Diana M. Flareau 
Eye of the Owl 

Eye of the Owl is a fantasy fiction that takes place in the small town of Prickly Pears located at the edge of a mystical oasis along the San Andreas Fault, where the paranormal and social misfits were not unusual. The protagonist—Darla Fleaurant, a staff writer for a newspaper in Des Moines, Iowa—had big dreams and career goals in the world of journalism. To achieve her dream, she played everything by the rules and according to social expectations. Her entire life was planned out before her until her husband, who was her childhood sweetheart, divorced her to marry her closest lifelong friend. Devasted by pain and shame, she left her hometown and traveled to California. By happenstance, she took the wrong off-ramp and ended up in the town of Prickly Pears where she met Emma Blackmer, owner of Emma and Luke’s Prickly Pear Café and RV Park. It was through Emma’s role modeling and teachings that Darla broke down social barriers and found her true self and how she fit into the greater scheme of society.

About the author

Diana M. Flareau earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Education: Instructional Technology through California State University San Bernardino. In 2005, she was accepted into a doctorate program in Education: Community College Leadership through Walden University where she earned an ABD (all but dissertation). She enjoyed two major careers: one as a staff writer, photographer, and editor for various newspapers throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada. Later in time, she was employed as a community college reading, writing, and journalism instructor and taught in that capacity for 15 years until her retirement. However, her most important role throughout her adult life was that of a single mother of two children. While attending college and supporting her family, she generally worked two and three jobs in the service and hospitality industries. It was during those years and her years a professional, she experienced employment limitations based on her gender. Through her struggles (both personal and professional), she developed a deep concern regarding women’s issues, which led her to write the novel, “Eye of the Owl.”