Katie Ross used to be a presenter on educational TV programmes like
Countryfile and Maths 4 Real. She started her publishing imprint two years ago.
We lived in Hong Kong when my children were very young. We had a wooden alphabet jigsaw which my daughter loved doing … and the letter Y was … a yak. Whenever we went to a zoo she’d ask if there were any jumping yaks. So it became a running joke.
Who are your books aimed at?
Children (roughly 8-12 years old) who want to test their wits and have fun. The puzzles are also great for grandparents to do alongside their grandchildren when they have been left in charge!
Did you devise the puzzles?
Yes! I have always loved puzzles. Crosswords, brainteasers, anagrams, card games .... I love them all. If I see something I think is fun, I try and use it to devise a puzzle. On the Maths book, I worked with a brilliant maths teacher – Edward Matthews – from Westminster Under School. He is always devising puzzles for his pupils so he had lots of really good ideas.
Did you test them out on your own kids (or husband)?
I had the perfect test centre in my house as my children were 9 and 11 when I first came up with the idea. They’d tell me in no uncertain terms if the puzzles were too easy, too hard or too boring! And my husband decided to write a few puzzles too. He loved logic puzzles when he was a child so he wrote a funny puzzle about Boudicca, Einstein, Captain Scott and Anne Boleyn in a running race.
Are the answers in the back?!
Yes! Relief all round.
The illustrations are fun. Who did them?
A university friend called Beach who is based in Stamford in Lincolnshire. He read History at University but always had an incredible talent for cartoons and art. His drawings often have hidden jokes in them. I think he is a genius.
It feels like a series that could run into many editions. Do you have plans to publish more?
Yes! I have all sorts of ideas: More Maths Fun, History Fun, Geography Fun, Family Fun… the list is endless. But in the immediate future, I am just starting to work on Travel Fun – a puzzle book that takes you around the world.
What about putting the content online?
I have thought about this and should probably explore it further. But in the Coronavirus lockdown, school children spent considerable amounts of time on screens either doing remote lessons on Zoom or playing video games/chatting to each other. I think there is a lot to be said for off-screen, good old-fashioned pen and paper exercises.
If readers want to buy the books, where’s the best place to get them?
My website, www.jumpingyak.com or on Amazon. They are £8.99 each.
What have you found to be the hardest part of self-publishing?
You have to be quite disciplined when self-publishing. There are so many things to learn: how to choose a printing firm, buying ISBN numbers, setting up an e-commerce site and the challenges of marketing. It definitely became easier on the second book.
It’s important to value what you do and not to worry too much if not everyone likes your ideas. The same is true in any business, I think.
Please add the following numbers up, out loud, in order as quickly as you can and tell us what you get.
1,000 + 40 + 1,000 + 30 + 1,000 + 20 + 1,000 + 10
Katie's answer is in the bottom right-hand corner of the green box above.
Thank you Katie!