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April Voytko Kempler

Goodreads Author

Born

in Glendale, CA, The United States

Website

http://renogalsays.wordpress.com/

Twitter

aprilkempler

Genre

Historical Fiction, Memoir, Nonfiction

Influences

Anne Frank, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Rutherfurd, James A. Michener, P ...more

Member Since

June 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/aprilvoytkokempler

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Born in Southern California, April Voytko Kempler currently resides in her "adopted" city of Reno, Nevada.
Connect with April Voytko Kempler on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/April-Voytko...
April Voytko Kempler’s first book entitled The Altered I, a Holocaust Memoir, is a first-person narrative about the Holocaust and inspired by her father-in-law's experiences as a Holocaust survivor.
Joseph Kempler survived six different Nazi concentration camps from 14-17 years of age. Some of these camps were Category 3 death camps. Joseph's story about being raised in the Jewish religion, but becoming an atheist, then converting to a Christian faith, intrigued April. She felt his was an untold story that needed to be known.
April loves reading, a hab ...more

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

April Voytko Kempler There is this long stretch of road between Reno, NV and Los Angeles, CA, the 395 Highway. Along this dry, vacant land is an interesting historic site,…moreThere is this long stretch of road between Reno, NV and Los Angeles, CA, the 395 Highway. Along this dry, vacant land is an interesting historic site, called Manzanar. I had been working on my father-in-law's Holocaust memoir during the time I was driving back and forth along this route to visit my family, so I was naturally drawn to these wooden barracks and what looked like a guard tower. Intrigued, I wanted to know what this place was! Manzanar, I learned, was used as a Japanese-American relocation center during World War Two. This subject book-ended nicely with the Holocaust memoir and it was such a natural fit to focus on for my next project that I couldn't resist doing some research. What I discovered was enough to fuel my imagination for a story. I'm still in the process of researching this idea, but it's one I really can't wait to see develop. (less)

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How long did it take you to write your book April. Pattimari

April Voytko Kempler This is not as as simple an answer as one might expect. I began interviewing Joseph Kempler in the summer of 2007. I recorded his words in two hour se…moreThis is not as as simple an answer as one might expect. I began interviewing Joseph Kempler in the summer of 2007. I recorded his words in two hour segments. I have approximately eighteen hours of recorded interviews, but I believe it was much more than that. After a while I stopped recording and jotted down his words in a notebook. I asked him repeatedly how to spell a Polish word, or name. It took a lot of time, and a lot of persistence. There were days Joseph didn't feel up to the interview, and sometimes neither did I. I received so much support from my husband in this endeavor, and if it weren't for him reminding me that I really needed to complete the interview I'm not sure if I would have finished. But, once I got the the whole story I set about transcribing Joseph's words. After that, I put the sequence of events in chronological order, and began to weave together a cohesive story. This took about two years. It might have taken less time had I worked on it every day from the beginning, but as I mentioned before, months would go by before I would turn my attention to it. However, if I wanted to see Joseph's story as a published book I had to hop to it! Somewhere along the line I realized I had to work on it every single day, sometimes for eight hours, but no less than four.

I had no idea how to find a publisher once the task was done, I also (blushing) didn't realize the amount of editing involved before submitting to a publisher. I made so many time-consuming mistakes along the way. I found a local publisher in the third year, and then I found an editor. This is backwards, so please don't follow my example. I do blog about some of my mistakes on the road to published book at www.renogalsays.wordpress.com if anyone is interested in checking that out. Needless to say, within four years I had a publishing contract in hand.

All that was left was the marketing, and this was another education.

I posted a blog about the amount of time my journey took, here is a link for anyone interested:

http://renogalsays.wordpress.com/2013...

I read that for a first time author the average time it takes to get published is five years. This can take less time, but often longer. I'm pleased that I was within that five year time frame.

I don't regret the amount of time it took, because I believe the finished product shows the care and attention to details. New writer's tend to rush to publication, and with all the amazing options out there to self-publish the task is too easy. But, I say, take your time because it makes a more enjoyable reading experience. Nothing is lost by taking the necessary time to make sure the text is flawless. In fact, a lot can be damaged by rushing to publication. (less)

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April Voytko Kempler’s books

Average rating: 4.22 · 119 ratings · 13 reviews · 1 distinct work

The Altered I: Memoir of Joseph Kempler, Holocaust Survivor

4.22 avg rating — 119 ratings — published 2013 — 5 editions

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73 posts
April Voytko Kempler's Blog

How to Find Purpose and Feel Powerful, Even During Tough Times

Many people, myself included, are feeling what I call Covid Fatigue. Probably, not an official term, but it’s likened to that feeling in the morning that induces you to stay in bed. I hear and see what’s being reported in the news and it is distressing. Why are people acting in the most nonsensical ways? My opinion is that they are experiencing Covid Fatigue. They may have a sense of purposelessne

April is Currently Reading

April is currently reading

Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish

by James Scott Bell (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: writing, currently-reading

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Oct 12, 2015 05:45PM

April is currently reading

Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs - A Candle and a Promise

by Deborah Donnelly

bookshelves: currently-reading, holocaust-survivor, memoir

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May 12, 2021 03:53PM

April is currently reading

Diesel Smoke Over Asphalt Ribbons: Dreams In The Rearview Mirror

by Jerry Aaron (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 22, 2016 08:45AM

Quotes by April Voytko Kempler (?)

“From one end to the other I have identified with various forms of spirituality. I was a Jew, then a God-hater. I was an atheist, then a Christian, for which I was called a traitor.”
― April Voytko Kempler, The Altered I: Memoir of Joseph Kempler, Holocaust Survivor

tags: holocaust-narrative, holocaust-survivor, memoir

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