Messages of faith, healing, perseverance, and spiritual transformation will resonate throughout the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026 as Inks & Bindings proudly presents a heartfelt collection of spiritually enriching works at the University of Southern California (USC) campus on April 18–19.
Featured at Booth #978 in the Black Zone, this inspiring lineup brings together authors whose testimonies, teachings, and reflections offer encouragement to readers seeking hope, strength, and a deeper connection with God.
Among the featured authors is Altricia Black, whose powerful book “But God: (Been There, Done That, But God!)” delivers an uplifting message of redemption and restoration for those carrying the burdens of trauma, shame, and emotional pain.
Through deeply personal testimony and faith-based encouragement, Black addresses the painful realities faced by many survivors of sexual abuse and emotional suffering, offering readers both spiritual guidance and practical steps toward healing. Her work reminds readers that pain does not define their future and that transformation from victimhood to victory is possible through God's grace.
A dedicated woman of faith, Black serves as an Elder at Church of the Living God House of Prayer Ministries and has devoted much of her life to ministry and spiritual leadership. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the International School of Ministry, she has also served for years as a Global Prayer-line Facilitator while remaining deeply committed to her family as a wife, mother, grandmother, and mentor.
Also featured is Keith A. Hartzler's “Whispers on the Swing,” a heartfelt and imaginative reflection on embracing childlike faith and developing a more authentic relationship with God.
Through tender, playful meditations and deeply personal spiritual observations, Hartzler invites readers to reconnect with the wonder, honesty, and curiosity of childhood in their conversations with the divine. Encouraging readers to release formality and fear in favor of openness and vulnerability, the book presents faith not as rigid ritual but as an intimate, ongoing dialogue with a loving Father.
Written with sincerity, warmth, and humor, Hartzler's reflections encourage believers to rediscover the beauty of spiritual exploration through simple, honest communication. Motivated by a desire to help others understand that God is neither distant nor indifferent, Hartzler wrote this book to inspire readers to approach faith with renewed openness, trust, and confidence.
Joining the showcase is Dr. Frances Houston Cuffie with “Thresholds to Greater Glory,” a spiritually empowering work centered on perseverance, divine guidance, and the transformative power of listening to God's voice.
Through wisdom drawn from decades of ministry, leadership, and personal experience, Dr. Cuffie offers encouragement to those navigating trials related to family, health, career, education, and personal hardship. Her message emphasizes that strength, deliverance, and peace can be found through deeper communion with God and steadfast trust in His Word.
Dr. Cuffie, an empowerment specialist with over fifty years of ministry experience, serves as chief prelate for the United Church Fellowship International Conference and pastor of Temple United Church in Washington, D.C. Her distinguished background also includes careers in law, government service, and private legal practice, supported by an impressive academic portfolio that includes degrees in business administration, law, and theology. Through her writing, she seeks to help others experience spiritual freedom and recognize the enduring hope available through Christ.
Also bringing decades of ministry wisdom to the featured collection is David Collum with “Developing Your Sense of Faith,” a practical spiritual guide designed to help readers better understand, strengthen, and activate the faith God has placed within them.
Through thoughtful instruction and biblical insight, Collum explores what faith truly is, how it functions, and how believers can use it to remain closely connected to God throughout every circumstance of life. Written as both a teaching tool and devotional guide, the book aims to deepen spiritual understanding while equipping readers to walk more confidently in their faith journey.
Collum is a retired pastor with twenty-five years of ministry experience, an ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ Inc., and a Doctor of Ministry graduate from Liberty University. His decades of pastoral leadership and devotion to spiritual teaching lend authority and compassion to his writing.
Completing the lineup is Debra Lee Fader's inspiring memoir “Walk By Faith With God As Your Compass,” a moving account of surrender, reinvention, and trusting God's direction through life's unexpected turns.
Once a successful entertainer performing across Las Vegas, Atlantic City, luxury cruise ships, and international stages, Fader shares the story of how she left behind a flourishing entertainment career to follow what she believed was God's greater calling. After transitioning into broadcasting, worship leadership, and community service, her life once again changed dramatically when she experienced a sudden health crisis that left her unable to walk. Through her testimony, Fader recounts her unwavering faith amid uncertainty and demonstrates how trusting God's guidance can sustain individuals through even life's most devastating challenges.
An internationally awarded entertainer, former mayor of Montevideo, Minnesota, and founder of multiple organizations dedicated to kindness, leadership, and community service, Fader's life reflects a remarkable blend of artistry, public service, and spiritual devotion.
As part of its mission to amplify powerful voices and share meaningful stories that uplift readers from all walks of life, Inks & Bindings is honored to present this inspiring literary collection during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026 at the University of Southern California (USC) campus. Attendees are warmly invited to visit Booth #978 in the Black Zone throughout the April 18–19 festival weekend to explore these featured titles in person, while readers everywhere can also browse the full Inks & Bindings collection online through the company's website.
All featured books 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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