Debra A. Kemp (March 7, 1957 – February 8, 2015) was an American author. She wrote

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the Setting (narrative), setting of particular real past events, historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literatur ...

and drew inspiration for her ''House of Pendragon'' series from the

Arthurian legends The Matter of Britain (; ; ; ) is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. The 12th-century writer Geoffr ...

. She originally studied nursing and earned her degree from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

in 1981. She died in 2015.

Family

Kemp lived near

Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

with her husband. They had two grown children.

Literary career

Kemp published her first

Arthurian According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a leader of the post-Ro ...

novel '' The Firebrand'' in 2003. It is set after the

Battle of Camlann The Battle of Camlann ( or ''Brwydr Camlan'') is the legendary final battle of King Arthur, in which Arthur either died or was mortally wounded while fighting either alongside or against Mordred, who also perished. The original legend of Caml ...

, and features

King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...

's fictional daughter Lin and her early life as a slave in

Mordred Mordred or Modred ( or ; Welsh: ''Medraut'' or ''Medrawt'') is a major figure in the legend of King Arthur. The earliest known mention of a possibly historical Medraut is in the Welsh chronicle ''Annales Cambriae'', wherein he and Arthur are a ...

's household.

Works

The House of Pendragon series

#'' The Firebrand'' (2003) #''The Recruit'' (2007)

Awards

* EPPIE 2005 – FinalistOfficial website of historical author Debra A. Kemp
Retrieved January 8, 2011. * Dream Realm Awards – Finalist * Top 10 Finisher – Preditors & Editors

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Debra A. 1957 births American fantasy writers Novelists from Indiana Writers of modern Arthurian fiction American historical novelists People from Highland, Lake County, Indiana 21st-century American novelists American women science fiction and fantasy writers 21st-century American women writers 2015 deaths 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American women writers American women historical novelists