About the Author

The Journey

Jill Darden is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur in the multimedia industry for almost 30 years. Throughout her career, she has published newspapers, produced television shows and interviewed many noteworthy guests, including Oprah Winfrey. Along with a passion for informing and inspiring others, she is a woman of faith, blessed with the gift of encouragement and the word of wisdom. Darden shares her faith with the public in a weekly podcast called On the Spiritual Side.

The Texas native earned a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington and was the first African-American elected Miss UTA. Darden was honored by the university with the Trailblazers Award in February 2007 for this historic milestone and pictured in Ebony Magazine among Black College Queens. The dedicated media entrepreneur has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Quest for Success Award, presented by the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Tarrant County Minority Leaders & Citizens Council, the Eagle Award for Outstanding Media, presented the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce and most recently, the Robert Nelson Media Award from the Texas Association of African-American Chambers of Commerce.

Darden founded Fort Worth Black News in 1997, a publication dedicated to informing and inspiring the community. She served as producer and host of the television show, The Urban Voice, broadcast on Urban American Television Network from January 2004 - July 2005. While producing the show, she interviewed many local and national trailblazers. Darden’s television background includes creating, producing, and hosting a successful news program, which aired on Charter Cable Channel 31 for five years. During the show’s run she received the First Place Paul R. Ellis Media Award for the television story, Search Your Heart. In addition she has worked as a reporter for Irving Cable Television Network and on the news assignments desk for CBS-KTVT Channel 11.

Darden is the proud mother of a 18-year-old son, Jiles, who has written and published four motivational books to inspire his peers. Her son and his books have gained nationwide attention for the sincere, universal messages of hope. Jiles has been featured on ABC, NBC, The Kelly Clarkson Show and Good Morning Texas. He is also a senior vocal music student who has written and released his first song, “So Much To Live For”.

Darden has served on numerous boards, committees and commissions to move the community forward.

Jiles Clark is a vocal music senior and the son of Jill Darden. He’s been singing since elementary school and is currently a tenor in his school's varsity A Cappella Choir and District’s Lone Star Youth Chorus. Jiles is a three-time TMEA All-State winner, has received superior-rated solos at UIL competitions, and is a part of Tri-Music Honor Society. He has also written and released his first original song called "So Much to Live For", an inspiring song to help people keep going.

In addition to music, Jiles was elected as his school's Student Government President, is an active National Honor Society member, and Media Manager for his choir program. He co-founded Panther's Light.

At his young age, he has already written four motivational books to encourage his peers and was featured on the nationally syndicated Kelly Clarkson Show for the positive message.

He has also been featured on NBC DFW with Evan Anderson, ABC DFW with Tashara Parker and Good Morning Texas with Jane McGarry.

He loves serving God, writing, volunteering at church, playing basketball, and eating Little Caesars Hot n' Ready pizzas.