Lake Orion Resident's Memoir Navigates Complex Process of Self-Discovery

Feb. 22 will be a big day for Lake Orion resident Stacy Rose Bowen.

It’s the date of the launch party open house celebrating the release of her self-published non-fiction short-story collection, “Through Hazel Eyes.” The party will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Starbuck’s t John R and 16 Mile Road in Troy, and paperback signed by the author will be available for $15 each.

The book has been two years in development, but they trace some of the pivotal moments in her 38 years that have made her the woman she is today. The stories focus on three themes: family, health issues and travel experiences.

Here’s how Amazon.com describes the book:

“From family crises to freedom of the open road, Bowen recalls a host of memories: coping with a difficult childhood, enduring the loss of family members, recognizing the ties that bind families together (or tear them apart), and navigating the complex process of self-discovery.

“The child of a single parent, she describes the shame of being labeled as lower class and her internal struggles with self-esteem. With intimate and painful details, she shares the medical event that nearly ruined her and narrates her experience as an organ donor and her subsequent involvement with that community. Themes of perseverance and strength form the foundation for the stories in ‘Through Hazel Eyes,’ conveying pain, acceptance, exploration, death, learning, and growth.”

Bowen said in a news release that she hopes “Through Hazel Eyes” will be the first of several works. She’s currently working on poetry and songwriting, as well as forming an outline for a possible fiction venture. Someday, she hope to incorporate her love of photography into a future publication.

A 20-year resident of Oakland County, Bowen previously worked in the financial and government sectors. She is a graduate of Oakland Community College and has written several online articles. She currently volunteers at the Orion Township Library. Her blog can be found at stacysstation.blogspot.com.

Bowen’s memoir is available online as an e-book and in paperback from Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and lulu.com. It’s also available as an IBook and Nook Book for Kindle.