Did you know that Margery Kempe, a 15th century English mystic, was the first person to write an autobiography in English? Her story was rife with controversy, emotional turmoil, and supernatural occurrences.

 

Once, she was imprisoned by the church for heresy, and a storm raged outside for three days. The skies only cleared when she was exonerated and released. Many considered her blessed by God; others thought she might be a tool of the devil.

 

Many judged her because she had a baby while on a religious pilgrimage. In my historical adventure, Innocents of Marbella, that baby was Stephen Kempe.

 

When the story begins, Stephen is accused by the church of sorcery and imprisoned awaiting sentencing. When Zahra seeks his help to find her abducted young maidservant, she quickly discovers that perhaps the church had not been wrong about Monsieur Kempe, after all...

 

In this video, I narrate "If" by Rudyard Kipling, which has an uncanny resemblance to Stephen's relationship with his infamous mother, Margery Kempe, and provides glimpses of how he becomes the man you will meet in September.