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 featured 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.
LATFOB 2025 emphasized accessibility and community involvement. General admission was free, with select programming requiring tickets. The festival’s partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs ensured that a wide range of activities were available to attendees of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a welcoming environment for literary enthusiasts and families alike.
As LATFOB celebrates three decades of literary celebration, the 2025 festival underscores 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.
LATFOB 2025 provides a unique opportunity to explore new voices, groundbreaking ideas, and thought-provoking works of art. This year, one of the most anticipated entries is “The Curve You Didn’t See Coming: Lessons Learned Through Loss” by Carolyn K. Williams, which is being showcased in the Book Gallery. In the story, Carolyn shares her deeply personal journey through grief, reflecting on the lessons she learned through the loss of her husband and sister.
Carolyn K. Williams, LCSW, a devoted mother of three, loving sister, cherished Nana, caring daughter, and recently a widow, embarks on a journey to find meaning in the midst of life’s uncertainties. In her debut book, The Curve You Didn’t See Coming: The Lessons I Learned Through The Loss of a Loved One, she shares the profound insights gained from her experiences with loss and grief.
A proud resident of Virginia Beach, VA, Carolyn is an active and beloved member of her community. Her passion for plays, love for engaging conversations, and enthusiasm for dancing infuse her life with vibrant energy. Carolyn’s compassionate spirit shines through in her writing, offering hope and guidance to those facing the complexities of grief. Her debut book stands as a beacon of resilience, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to helping others navigate their own journeys through loss.
This book is an invitation to explore your own experiences with grief and loss. Carolyn’s candid storytelling and insightful reflections will help you learn to mourn well, encouraging you to engage in open and honest conversations about death and loss. Whether you’re new to grief or have been living with it for some time, you’ll find comfort and understanding in these pages.
“The Curve You Didn’t See Coming” goes beyond personal stories, addressing various forms of significant loss—from parents and children to pets, divorces, and the challenges of caring for loved ones with life-altering illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Carolyn’s hope is that by reading this book, you will not only reflect on your own experiences but also feel empowered to share your journey with others, finding solace and hope along the way.
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