Words: 28 (9×9)
Average Length: 5.07
I’d been saving 11A and 21A for a full-sized themed puzzle but couldn’t come up with other good themers, so here they are in a large mini or small midi, depending on your definitions.
Words: 23 (9×8)
Average Length: 4.87
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: this is by far the ugliest grid I’ve ever designed. Alas, after far too much time trying to fit what I wanted into a symmetrical, esthetically pleasing mini-midi grid, I gave up and settled for what you see.
Having said that, I hope you enjoy solving the clues, just like 9 Across and 3 Down. And if crime fiction is your thing, I can’t recommend Ian Rankin’s Rebus series highly enough. He just released the 25th book in the series, and they’re all terrific.
Words: 76
Average Length: 4.74
Here’s a mind-expanding puzzle, including a little dirt on an ancient Roman poet, some Yiddish, Weird Al, and – oh yeah – a potential acid trip.
I’m posting this a day early because I’m getting on a cruise ship this afternoon and have no idea what the Internet access will be like.
If anyone’s interested, I’m on yet another trip – so far I’ve visited Monaco and Èze (France); the links are to write-ups on my PuffinlessTravel blog.
Words: 48 (12×12)
Average Length: 5.08
“Before and After” is a time-honored Jeopardy category. This puzzle introduces a twist, as the clue to 17 Across explains: the last word of 17A and the first word of 31A together satisfy a part of the clue. I hope you like it – I have another puzzle in this vein coming up in a few weeks.
Words: 138 (21×21)
Average Length: 5.29
This supersized puzzle was inspired by 104 Across, a beautiful song that my daughter and I recorded a version of in my son’s home studio, then danced to as the father/daughter dance at her wedding five years ago. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life! I’ll spare you the video of our dance, but I will link to a gorgeous performance of the song by Willie Nelson.
As for the theme answers, most are well-known, a couple are obscure (sorry, but people don’t write many songs with the necessary colors in the title), and one (87 Across) is wrong from a spectrum standpoint but has the virtue of fitting.
Words: 67 (14×15)
Average Length: 5.25
This one’s definitely rated “G,” as you’ll see when you solve it. As a bonus hint, there’s a bit of Guevara in each theme answer.
If anyone’s interested, I just posted here about a fun few days spent in Toronto last week.
Words: 30
Average Length: 4.67
1 Across was the seed. Originally, I planned to make a technology/mythology hybrid puzzle but I couldn’t come up with enough decent theme answers, so I just went full-on mythology.
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.00
As the note to the puzzle says, this is a tribute puzzle for … our 15-year old Ford Escape Hybrid. It’s still going strong! I’ve also got a recommendation for you: if you like birds, drawings of birds, or just plain good nature writing, check out the book in the clue for 23 Across.
I got back several days ago from a wonderful week spent hiking and eating in Iceland. There are several posts about the trip – and lots of pictures – on my PuffinlessTravel blog. Please check it out if you’re interested!
Words: 16 (7×7)
Average Length: 4.75
Sometimes the best thing to do while watching the Nats pretend that they left their bats at home is to construct a mini. (Both halves of that sentence are true quite often.) Here you go. If you like the puzzle, please send the Nats some offense. Thanks in advance!
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