The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was, as always, a celebration of literary voices, cultural insight, and creative storytelling. Amid a weekend brimming with panels, signings, and artistic showcases, one quietly powerful moment came with the screening of the book trailers.
Unveiled during a multimedia session spotlighting emerging and independent authors, the trailer played to a crowd of curious festivalgoers gathered in one of the festival’s booths. With subtle cinematic flair and a contemplative tone, the trailer gave audiences a visual and emotional introduction to the story’s deeply evocative work.
While brief, the video presentation left a lasting impression. It was less a marketing tool than a piece of art in its own right. Book trailers are becoming an increasingly popular way for authors to connect with readers beyond the page—especially at large-scale events like LATFOB. It was a reflective pause in an otherwise bustling festival day, giving readers a moment to digest and consider. As the festival continues to embrace new formats for literary storytelling, moments like this remind us that books don’t just live on shelves—they live in sound, image, and collective experience. Michael P. Closs’ The Book of Mary has now made its mark not just in print, but in motion.
The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB), held on April 26–27 at the University of Southern California (USC), was a significant cultural event that brought together a diverse array of participants and marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of literature, culture, and community. 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.
The festival offered over 100 ticketed author events, children’s storytelling sessions, poetry readings, book signings, and more than 400 exhibitor booths. Notable participants in the 2025 festival included authors such as Stacey Abrams, Jon M. Chu, Amanda Gorman, Chelsea Handler, Ibram X. Kendi, and Rebecca Yarros, among many others. The festival’s success was also attributed to the generous involvement of volunteers, who assisted with various aspects of the event, including welcoming attendees, staffing author events, and supervising book signings.
As LATFOB celebrates three decades of literary achievement, the 2025 festival underscored the importance of storytelling in shaping culture and community. With its diverse programming and commitment to accessibility, the festival continues to be a premier event for book lovers and cultural aficionados. The success of this year’s event sets a promising precedent for future festivals, ensuring that the tradition of literary celebration will continue to thrive in Los Angeles.
The Book of Mary (Second Edition) by Michael P. Closs takes a fresh, critical look at the Protevangelium of James, one of the earliest texts detailing the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Closs meticulously analyzes historical manuscripts, including Syriac and Greek sources, to explore how this ancient work influenced early Christian beliefs and shaped traditions about Mary’s life—from her miraculous birth to her role in the story of Jesus.
Michael P. Closs is a retired professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He is also a Catholic deacon who has served in both Canada and Mexico. Closs’ work is thoroughly researched and carefully crafted. He opens with background on the Gospel of Mark, who likely drew in part from the Protevangelium, especially in relation to the Messianic Secret. After this introduction, Closs presents the Protevangelium itself, based on Mary’s testimony regarding her birth, childhood, Immaculate Conception, and the birth of Jesus. The full text is included, with footnotes for each verse providing historical context, biblical parallels between Mary’s story and Old Testament figures, semantic insights, and interpretations of key events.
Michael Closs was also interviewed by Benji Cole from CBS Radio. Michael was inspired to write The Book of Mary after years of studying ancient biblical texts and recognizing the gaps in commonly known Christian teachings. The Protevangelium of James fascinated him due to its unique perspective on Mary’s life, a perspective often neglected in mainstream Christian theology. Closs wanted to highlight how this ancient document provides insights into Jewish customs, early Christian beliefs, and the deep spiritual significance of Mary’s journey.
To delve deeper into Michael’s inspiration behind his book, you can watch the full interview below:
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