Never Waste Dreams Book Review

November 3, 2021 by Jim Potter 4 Comments

Never Waste Dreams Book Review

by Jim Potter

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Author Gloria Zachgo reminds me of a professional juggler who flawlessly keeps a half-dozen balls rotating in a perfect arc. The performance appears effortless.

Zachgo’s sequel novel, Never Waste Dreams, is exceptionally well-written. The literary Kansas characters I encountered could have been my ancestors, fighting drought and loneliness while raising a family on the treeless prairie.

Gloria Zachgo is an expert on planning and plotting. Her novel progresses at a welcome pace with memorable characters down a literary trail.

It must be rewarding for Zachgo to challenge herself and accomplish her goals. In imagining her novel, she decided to set her story in the pioneer days of Kansas in 1871 and have her characters speak a distinctive dialect. When she dared to introduce Mathew, a young boy who stuttered, I shook my head and smiled.

Never Waste Dreams works as a stand-alone novel and as a sequel to Never Waste Tears. It flows smoothly like a real story told by actual people. Whether Zachgo’s a professional juggler or talented writer, her persistence and demanding work has paid off with an outstanding performance.

Jim Potter—author of Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery

If you’re interested in learning more about Gloria’s writing or her other three published books, check out her website: http://www.gloriazachgo.com

If you’re interested in learning more about the Kansas Authors Club, here’s a link to the statewide organization: http://www.kansasauthors.org

District 6 of the Kansas Authors Club meets virtually on Zoom every month on the fourth Saturday (except December). The meetings are free and open to the public. Contact me for details.

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Until next time, happy writing and reading.

Related

Comments

Nancy Julien Kopp says

Nice review. I would second all you said about Never Waste Dreams.

Reply
- Jim Potter says
  
  Thanks, Nancy. I can tell you’re a fan as well.
  
  Reply
Gloria Zachgo says

Wow, Jim! Thank you for those kind words.

Reply
- Jim Potter says
  
  My pleasure. You’re welcome.
  
  Reply

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Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.