HSU Alum Releases Latest Book in Series

(ABILENE, Texas) Marguerite Martin Gray, an HSU alum, is approaching the release of the final book in her series Revolutionary Faith.

Originally from Louisiana, Marguerite taught French and Spanish for many years while her husband pastored in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Once they became empty nesters, the couple moved to Abilene where Marguerite’s husband began a job in the advancement office at Hardin-Simmons and she pursued her master’s degree in English.

“We had no connections there. No roots. Nothing. We just loved the university and loved the prospect of working there. We wanted to do something new and different,” stated Marguerite.

Although she was a non-traditional student at 52, Marguerite felt very welcome here on campus. “I had both Dr. Finks and Dr. King. It was wonderful, and they made me feel very comfortable,” she said. “Everyone was very respectful and included us.”

While attending school, Marguerite worked full-time at Cooper High School and published her first two books.

Now residing in Louisiana, Marguerite has continued to publish one book a year and teaching foreign language classes. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has taught online. “We have to embrace online learning, but there’s really nothing as rewarding as being in the classroom,” said Marguerite.

Inspired by the story of her 8^th-Great-Grandfather, Marguerite has written a historical Christian fiction series set during the American Revolution. She spent time researching in Charleston, walking the streets to learn more about the city during the Revolutionary War and finding the home her ancestor lived in.

“I’ve always wanted to write, and I’ve always loved history,” said Marguerite. “All I do is put words and sentences to the characters so that they become real and have a depth to them that you wouldn’t have in just a nonfiction setting.”

In Revolutionary Faith, Marguerite hopes that her readers will admire those that had strong convictions about independence and made choices that would change the world. “I don’t want to incite a revolution,” Marguerite said jokingly, “but I want to encourage readers to stick with their beliefs and do something about them in a positive way.”

Her series is currently available on Amazon for purchase, and the final book in the series, Wait for Me, will be released on February 9^th.