AALBC.com mourns the passing of publishing giant Walter Zacharius, March 2nd 2011 (Washington Post)
Walter Zacharius, author of The Memories We Keep and the founder and Chairman Emeritus of Kensington Publishing grew up in Borough Park, Brooklyn, served in World War II from 1943 until 1945 and was with the French when they liberated Paris in August 1944. He was just nineteen years old at the time.
A noted philanthropist, Walter has
established scholarships for students who want to study music but don't
have the financial means. He also sponsors the
Harlem RBI Little League Team
and has provided numerous college scholarships in and around New York
City for members of the RBI team and young men and women who want to
embark upon a career in publishing. Walter is active in a number of
Jewish organizations, especially as a longtime supporter and former
Chairman of the UJA. In 1994, he was invited to the Vatican by His
Holiness Pope John Paul II to attend a special concert in Commemoration
of the Shoah, the Jewish Holocaust. Walter served as a benefactor and
organizer of this historic concert.
An avid world traveler, Walter is also an art collector, musician,
athlete, and adventurer who went skydiving for the first time at the age
of 65! A New York City resident, he recently started a Los Angeles-based
movie production company to produce independent films and is working on
an outline for his next book.
The
Memories We Keep
Click to order via Amazon
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (April 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758217714
For more than sixty years the brave men and women whose stories inspired The Memories We Keep have lived in my memory and in my heart. It's a pleasure and an honor to share them with you. Mia, Vinnie, Wolf and all of the characters in this novel are based on real people who risked their lives during one of the most terrifying periods in world history yet with the help of one another managed to survive, and in some cases, to find happiness and love.
As a nineteen-year-old American soldier, I was with the French when they liberated Paris in August 1944 and of all the adventures I've had, all the places I've traveled, that experience remains the most exciting day of my life. It was a feeling that I find hard to describe but one that I will never, ever forget. The Memories We Keep celebrates the everyday heroes of World War II for without them, and without their sacrifices, that historic day would not have been the same.
I've been overwhelmed by the response of both
critics and readers alike and am always anxious to talk to reading
groups about the extraordinary men and women who inspired this novel. If
you would like to set up a phone chat for your reading group or to share
your thoughts about the novel please email me at
thememorieswekeep@kensingtonbooks.com.
--Walter Zacharius
About the book
An unexpected letter arrives
in the mail, tying the present to the past, and promising a long-awaited reunion
Mia Levy is content with the simple existence she leads on a farm. But
her days weren't always spent so quietly. Over thirty years ago, Mia
lived in Poland, where she had all she could want her home, family, and
first love, music until history took its course, changing the world and
the life she knew forever. Mia's struggle to survive would take her from
the poverty-stricken streets of Poland to New York City, where she
encountered a love that would span decades, to Paris where she would
place herself in the gravest of dangers to uncover the mysterious fate
that befell her family
Inspired by the author's own experiences as an American soldier, this
remarkable novel is a story of loss, love, betrayal, and the amazing
power of hope. With its inventive storytelling skill and unforgettable
voice, The Memories We Keep is a debut novel that will arrest your
imagination until the very last page is turned.
Walter Zacharius with Author,
Gwynne Forster and AALBC.com
Founder Troy Johnson
Related Links
Walter Zacharius - Official Site
http://www.walterzacharius.com
Kensington Publishing Corp
http://kensingtonbooks.com/
Kensington Publishing Corp. is the last remaining independent U.S. publisher of hardcover, trade and mass market paperback books. 2006 marks our 32nd year in business. From the time our very first book (Appointment in Dallas by Hugh McDonald), became a bestseller, Kensington has been known as an astute and determined David-vs.-Goliath publisher of titles in the full spectrum of categories, from fiction and romance to health and nonfiction.
Kensington now accounts for about 7% of all mass market paperback sales in the U.S. Through the Kensington, Zebra, Pinnacle and Citadel press imprints, the company releases close to 600 new books per year and has a backlist of more than 3,000 titles.
We are considered a leader and innovator in such areas of publishing as African-American (Dafina), Gay and Lesbian, Erotic Romance (Brava), Wicca, and Alternative Health (Twin Streams) and of course romance. In the beginning of 2006 we will be launching our new erotica line in tradepaper and in an eBook format as well. We have also just started a new website called www.rebelbasebooks.com where you can find the latest books about popular culture that's taking place on the web.
The Kensington staff now totals close to 90 employees who take their inspiration from founder and Chairman Emeritus, Walter Zacharius. During a distinguished 50-year publishing career, he has introduced dozens of bestselling writers, and developed countless marketing innovations. Steven Zacharius, became President and Chief Executive Officer of Kensington in 2005. (excerpted from Kensington Web Site August 2007).
