Walter Zacharius, Author & Founder, Chairman of Kensington Publishing

Walter Zacharius

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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.

This interview focuses on Zacharius' impact on the publishing of books for an African American audience (27 mins)

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
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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).