“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.
Author Pamela Elges Roesler is deeply involved in her community and passionate about helping those in need through her church. She teaches at the community college, despite being 76 years old and three years cancer-free. Roesler loves teaching because she knows she can positively impact teens who struggle with their self-identity.
She earned her master’s degree in literacy and initially taught middle school, where she became curious about why students at this age often struggle with reading and comprehension. This curiosity led her to complete a PhD in curriculum and instruction. For many years, she trained teachers to better understand and address the fears of their students. Roesler has taught numerous semesters in special education, working with both educators and parents.
The story of A Very Powerful Gift revolves around a young spider named Stewart, who initially struggles with fear and self-doubt. Unlike his fellow spiders, Stewart is afraid to jump and spin intricate webs, feeling inadequate in comparison to others. This conflict is a central theme of the narrative, as it highlights the challenges of overcoming one’s fears and embracing individuality.
Recently, a Hollywood Movie Script Coverage for “A Very Powerful Gift” by Pamela Elges Roesler has been released for the book’s qualification for a Hollywood screen adaptation. ARPress’ Movie Script Coverage Service aims to provide a written outline of the author’s book—a screenplay—that will be stored in a database accessible to major studios when seeking stories to adapt into films. Recently, a Hollywood-style script, A Very Powerful Gift, was released. The story blends heart, suspense, and whimsy into a narrative with universal appeal. By expanding its world, deepening its characters, and exploring its themes more fully, it has the potential to become a visually stunning and emotionally resonant feature-length film. With its balance of humor, excitement, and inspiration, Stewart’s journey will captivate audiences of all ages, reminding them that even the smallest leaps can lead to the greatest victories.
The April 14, 2025 issue of Publishers Weekly featured A Very Powerful Gift. Publishers Weekly (PW), often referred to as the “Bible of the book business,” is a long-standing and highly influential trade magazine. Established in 1872, it serves professionals such as publishers, editors, agents, librarians, booksellers, and authors. The magazine is best known for its authoritative pre-publication reviews. A starred review from Publishers Weekly is considered a mark of excellence and can significantly influence bookstore orders, library acquisitions, and media attention.
Additionally, The Hollywood Book Reviews recommends A Very Powerful Gift, noting: “This is a wonderful story to show children how not to fear things other children can do with ease.”
Here’s an excerpt from the review written by Hollywood Book Reviews that highlights:
“Perhaps a simple lesson, but Pamela Elges Roesler conveys an important theme for children growing up. Irrational fears can be overcome, and self-confidence is achieved step-by-step in developing minds of young people. What seems to be a challenge simply becomes an achievement. This is a wonderful story to show children how not to fear things other children can do with ease. Although people with arachnophobia (fear of spiders) may find themselves frightened by the illustrations, meeting Steward will also soften their anxiety over spiders, and who knows – maybe in the future they won’t step on them when confronted by these amazing creatures.”
Purchase the book, A Very Powerful Gift by Pamela Elges Roesler, via this link: