A Thriller Where Sunshine Meets Shadows
From its modest beginnings in 1949, when postwar publishers gathered in Frankfurt to rebuild and share new ideas, the Frankfurter Buchmesse has grown into the world’s most important international book fair. Over the decades, it has transformed from a regional gathering of German publishers into a global platform where stories are launched, partnerships are forged, and the future of publishing is shaped. That journey of steady growth, vision, and innovation is what makes the fair so influential today.
Now celebrating its 77th year, the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 is set to host more than 7,500 exhibitors from across the globe. It offers far more than book displays: visitors can explore groundbreaking titles, attend insightful discussions with leading authors and thinkers, witness the latest in publishing technology, and discover how books continue to evolve across media and cultures. It’s not just a fair — it’s a creative crossroads where tradition meets tomorrow.
The Imagination Peoples the Air
Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025
Adding to the excitement, the Philippines takes center stage as the Guest of Honour for 2025, presenting the theme “The Imagination Peoples the Air” — a powerful nod to the nation’s storytelling spirit inspired by José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. With over a hundred Filipino authors, artists, and events bringing the country’s rich literary heritage and contemporary voices to Frankfurt, this year’s fair celebrates not only books but also the vibrant diversity of global storytelling.
Amid this extraordinary celebration of ideas and imagination, Kravitz & Sons is proud to see Spring Break showcased on this prestigious global stage — a thrilling dive into Florida’s bright yet perilous world where nothing is quite what it seems.
Driven by Grit, Fueled by Imagination
Jon Waller brings an unexpected balance of endurance and creativity to his writing. After a successful career in the petroleum business, Waller discovered a new calling — storytelling. His passion for narrative mirrors the same discipline that drives him as an Ironman triathlete, having completed eleven Ironman distance races.
A seasoned author with several children’s books and short stories to his name, Waller has a gift for blending adrenaline and emotion. His previous novel, Midge, explored legacy and strength through the lens of family history. In Spring Break, he takes a sharp turn toward suspense, proving his versatility as a writer who can move from heartwarming to heart-pounding with ease.
When Paradise Turns Dangerous
At first glance, Florida’s spring break season is all sun, sand, and celebration. But in Spring Break, Jon Waller peels back the glossy veneer to reveal a world teeming with secrets. The story follows Brad Pope, a retired Secret Service agent brought in to audit the security of a gated community in Fort Myers. What begins as a simple assignment quickly spirals into a labyrinth of murder, theft, deception, and moral reckoning.
As Brad navigates the layers of corruption hidden beneath paradise, readers are drawn into a web of danger where every choice carries consequence. Waller’s writing is crisp and cinematic — full of tension, heart, and humanity. It’s a story of crime and conscience, set against the relentless backdrop of Florida’s golden coast, where the heat never lets up and neither does the truth.
Why It Belongs on the Global Stage
At the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, Spring Break stands as a bold addition to the conversation on human nature and integrity. In a world fascinated by glamour and appearances, Waller’s story reminds readers that the real battles happen beneath the surface — in conscience, conviction, and courage.
This book captures the essence of modern storytelling: thrilling yet thoughtful, grounded in action but rich in reflection. Spring Break is more than a mystery — it’s a mirror held up to society’s moral crossroads. Its inclusion at this year’s fair highlights the power of fiction not only to entertain but to challenge, question, and reveal.
