For several years, Katherine M. Lawrence has been researching and writing the adventures of Yamabuki, an actual historic female samurai who lived in the Heian Era of Japan. Inspired by several decades in the martial arts halls led by women -- Ja Shin Do, the San Jose State University Kendo Club, and Pai Lum White Lotus Fist-Crane style -- Katherine set out to write about the experiences of women who train in warriors skills...and Yamabuki in particular. Katherine graduated from the University of Washington with a BA degree in both History and Chemistry, and continued with work on a Masters in History at the Far Eastern and Slavic Institute. She also received an MBA from Harvard University.