VOL.69/2024.04

 

Jumping Books Publishing House

The joy of jumping into books

 

2024.03.11

 

The adolescent period shines brightly because it’s a time when the doors are wide open to whatever you can dream of. And Jumping Books Publishing House, which publishes books for teenagers, has also been shining in a variety of fields, including fiction, non-fiction, humanities, and liberal arts. In addition to publishing books for teenagers, Jumping Books Publishing House is special in that it is a one-man publishing company. It is because the publisher’s CEO does not fear changes and has a love for books - as a film major, he has moved from a film company to a broadcasting station to a publisher, and from an editor to the head of a one-man publishing company. Following is an interview with Lee Hye-Jae, the CEO of Jumping Books Publishing House, who has already published 17 titles since its founding in 2021, enjoying the joy of “jumping into books,” interacting with readers on social media, and running the Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club.

 

 

It’s a pleasure to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Please introduce Jumping Books Publishing House to our international readers, along with the meaning of the company’s name.

 

Hello, everyone. I launched Jumping Books Publishing House in December 2021 intending to capture the moment of “jumping into books” in a more meaningful way. With the number of people reading books decreasing year by year, I realized that it would be great if everyone could experience the joy of “jumping into books.” That’s why I chose the name “Jumping Books Publishing House” for this publishing company.

 

While Jumping Books Publishing House is a one-man publishing company, we heard that you worked as an editor at another publishing house before founding it. What made you decide to leave the publisher you were in and start Jumping Books Publishing House?

 

First off, I should probably start with a little bit of the long past, because I realized that my background was a little unique during my time at the publisher. I majored in film in college, and my first workplace after graduation was a film company. I then went to work for a TV station in the drama department, where I was in charge of “discovering original stories” and meeting with various publishers for their adaptations. That’s when I “discovered” the job of an “editor.” People working with books seemed so cool, and I loved the quiet atmosphere of publishers. That’s how I became an editor in my late 20s and started making books.
Going through the rookie days when I was clumsy at everything, I slowly learned the hands-on skills such as proofreading and editing, and the process of planning and scouting for writers, exploring trends, and sketching out content was very fun and interesting. I realized that I wanted to take more ownership of my work, so I decided to fulfill my resolution before it was too late - this is how Jumping Books Publishing House was founded.

 

What are some of the advantages of being a one-man publishing company compared to working as an editor at a publisher, and conversely, what are some of the challenges of being a one-man publisher?

 

To be honest, if you only compare it to working as an editor, there are a lot of disadvantages to being a one-man publishing company. (Laughs) There are so many things to do outside of editing! When you are part of a company, each role is assigned to different teams, such as marketing, administrative support, design, production, and so on, but when you are literally running a publishing company by yourself, there are so many things that you have to do every day - like online promotion, bookstore sales, paying bills, sending money, ordering production, and so on - besides editing. And then when you think, “Oh, I should probably be looking at the manuscript now,” and look at the clock – it is already dusk. (Laughs)
However, the advantages of being a one-man publishing company are so powerful that I don’t think I could ever go back to working for a company. As I mentioned earlier, the main benefit is that I can have more self-governance, and I think it is related to the sense of responsibility. The writers I scouted or the books I planned while I was working became nothing but memories of my hard work when I left the company. Of course, that hard work produced the result, but in the end, everything is owned by the company. In the case of a situation where the writer quits the company before finishing the book, I feel even more sorry for the writer, because I can’t help but feel guilty and sorry that I couldn’t maintain the responsibility for the writer and the manuscript until the end.
Running my own company instead of leaving and switching jobs has been the biggest difference in being able to take full responsibility for this aspect of my work. Being able to communicate with my writers without being anxious, which leads to a more solid “trust” between us, has also been a good influence on the efficiency of my work.

 

 

I really like the messages that don’t lose the warmth of life under the keyword of ‘growth.’

 

 

Since your founding in 2021, you have already published 17 titles. What drives you to keep publishing books so steadily?

 

I never thought that I would be publishing books constantly like this. (Laughs) When you have your own company, you tend to have more romantic, idealistic ideas, such as having a relaxing morning, balancing personal development and work, and having a full evening. But habits are weird, because it feels awkward to take a break because I was always part of a busy team in the company, working so much. Before I knew it, I was working on things, starting new projects, scouting for writers, and working on the publishing list.
I think the big driver is the fun that I have in my work. As a working mom, it’s not always easy to have free time for myself, but when I’m working, I’m able to focus on myself and put all of my thoughts, ideas, and concerns into it. So, for me, the time I devote to my work is actually my own fuel and energy.

 

Jumping Books Publishing House primarily publishes books aimed at teenagers. Is there a reason you chose to target teenagers as opposed to general readers?

 

The first genre I worked in as an editor was teenagers (young adult). When I was in my late 20s, I thought I wanted to make books for a wider range of readers, such as essays and foreign literature, but as I worked on one book after another, I realized that there are countless kinds of books for teenagers. Liberal arts books about humanities are easy to read and give you the confidence to “learn” even if you don’t know much about the subject. I also like the messages that don’t lose the warmth of life under the keyword of “growth,” as well as the rebellious view or perspective on society’s contradictions that can only be captured in adolescence.
I have fallen in love with the young adult genre as I have continued to make books about humanities and society, novels, essays, and comics for teenagers. And it is probably because I keep seeing myself in it. I have always felt like I was caught in a “gap” between everywhere, so I often wonder if that gap, which is neither being an adult nor a child, was destined for me.

 

You are publishing the “We Are Young,” “Just YA,” and “Polpol” series. How did you come up with these series? Can you tell us a bit about each of them?

 

 

Jumping Books Publishing House started its first book with the “We Are Young” series. I wanted to create a colorful collection of stories about a chapter in life that everyone has been through, is going through, or is in the process of going through. So far, there are four books in the series, with anthology essays on winter vacation, summer vacation, evening self-study sessions, and the spring of back-to-school. Each story will bring back memories for both teenagers and adults - some will relate, some will empathize, and some will learn something new.

 

 

“Just YA” is a literary series by Jumping Books Publishing House. A total of 8 novels have been published so far, focusing on both teen literature and young adult literature. Each work has a distinct message, such as gaslighting, sexual violence, self-identity, superpowers, ecological environment, climate crisis, juvenile labor, and science fiction. I have been trying to publish high-quality literary works through various writers, from literary award-winning writers to new writers.

 

 

The “Polpol” series is a series of knowledge and culture books by Jumping Books Publishing House. The first book featured words of courage from 38 women to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th. The series publishes liberal arts books that deliver knowledge that is useful in real life, such as ChatGPT, intellectual property rights, reading, and writing.

 

The books I Couldn’t Say I Liked You is about winter vacation, and We’re In the Summer Now is about summer vacation. It seems that vacations and adolescence have something in common in that they are short, and you miss them more once they are over. Could you please introduce the two books to our international readers?

 

 

Yes, that’s exactly where the idea came from. (Laughs) When you grow up, you don’t have a vacation like that (unless you give yourself one). Similarly, adolescence becomes a short, memorable time in your life, and the books I produced with the writers were designed with the hope that everyone would be able to look back and reminisce about their winter and summer vacations.
The book I Couldn’t Say I Liked You is a collection of winter vacation-themed stories by 8 writers - a filmmaker, a human rights lawyer, a novelist, a brand marketer, a bookseller, an illustrator, and a banker - who look back on their own teenage winter vacations. The stories capture the nostalgia and warmth of their memories.
The book We’re In the Summer Now also features essays from 8 different writers. Everyone goes through adolescence, but everyone has a life of their own. So, I gathered writers from all walks of life to give readers a glimpse into that “colorful” life. This book is a collection of the hot, green, and fresh memories of summer vacation.

 

Besides the two books above, what other books from Jumping Books Publishing House would you like to introduce to our international readers?

 

 

I would like to introduce the works in the “Just YA” literary series. First, The Spell to Become a Witch, published last year, is a full-length novel by Danyo, a young Korean writer currently on the rise. Set in a futuristic society, this SF novel is about a young girl named Seo-Ah who enters a game server as a “witch” with a secret account, uncovering the conspiracies and secrets of the world. It is a work that introduces the world of writer Danyo, who unfolds dense narratives with a high degree of completeness.
Another book is the most recent novel titled, Picnic of Tomorrow. It is a new work by Kang Seok-Hee, who won the Changbi Edu Growing-Up Fiction Award. It seems that Kang Seok-Hee, who is also a high school Korean language teacher, has a sharp yet compassionate view of the reality of teenagers living here today. The book describes how the protagonist, a child who was released from a shelter and a student at a specialized high school, faces the harsh reality of life and lives harmlessly without succumbing to it. Although the subject matter is a bit heavy, the book ends up as a beautiful and dazzling novel in the “fantasy romance” genre.

 

In addition to fiction, you are also publishing non-fiction books for teenagers on topics such as ChatGPT and parenting. Since you must have a wide range of interests to publish non-fiction books, was there a specific reason for expanding into non-fiction? What topics are you interested in these days?

 

 

When I was younger, I used to worry a lot about being a generalist, not a specialist, because I had so many different hobbies and interests. (Laughs) I used to envy people who were able to fully immerse themselves in one thing and love it. I used to think, “Why do I like everything, and why do I have so many interests?”
And then I realized through my work that that kind of personality fits well with the nature of my job (designing and creating books): I’m constantly interested in trends, there’s a lot I want to know, and there’s a lot I want to keep learning about. So, I think it led naturally to publishing in nonfiction as I have a lot of curiosities about the world, about society and people. Lately, I have been focusing a lot on “climate,” which seems to be a growing concern as I read more and more pessimistic news reports from home and abroad about the crisis.

 

 

The time I spend alone and focused on my work is my fuel and energy.

 

 

We heard that you will be hosting the Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club in 2024. Could you please tell us a little bit about the book club and what inspired you to start it?

 

Last year, Jumping Books Publishing House Readers, a support program for readers, was organized, and this year, Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club is being held. The difference is that last year’s “Jumping Books Publishing House Readers” was divided into the first half and second half of the year, following the publication flow, while the “Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club” is organized irregularly, centered on the literary books published by Jumping Books Publishing House. The Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club was launched in 2024 with the intention of sharing a deeper and more expanded reading experience by reading works by other publishers with similar topics in addition to the literary works published by Jumping Books Publishing House. In other words, rather than just reading books by one publisher, Jumping Books Publishing House Book Club hopes to share a reading experience that extends from one book to another, moving from just supporters to a “group that reads together.”

 

We are very excited to see the next step of Jumping Books Publishing House, which captures the moment when you “jump into books” in a multitude of ways. Lastly, can you tell us about your future plans?

 

Thanks to my hard work in the past (!), I have a long list of upcoming books. My biggest goal is to keep my plans on track this year and publish each one successfully.
Also, a number of literary works by great writers are awaiting in 2024. I’m working on an interesting short story collection with a K-Occult theme, a heartwarming “feel-good novel” set in a cottage in the forest of Jirisan Mountain, a first essay by a wonderful conductor based in Germany, and many other diverse books. I hope to deliver each of them to you in fine quality! It would be very helpful and appreciated if you could check out and discover more of Jumping Books Publishing House.

 

 

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