Themes of healing, perseverance, mindfulness, and personal transformation take center stage as Inks & Bindings presents a compelling new literary showcase at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026.
Set to be featured at Booth #978 in the Black Zone during the festival weekend of April 18–19, this thoughtfully curated collection highlights authors whose works offer readers encouragement, emotional insight, and practical guidance for navigating life's most difficult seasons with strength and purpose.
Among the featured voices is Dr. Amy Sosne, whose deeply personal and profoundly impactful works explore trauma, resilience, and mindfulness through both memoir and practical self-guidance.
In “A World Turned Upside Down: A Memoir of Healing,” Sosne delivers a courageous and emotionally raw account of surviving the long-buried effects of childhood trauma after a triggering event during her career as a physician and psychiatrist forces her to confront painful truths she had long compartmentalized. Through her memoir, she shares her lived experience navigating Complex PTSD, infertility, devastating pregnancy loss, and mental health crisis, all while offering readers a deeply human perspective on trauma's lasting physical and psychological impact. More than a story of hardship, the memoir becomes her personal attestation to rebuilding identity, reclaiming voice, and finding meaning after devastation.
Complementing this work is “Your Inner Tree; Building a Mindfulness Toolkit: Yourself as Your First Responder,” a trauma-informed guide rooted in mindfulness, neuroscience, and self-advocacy. Written as a practical companion to her memoir, the book equips readers with emotional regulation tools and grounding techniques designed to help individuals become their own source of stability during moments of overwhelm. Through the metaphor of the tree—its roots, trunk, branches, and seasons—Sosne offers an accessible and compassionate framework for self-care and resilience.
A physician, teacher, yoga instructor, and founder of Sosne Consulting, Dr. Sosne brings extensive academic and professional expertise to her writing, holding degrees from Williams College, Mount Sinai Medical School, and Hunter College while dedicating her career to trauma-informed education and student support.
Also featured is Vicki Cable's uplifting self-help guide “Braving The Journey: Rising Above Life's Challenges,” an inspiring work dedicated to helping readers face adversity with courage, faith, and renewed hope.
Drawing from her own experiences as a two-time cancer survivor, Cable combines personal insight with practical encouragement to guide others through hardship and uncertainty. Through heartfelt reflections and empowering messages, the book reminds readers that resilience is often forged in life's most difficult moments and that every struggle contains the possibility of renewal. As the founder and lead coach of Hopeful Horizons Cancer Coaching, Cable works closely with individuals, caregivers, and families navigating cancer recovery and life after treatment, helping them rediscover purpose and motivation.
Her background as a former mathematics teacher and administrator, paired with professional coaching certifications through Todd Durkin Enterprises and The Cancer Journey Institute, further strengthens her compassionate and science-backed approach to personal transformation.
Joining the collection is Eric Gakidja's motivational work “3 Steps to Unlock Your Destiny,” an empowering call to action for readers seeking greater purpose, fulfillment, and personal growth.
Through practical wisdom and actionable insight, Gakidja challenges readers to reject complacency and pursue the lives they were meant to live with courage and intentionality. Designed for those standing at a crossroads, whether beginning anew, rebuilding, or searching for direction, the book offers a structured and motivational framework for creating meaningful change through discipline, purpose, and perseverance.
Gakidja, a writer, speaker, and executive director of three nonprofit organizations, has devoted his career to uplifting communities and helping individuals recognize their potential. His passion for service and empowerment infuses every page, reflecting his lifelong mission to inspire positive change and guide others toward lasting success.
Rounding out the featured lineup is Howard D. Blazek's “Wellness Mind-Body Activities,” a thoughtful and practical guide centered on achieving inner peace, physical wellness, and holistic balance.
Focused on self-awareness as the foundation of wellness, Blazek presents readers with a broad collection of techniques and exercises aimed at promoting harmony between mind and body. Covering practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, yoga routines, EFT tapping, affirmations, hand exercises, and energy-balancing techniques, the book encourages readers to explore the practices that resonate most deeply with their own healing journeys.
Blazek draws upon a lifetime of academic, professional, and personal exploration in crafting this guide. A former educator in mathematics, Russian, and psychology, as well as a systems analyst, consultant, and holder of a doctorate in Education, Blazek's multifaceted background reflects a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, growth, and well-being. His writing stems from a sincere desire to share the methods that have brought him relief, hope, and healing throughout his own life.
As part of its continued commitment to amplifying impactful voices and connecting readers with stories that educate, uplift, and inspire, Inks & Bindings is proud to showcase this remarkable group of authors at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026. Festivalgoers are invited to visit Booth #978 in the Black Zone throughout the April 18–19 celebration to discover these featured works in person, while readers worldwide may also explore the full collection through the Inks & Bindings website.
All featured titles are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other leading online book retailers worldwide.
About Inks & Bindings:
Launching brilliant stars into the spotlight! Inks & Bindings is set to broaden horizons, revamp to perfection, and produce a masterpiece through the power of books.
Inks and Bindings is a premier self-publishing company located at the heart of the Golden State. Aptly based where fashion, entertainment, and culture thrive, the team goes all out in bringing independent authors into the sweet California spotlight.
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