Katherine Kemp Velez began writing about human rights issues as a journalism student in college and for United Press International. She earned her BA in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Nevada-Reno and a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Katherine created the Multicultural Education & Understanding (ME&U) program in response to prejudice she witnessed in her community and taught the program in the local school system. Sachi – Drawing Pictures on Water, Katherine’s first novel, grew from her work with ME & U. She met with community leaders and Japanese women whose internment experiences were the inspiration for the main character of Sachi. Sachi represents not only the courageous women of that time, but every woman who has struggled to keep her family strengthened and united. Katherine lives in northern California with her husband of 30 years, her daughter, and her dog Cali.