Celebrating Yukon literature at Frankfurt Book Fair

A Tribute To Jessica Simon

The late Jessica Simon had a gift for bringing writers together. Even after her passing, her influence united three authors—two from the Yukon and one from Germany—on a Frankfurt stage, sharing the voices and stories of the North with a German audience.

On October 17, Kathy Munro, Elisabeth Weigand, and I, (living in the Yukon for two years, now living in Germany) gathered at the Kultur im Blitz venue in Frankfurt’s Sachsenhausen district to celebrate Yukon literature and honor Jessica’s legacy.

Jessica’s writing group was where our journeys first intersected.

Years have passed since we began planning this reading, and on that October evening, the event became a reality. For Kathy Munro, it was a meaningful moment of closure. Elisabeth Weigand, originally from Frankfurt but a longtime resident of the Yukon, was thrilled to see so many friends and family members in the audience.

Having spent the day immersed in the Frankfurt Book Fair’s whirlwind of literary exchanges, I made my way to Kultur im Blitz, where the warm glow of lights and the strains of Great Lake Swimmers’ music set the mood.

Around 40 guests filled the venue, many of whom had come to support Elisabeth and share in our journey. Some had even visited the Yukon and were eager to hear stories of life in the North

We began the evening by reading Jessica’s work, as a tribute to the woman who started it all. I read two short pieces from Jessica’s Circumpolar Duet, while Kathy shared Killerku, Jessica’s inventive blend of haiku and crime fiction. Elisabeth read an excerpt from Jessica’s crime-novel, From Ice to Ashes, a work I had watched Jessica develop over countless writing sessions.

As we read, memories flooded back of those early writing gatherings. I remembered Jessica’s Cramped Hand Writing Workshops on the industrial outskirts of Whitehorse, where she led writing exercises with writing prompts. It was here where I found an encouraging community of writers.

Eventually, Jessica started a regular group at a local coffee shop, where writers could work on their projects side by side—a group that continues to this day, a testament to her enduring impact. My mind drifted to moments when Jessica encouraged me to pursue my own writing, always pushing me to take risks and believe in my craft.

It was a powerful evening. Afterward, Kathy reflected on the event.

“I couldn’t be happier. Although our event was on a much smaller scale than we had originally planned, we achieved what we set out to do: celebrate Yukon literature on a global stage and honor Jessica Simon, whose vision brought us all together so many years ago.”

For Elisabeth, the experience was deeply emotional.

“After coming home from the event, a multitude of feelings kept flooding me—accomplishment, honour, pride,” she shared. “Despite limited support and the challenges of a two-year pandemic, we did it. With grit we finally brought a taste of Canada’s North to Frankfurt, at the world’s biggest literary event.”

The Frankfurt Book Fair’s international stage offered us a unique opportunity to celebrate Jessica’s legacy and share Yukon literature with a broader audience. That night, as stories of the North echoed through a Frankfurt neighborhood, Jessica’s voice and vision resonated, reminding us of the connections that outlast distance and time.