Diana Pharaoh Francis (born c. 1967) is an American fantasy author and professor, best known for her novels Path of Fate and The Cipher.
Francis grew up on a cattle ranch in Northern California, near Lincoln. She attended Oakmont High School in Roseville, California, and in 1983, was Honored Queen of Bethel No. 336 in Job's Daughters International at Roseville.
Francis graduated with a BA from University of California, Davis in 1989, and then gained an MA from Iowa State University, both in creative writing, and a PhD from Ball State University in literature and literary theory. Her thesis focused on British women novelists (1858âÂÂ65) and their portrayal of women. She then linked that to British post-colonial theory of controlling native populations in their colonies. She previously taught literature and writing at the University of Montana Western, and now teaches in the MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University. She lives in Oregon with her family.
Francis' first book, Path of Fate, was favorably reviewed by Victoria Strauss. According to WorldCat, this is her most widely held book; it is held in 247 libraries.