GLORIA ZACHGO

What happens when you cannot trust your own memories?
In Hush Girl: It’s Only a Dream, Nicole Reed’s nightmares and panic attacks intensify after her father’s death. Suspecting that the answers are buried in her childhood, she begins writing the memories she cannot speak aloud.
But remembering creates new questions. Is someone from Nicole’s past watching her—or are fear and confused memories making it impossible for her to recognize what is real?
Nicole has built a loving home with her husband, Matt, their daughters, and Toby, the family’s affectionate cocker spaniel. Now she must confront the secrets she was taught never to reveal if she hopes to protect the family she loves.
Winner of the 2017 J. Donald Coffin Award, Hush Girl blends psychological suspense, family relationships, and a mystery rooted in childhood silence.
The Kindle edition will be only 99¢ from Friday, October 9, through Friday, October 16, 2026.
View Hush Girl on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072XWVQMM

​I’m pleased to share that Hush Girl, It’s Only a Dream will be available for 99¢ on Kindle during a special Kindle Countdown Deal, October 9–16, 2026.

Hush Girl is a story of haunting memories, family secrets, and the search for truth. If you enjoy psychological suspense, I hope you’ll mark your calendar and give it a try.
The offer begins October 9—the special price is not available yet.
​
Visit the Hush Girl page here on my website to learn more and find the Amazon link.
Thank you for reading and for sharing this news with friends who enjoy a good mystery.
—Gloria Zachgo

Thank you to everyone who downloaded Never Waste Tears during our September free-book promotion. Thirty-nine copies found new homes over the weekend, and I’m grateful to every reader who shared or downloaded the book.
Never Waste Tears follows Carl and Hannah as they face the hardships, sacrifices, and hopes of building a life on the Kansas frontier.
Their journey continues in Never Waste Dreams, where the family confronts new challenges while holding on to the dreams that carried them forward.
If you’re beginning Never Waste Tears, I hope you enjoy the journey. When you’re ready to continue, Never Waste Dreams is waiting for you.
—Gloria Zachgo

​Have you ever read a book and wanted to know more about the people in the book? In my book club, we often have unanswered questions about the characters we’ve read. So, as a writer, I thought it might be fun to share one of the character profiles I used when writing my two historical fiction books, Never Waste Tears and Never Waste Dreams.
 
The character profiles I develop are usually for my eyes only. They are notes that help me get to know my characters better. However, not all their details are revealed in my books. They are simply an aide to help                                       me know how they will react to the story as it develops.
 
The character preview below is everything I know about Carl William Taylor. Those who have read his stories might recognize some of his features.
 
 
 
Carl William Taylor
 
b.  5-12-1839             m.  3-10-1861 to Hannah Jane Lucas Taylor 22 yrs. old
 
Father – Anton Taylor
Mother – Viola Taylor - 9 children (6 brothers – 2 sisters)
Brothers – Jacob *(1942) Robert * both killed in war -- Theodor *   Philipp * joined the South (never heard from again) -- Evert * returned from war a little before Carl (never talked about war – married Esther) -- Levi * youngest brother stayed on farm w/parents                          
Sisters -- Cora * Elizabeth (married local farmers who survived the war)       
Born and raised in Illinois on the farm
Tall – 6’ 1” light colored brown - starting to bald on top – walks   as though he unfolds himself with each step – robin-egg blue eyes – a long but very pleasant face
 
Carl and Hannah married shortly before the war.  Carl was a strong believer that all men and women were created equal.  He did not believe that a man should beat his wife or own another man.  He was 22 years old when the Civil War started and went willingly to fight for the freedom of all men. He had nightmares after the war and found peace in Kansas when he went to visit the mother of a soldier who died in his arms. He killed the man who killed the soldier, and hates any killing. After the war, he and Hannah stayed in Illinois for two and one-half years.  Carl wanted to make a claim for free land in Kansas and while Hannah didn’t want to leave her family, she supported him and left willingly.
 
Carl – hard working – honest – has a great understanding of animals and nature
He chews on grass when thinking – likes to have a smoke --
 
Dog – Corky
Horses – Bill & Barney
Cow – Bossy (calved June 1869)
 
Carl’s Voice:
 
“Maybe that’s for the best – knock on my noggin’ – hiself – yearned for – ever’thing – betwixt – men-folk – ever’body – ’round – gonna be – I didn’t understand it all – my Daddy always had a sayin’ maybe it’s for the best – givin’ it much consideration – the land was thirsty for rain – tinderbox – let’s have a smoke for the day – git for home – I think that’s a fine thing to do -” took it all in
 
Carl William Taylor (May 8, 1868) filed for a homestead claim in Junction City, KS. Traveled by train from Ellsworth, KS – He chose to NOT use his special compensation for his service years so that he wouldn’t have to pay                              taxes on the land for several years (# 161 NWT)
 
Civil War – April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865 (last shot fired June 22, 1865)
 

 
For those of you who have not read Carl’s story in Never Waste Dreams, I will have a Goodreads giveaway starting on Tuesday, June 20, and finishing on Thursday, July 20.  
 

​Hush Girl: It’s Only a Dream is a psychological mystery about Nicole Reed, who learned at an early age never to tell Sharon’s secrets. When Nicole’s therapist suggests that she write down her childhood memories, long-buried fragments of her past begin to surface.
As Nicole searches for the truth, she can no longer tell whether she is being stalked by someone real or tormented by nightmares and her own confused imagination. Filled with suspense, secrets, and disturbing memories, Hush Girl will keep you wondering what is real until the end.

​The Rocking Horse is a mystery about a crime that has haunted the small town of Shady Creek, Kansas, for twenty-two years. Two-year-old Jenny Preston disappeared on the same night her mother, aunt, and uncle were murdered, and the case has never been solved.
Fast-paced and filled with secrets, guilt, and unexpected turns, the story explores family, heartache, and the long road toward recovery. At the center of the mystery is HoHo, a handmade wooden rocking horse that sometimes seems to move on its own. I invite you to discover The Rocking Horse.

Never Waste Dreams continues the family saga that began in Never Waste Tears. Set in 1871, the novel follows Carl, Hannah, Nathan, and Sarah as they face new hardships, difficult choices, and the challenge of building a future on the Kansas prairie.
Told through four different points of view, the story explores family, perseverance, sacrifice, and the dreams that give people the courage to keep moving forward. I invite you to discover Never Waste Dreams.

Never Waste Tears is where the family saga begins. Set on the Kansas prairie, the novel follows two young pioneer couples as they face hardship, loss, love, and the hard work of building new lives on the frontier.
Told through the characters’ own voices, the story explores the courage of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. If you enjoy historical fiction about family, perseverance, and hope, I invite you to discover Never Waste Tears.

I’m pleased to welcome you to the refreshed GloriaZachgo.com. The updated site makes it easier to explore my four books—The Rocking Horse, Hush Girl: It’s Only a Dream, Never Waste Tears, and Never Waste Dreams—and learn more about my writing journey.
My stories are inspired by my Kansas roots, family struggles, secrets, hope, and ordinary people facing life’s unexpected turns. I invite you to look around, watch The Rocking Horse book trailer, and visit each book’s page for more information.
Thank you for visiting and for supporting my books. I always enjoy hearing from readers, so please feel free to use the Contact page to send me a message.
Gloria

I enjoyed working with Readers Magnet for additional promotion opportunities.          ​Never Waste (readersmagnet.club)