“Reading the World: Food Culture. Future Living.”
— Hong Kong Book Fair 2025
ARPress has been actively participating in some of the world’s most prominent international book fairs, from the Bologna Book Fair and the London Book Fair to events in Miami, Beijing, and Sharjah. We’re excited to share that our journey doesn’t stop there. Our latest step forward: participation in the 35th Hong Kong Book Fair 2025. This expansion brings even more opportunities to connect with readers, authors, and publishers on a truly global scale, and we’re just getting started.
The 2025 Hong Kong Book Fair took place from July 16–22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year’s theme, “Food Culture · Future Living,” served up a rich menu of tastily themed programming. Culinary literature from around the world was showcased, offering insights into food’s role in traditions, health habits, and even the future of dining through tech innovations. The World of Art & Culture zone elevated the experience, blending interactive art, dynamic videos, music, and literary commentary. Eight artists and several embassy installations illustrated how a dining table can be a cultural microcosm.
One highlight was the collaboration with Macao’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, which brought a “Macao Craft Market” to the fair. Around 40 creative brands presented handmade crafts, fashion, and lifestyle pieces that reflect Macao’s unique local identity. Mainland China also had a strong showing, with over 40 publishers and nearly 20,000 titles, including a spotlight on Sichuan’s cultural offerings.
Beyond browsing shelves, visitors immersed themselves in interactive experiences: AR photo booths, needlework demonstrations (such as Sichuan embroidery), panda-themed installations, and a civic education exhibition featuring Cantonese opera, ballet, game booths, and photo corners aimed at promoting awareness.
Book signings and author talks drew enthusiastic crowds. Fans queued to meet popular voices such as Ghost Writer (孤泣) and more. Seminars covered a wide range of topics, featuring international voices like Rie Qudan, Lindsay Varty, and Osamu Okamura, alongside local and regional authors. The fair hosted eight themed lecture series, including future living, local history, youth reading, and mindfulness.
To commemorate its 35th edition, the fair introduced several clever ticketing promotions: free admission for visitors born in 1990, special packages allowing five people to enter for the price of three, and limited-edition tote bags and gifts for shoppers who spent over HK$500. The fair didn’t just showcase booksit offered an immersive cultural feast, blending reading, dining, art, craft, tech, and performance. It was a testament to how a book fair can go beyond the printed page, feeding the mind, the heart, and yes, even future appetites.
Last June 16-22, 2025, “A Roof Over Our Heads and Food on the Table” by Ted J. Brooks was featured at the 2025 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF). The 31st edition of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) unfolded as a vibrant tapestry of literary innovation, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration. Hosted at the China National Convention Center, this year’s fair showcased over 400,000 titles and introduced groundbreaking initiatives that highlighted the evolving landscape of global publishing.
Also, author Ted J. Brooks held a successful Book Distribution at the 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB). The festival is known for attracting a large crowd each year. For instance, the 2024 festival drew over 150,000 attendees, and the 2025 event featured more than 550 writers, experts, and storytellers, along with hundreds of exhibitors.
“A Roof Over Our Heads and Food on the Table” by Ted J. Brooks was also displayed at the 62nd edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) in Bologna, Italy, from March 31 to April 3, 2025. Beyond the display of books, ARPress leveraged the 62nd edition of the Bologna Book Fair to forge new collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships.
Author Ted J. Brooks has worked in retail for over thirty years in several stores. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University. His hobbies include family research, photography, and coin collecting.
The story introduces Pat Kavanaugh, who wished to attend Nutmeg State University and major in English. His parents convinced him that accounting would be a more useful degree than writing. He met his roommate, Sean Donnelly, at NSU. Despite Sean’s disturbing secret, they became friends. They are both Irish Americans. Following that, Pat works as a cashier at Delacroix’s Grocery Store. After graduating, Pat kept working at Delacroix’s, but there weren’t many opportunities for promotion.
At the heart of “A Roof Over Our Heads and Food on the Table” is the idea that no one can make it alone. Life’s struggles—whether financial uncertainty, personal loss, or the simple yet daunting challenge of putting food on the table—are made bearable through the strength of those who stand beside us. Ted J. Brooks masterfully captures the essence of friendships that don’t just offer comfort but serve as lifelines in times of crisis. His storytelling reminds us that the strongest foundations aren’t always built of brick and mortar but of trust, loyalty, and the promise to never let each other fall.
Watch the trailer now and step into a world where friendship isn’t just a bond—it’s the key to survival.