Waco-based author Rebekah Gray, known by her pen name R.M. Gray, has achieved a remarkable milestone with her debut novel, Nightweaver, which has secured a spot on The New York Times Best-Seller list.
Gray’s success story is a testament to perseverance and the power of self-publishing. The 28-year-old author, who graduated from Robinson High School in 2015, initially self-published Nightweaver in October 2023. The novel, a thrilling blend of pirate adventure and modern fantasy romance, quickly gained popularity, selling 2,500 copies within its first month.
“I can’t believe I get to say that Nightweaver is a New York Times best-seller,” Gray told KWTX in an exclusive interview. “This is truly a dream come true.”
Gray’s journey to literary success began with a Tell Me Something Good segment aired by KWTX in January 2024. The feature on Nightweaver garnered significant online attention, eventually catching the eye of an agent at United Talent Agency (UTA). With the support of UTA, Gray secured a publishing deal with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, which re-released the book with exclusive artwork and special editions. A nationwide book tour followed, with Gray kicking off the tour in her hometown at Fabled Bookstore & Café in Waco on March 3.
“I am just so grateful and so thrilled,” Gray said upon learning that Nightweaver had hit the New York Times Best-Seller list. “This is everything I’ve worked towards for years.”
In addition to its New York Times success, Nightweaver also made the Indie Bestsellers list and became a bestseller on USA Today’s list.
Gray is currently preparing for the release of the novel’s sequel, Starchaser, set to debut in November 2025. Reflecting on her rapid rise in the literary world, she shared, “A little over a year ago, I was talking about self-publishing Nightweaver, and now here we are. It’s surreal, and it means the world to me.”
As her debut novel continues to make waves, Gray’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring authors and demonstrates the power of hard work, dedication, and serendipity in achieving dreams.
