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 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.
LATFOB 2025 offers a unique opportunity to explore new voices, groundbreaking ideas, and thought-provoking works of art. One of this year’s most anticipated entries is THE WIFI DEVOTIONAL: It’s Time To Reconnect by Merrillynn West, showcased in the Book Gallery. This is not a story-driven book, but a spiritual devotional designed to guide believers on a journey to strengthen their relationship with God. The book uses the metaphor of Wi-Fi and bandwidth to describe spiritual connection and capacity, emphasizing that life’s challenges can stretch one’s inner bandwidth. However, by connecting with God—like plugging into a wireless signal—spiritual bandwidth and strength can increase.
Merrillynn West is a devoted Christian, speaker, and writer with a heart for ministry and encouragement. With a background in both theology and communication, she has devoted her life to helping others find clarity and strength in their spiritual journey. Her ability to translate complex spiritual truths into accessible, everyday language has earned her a dedicated following among readers seeking spiritual guidance in a modern context. Her experiences as a mentor, prayer leader, and faith-based educator deeply inform her writing, allowing her to connect authentically with her audience. Her mission is to help people grow in faith by offering real, relevant, and relatable content that speaks to the soul.
Merrillynn West was interviewed by Benjie Cole of CBS Radio. Cole, host of the People of Distinction program, is a world-class interviewer, video formulator, Los Angeles actor, and filmmaker who once shared the acting stage with superstar Tom Hanks. The program, hosted by Benjie Cole and Al Cole from CBS Radio, is one of the most wide-ranging radio shows in the United States. People of Distinction is the perfect platform for authors and readers to discover newly published books, especially those written by passionate and independent authors.
For a more detailed understanding of Merrillynn West’s inspirations and to delve deeper into the contents of her book, you can watch the full interview below:
The April 14, 2025 issue of Publishers Weekly features THE WIFI DEVOTIONAL: It’s Time To Reconnect by Merrillynn West. Publishers Weekly (PW) is a long-standing and highly influential trade magazine, often referred to as the “Bible of the book business.” Established in 1872, it serves a professional audience that includes publishers, editors, agents, librarians, booksellers, and authors. The magazine is best known for its pre-publication book reviews, which are concise, authoritative, and carry significant weight within the industry. A starred review from Publishers Weekly is regarded as a mark of excellence and can greatly influence a book’s success in terms of bookstore orders, library acquisitions, and media attention.
The WiFi Devotional: It’s Time to Reconnect is a compelling read that skillfully merges modern life with timeless spiritual truths in a way that is both engaging and deeply impactful. By using the metaphor of WiFi, Merrillynn West has created a fresh and relatable framework that resonates with contemporary readers—especially those who feel overwhelmed by the noise and pace of modern life. Each devotional entry is brief yet powerful, making it easily accessible even for the busiest individuals. Rather than telling a narrative story, the book serves as a practical guide for spiritual renewal and reconnection with God.
No matter what religion you follow—or even if you have no religion at all, even if you are an atheist—when you love your neighbor as yourself, you become a disciple of Jesus, whether you know it or not. Because all love comes from God. This is what Jesus said. This is what unifies us. This is what makes us holy.
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