming stories about dreams, determination, and overcoming challenges. A PAL member of SCBWI, her work has been published by a traditional small press, and she speaks to school, parent, and teacher groups while continuing to teach both art and core subjects privately.
Dawn also shares her passions through creating original fine art. Working primarily in watercolor and acrylic, she creates paintings that explore light, movement, and the beauty in memories. Her work is inspired by nature—from the quiet desert landscapes of her Arizona home to the vibrant motion of the water. As a World Champion wakesurfer, Dawn finds constant inspiration in the flow of water, which often translates to her canvases alongside memories of splashing in the ocean or hiking along mountain rivers.
Through her writing and artwork, Dawn makes a splash—encouraging kids and grownups as they face life’s joys, changes, and challenges. Dawn is the creator of the Brave Little Hearts Series®, a series artist for Soulcraft Boarding, and a World Champion wakesurfer.
Dawn lives in Phoenix, AZ, with her husband, two awesome daughters, and their cuddly cockapoo, Maui. When she isn’t working, she enjoys yoga, coffee, reading, painting, and spending sunny days on the water with her family.
