About

About the Author

COLLABORATE | READ | WRITE | CELEBRATE

Welcome to the creative space of Katherine DeSilva, an Ipswich native, distinguished artist, accomplished author, and devoted educator. Katherine's life is a testament to resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact in her community.

Katherine DeSilva's multifaceted journey encompasses art, literature, education, and advocacy. Her story is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of creativity, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of positive change. Join Katherine on her extraordinary journey as she continues to leave an indelible mark on the world through art, education, and unwavering advocacy.

Katherine love comedy and it shows in much of her writing.
You can definitely find her reading at open mic nights or laughing at a comedy show in her free time.

Katherine is not an actor, but sometime she pretends. She is one of the team that put on 'The Devil's Footprint' 285 Anniversary.

Ton's of Fun. Katherine can also be found out on the North Shore with her mini.

Again, not an actor, but gets sucked into things, like playing Lucy Caldwell the Abolitionist in a local production in her home town.

Personal Journey

Single Motherhood and Multiple Sclerosis

Katherine is a single mother and author who has lived with Multiple Sclerosis since her daughter’s birth, and continues to defy assumptions. While chronic illness is part of her story, it does not define her. She currently has no mobility issues, enjoys solo and family travel, and is often spotted holding a book in one hand and a cocktail in the other (ideally on a porch, near the ocean, with friends).

She doesn’t hike. But she absolutely climbs.

Whether navigating parenting, deadlines, or community work, Katherine brings clarity, humor, and a fierce dedication to showing up with her whole self. Her journey is not just one of strength, but of sensuality, creativity, and the unapologetic joy of building a life with depth.

Artistic Endeavors

Lifelong Artist

A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2000 with a BFA in graphic design, Katherine's artistic journey has been a lifelong pursuit. Her creative spirit is evident in every stroke of her brush and pen, leaving an indelible mark on the artistic landscape.

Random Writing & Speaking

Literature Projects

Children’s Books
Katherine has written multiple illustrated books for children and adults, blending imagination with emotional depth. Her titles include:
- Kelly the Greenhead (An Adult Picture Book)
- Every Critter is Part of the Plan
- The Great Neck Mermaid
- Flutter on My Cheeks: Mummy, Me & MS
- Dancing Together – Dads Get MS Too

Fiction & Feminine Fire
Her recent adult fiction and poetry collections explore identity, sensuality, and inner transformation:
- In the Light of the Greenhead Moon – A moody collection of stories and poems from the marshes of the North Shore.
- Wandering Through Weeds (forthcoming) – A poetry chapbook series focused on personal evolution and the feminine psyche.
- The Last Train (forthcoming) – A speculative novel about connection, crisis, and two women navigating a world reshaped by absence.

Collaborative Works
Katherine is also co-authoring an emotional two-part project with longtime friend Raeme, combining an illustrated story for children with a companion essay about euthanasia, grief, and learning how to say goodbye. It’s a gentle, honest invitation to talk about love and loss—especially with young people.

Live Work
You can sometimes find Katherine reading at open mic nights on the North Shore. Her work centers on healing, sensuality, and what it means to live honestly in a female body.

Advocacy and Education

Educator's Mission

Katherine is a full-time public school educator working with teens with social and emotional disabilities. With a Master of Science in Special Education and over a decade of experience, she brings a trauma-informed, relational approach to every classroom she enters.

During the school year, she devotes herself to her students. Summers and weekends are when she shifts gears, traveling, taking classes, and writing books that blend heart, humor, and honesty. Her work in education, sex ed, and authorship is all guided by the same core value: helping people feel more understood, less alone, and better equipped to thrive.

Sex Education and Advocacy
Katherine has spent over a decade teaching sexuality education to teens, young adults, and parents through the Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum—a comprehensive, inclusive, and secular program developed by the UCC and UU traditions. Her work is rooted in consent, body literacy, and values-based communication, supporting learners in building healthy relationships from adolescence through adulthood.

In both public classrooms and community spaces, she creates shame-free conversations around intimacy, identity, and well-being. Katherine also writes about positive self-image, sexuality across the lifespan, and what it means to thrive emotionally, physically, and relationally in a female body. Her writing and speaking blend science, story, and soul.

Living with MS
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis shortly after her daughter’s birth, Katherine lives with the condition openly and honestly—without letting it define her. She is currently in excellent health and enjoys an active life, parenting, working, and traveling.

Katherine’s advocacy focuses on invisible illness, rest as resistance, and the challenges of navigating both medical systems and public spaces while parenting solo. Her goal is not just awareness but deeper compassion—for ourselves and others—as we move through the world in imperfect bodies. Whether writing, teaching, or just living out loud, she brings humor, realism, and hope to every space she’s in.

Inspiration

Inspiration is All Around Us

Having a chronic illness is a struggle for many parents. Flutter on My Cheeks is an attempt at telling a story that normalizes the issues that parents face.

The Wee Fae ‘Ouse, or the Fairy Cottage, was initially completed in 1871, by Robert Sanderson. Mr. Sanderson was a devout Methodist and shipbuilder. With the help of family, friends, and colleagues from her days in construction full time, Katherine will reinvent the cottage to make a retreat for the body and spirit where she plans to write and create art.

With the help of amazing premium digital illustrators on freepiks.com Katherine was able to create her own illustrations by mixing custom creations and existing elements. She focused on making sure that the simplicity of the images worked for the story line.