“Christine had this uncanny ability to visualise a block of words going across each other, so she could see a block of maybe five different words all connecting in her mind’s eye before she committed them to paper,” says James. And 40 years ago that’s how we decided to approach it - we’d make it general knowledge plus word knowledge.”Ĭhristine’s exceptional compiling abilities were key to the business’s success. “You don’t have to take the words just from a dictionary you can take them from general knowledge. James says from the outset they broadened the scope of words they used. “You make them solvable, but make them very big.”Īt the same time they weren’t “insultingly easy” Christine says.Ĭhristine and James Lovatt. “I felt the original crossword compilers felt cheated if anyone completed their puzzle,” says Christine. So they made puzzles that were actually solvable. “We were bringing out books of puzzles for Fairfax and I found out the first book had sold 135,000 copies and had gone into a reprint, and I remember I came home and said Christine we’re going to become millionaires.”įairfax was paying James and Christine royalties for their work but they realised they’d be better off on their own and went solo with their own publishing business.Īnd they realised that there were plenty of people out there who loved a crossword but weren’t necessarily in the Inspector Morse league. Soon Fairfax started putting out dedicated puzzle books, and they sold like hot cakes. The puzzle was a huge success, so Christine quit her job as a nurse and stated compiling them full time. “Mum wanted us kids to keep dad occupied once he got home from work. She had started making them to amuse her father as a child in England. Luckily his wife Christine was an expert – she had been making puzzles and cross words as a hobby for years. “The editor said ‘Find me someone who can create crosswords without making mistakes’”, James says. The Lovatts’ puzzle story began 40 years ago in Sydney where James was working as a journalist at Fairfax's People magazine - and was asked to create a giant puzzle. Their crosswords and puzzles are syndicated in major media organisations including Fairfax and the Bauer Media Group, and in this country alone they distribute 600,000 copies of their various magazines. However, Let’s Discover IT takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.Listen to Christine and James Lovatt on Nine to Noon The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.Įvery effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Let’s Discover IT. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. The information is provided by Let’s Discover IT and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only.
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