David Gardner Brings Apples of Paradise to LA Times Festival of Books

MainSpring Books

A tragic love story of identity, forbidden love, and humanity set against the brutality of war

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books returns to the University of Southern California campus on April 18–19, 2026, continuing its legacy as one of the nation’s most vibrant literary gatherings. Guided by this year’s theme, “Many stories. One weekend.”, the festival celebrates diversity in literature and highlights voices that reflect the many perspectives shaping the global literary community.

As one of the official exhibitors at the 2026 festival, MainSpring Books joins this celebration of storytelling by presenting its featured authors at Booth #967. Among them is David Gardner, a MainSpring Books VIP author and the creator of Apples of Paradise, who will appear for a special book signing and a professionally recorded author interview during the event.

In Apples of Paradise, Gardner delivers a deeply emotional story set against the devastation of war. When Alex, a soldier left for dead on the battlefield, is rescued by David, a doctor from enemy territory, an unexpected connection begins to form between them. What begins as an act of compassion evolves into a forbidden love that challenges the beliefs, loyalties, and cultural expectations that once defined their lives.

As the war rages around them, the greater conflict becomes internal—one of identity, fear, and the courage to confront truths buried deep within themselves. In the quiet isolation of a remote village, the two men discover that the real enemy may not be the one standing across the battlefield, but the hatred and division that shaped their world.

Blending intimate character study with emotional intensity, Apples of Paradise explores themes of identity, masculinity, self-discovery, and love that refuses to surrender even under the harshest circumstances. Gardner’s storytelling places readers inside fragile human moments where compassion challenges prejudice and connection become an act of quiet rebellion.

Festival attendees are invited to visit MainSpring Books at Booth #967 to meet David Gardner, receive a signed copy of Apples of Paradise, and learn more about the story behind this powerful literary work.

MainSpring Books, a full-service publishing and author marketing company dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, will participate as an exhibitor at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, one of the largest literary gatherings in the United States. Founded in 1996 and hosted at the University of Southern California since 2010, the festival welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year and features author panels, storytelling events, children’s programming, live performances, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize ceremony, all offered free to the public in celebration of literature and the many voices that shape it.

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