Erik Agard page, Constructor comments

Total	Debut	Latest	Collabs
78	11/6/2012	3/22/2024	41

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Variety
11	8	7	9	10	14	18	1

Rebus	Circle	Scrabble	Fresh
2	8	1.60	62%

Fri 3/22/2024
G	O	O	D	S			C	H	A	R		T	S	O
E	X	T	R	A	C	H	E	E	S	E		R	A	N
M	E	T	A	L	U	M	L	A	U	T		A	M	E
S	N	O	W		B	O	L	D		T	E	N	E	T
			L	A	B	S		L	E	A	D	S	T	O
		M	O	B	Y		V	I	V		S	P	O	T
	V	O	T	E		W	A	N	E	S		R	Y	E
F	I	R	S	T	G	E	N	E	R	A	T	I	O	N
U	S	A		S	O	B	E	R		N	A	D	U
N	U	L	L		L	O	S		D	A	L	E
F	A	C	E	O	F	F		B	E	A	K
A	L	O	O	F		L	A	R	A		T	I	N	T
C	A	D		A	N	I	M	A	L	L	O	V	E	R
T	I	E		G	U	E	S	S	T	I	M	A	T	E
S	D	S		E	S	S	O			T	E	N	S	E

Mansi Kothari: I've been an avid crossword solver since I was a high schooler, when my dad used to bring the printed puzzle home from the paper, with photocopies for each family member. It's a dream come true to be published as a constructor.

HUGE shoutout to my collaborator, Erik Agard, for being such a patient and supportive mentor. My favorite part of the construction process is cluing, and Erik helped me a lot with navigating the technical aspects of some of the earlier phases, such as grid layout and fill (and also reined in some of my crazy clues). He's a very conscientious constructor who taught me to consider the social relevance and impact of my puzzle.

Some of the clues I'm most proud of in this puzzle are:

Moved cross-country?
Winter coat
July birthday celebrant
PowerPoint, perhaps
Go clubbing?
Ring bearer?

I hope this is the start of a long-lived construction journey. Enjoy!

Erik Agard: I'm so honored to be a part of Mansi's NYT debut, and it was so fun to make! Mansi is a dream collaborator, and I admire her fill sensibilities and her diabolical mind for cluing. Looking forward to solving many more of her puzzles!

As for me, I'm (sporadically) on Twitter at @e_a_rly - drop me a line!

Thu 8/17/2023
R	I	C	A	N			M	O	M		C	M	O	N
A	W	A	R	E		F	I	V	E		A	A	V	E
C	O	N	C	O	U	R	S	E	S		N	Y	E	T
E	N	D	S		S	E	R	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
S	T	Y		T	E	T	E			V	C	R	S
		G	E	A	R		A	M	I	G	O
S	H	I	F	T		E	D	I	T		M	E	S	S
C	A	R	F	A	R	E		C	A	V	E	A	T	S
I	S	L	A		A	L	P	S		A	I	S	L	E
			M	O	S	S	Y		T	I	N	Y
	G	L	A	D			T	H	E	N		G	M	A
B	R	A	N	D	I	S	H	E	S		S	O	A	R
E	A	R	L		S	H	O	R	T	E	N	I	N	G
D	I	V	E		P	O	N	D		C	O	N	D	O
S	L	A	Y		Y	E	S			O	B	G	Y	N

It's unfortunately still a good time to 47-Down [Take a Covid precaution] — in addition to the answer in the grid, a well-fitted, high-quality (N95 or KN95) mask goes a long way towards keeping you and the people around you safe. Love you! e

Fri 4/28/2023
C	U	T	A	W	A	Y	G	A	G		L	A	I	R
O	N	E	T	I	M	E	U	S	E		O	N	T	O
L	I	M	O	N	C	E	L	L	O		L	O	S	T
E	X	A	L	T			P	A	D			T	S	O
			L	E	S	T		N	E	I	T	H	E	R
L	I	T		R	H	E	A		S	N	E	E	R	S
A	C	H		M	A	N	G	A		S	A	R	I
W	H	I	T	E	Y	O	N	T	H	E	M	O	O	N
	O	R	A	L		R	E	L	I	C		N	U	B
M	O	S	C	O	W		S	A	L	T		E	S	C
E	S	T	O	N	I	A		S	L	I	T
T	E	T			N	E	A			V	O	I	C	E
E	Y	R	E		O	S	L	O	N	O	R	W	A	Y
R	O	A	R		N	O	T	F	O	R	S	A	L	E
S	U	P	S		A	P	O	T	H	E	O	S	I	S

some stats:

this is the first themeless puzzle that we have made together
we submitted this puzzle on august 3, 2022. we received an acceptance on october 28, 2022, and it ran on april 28, 2023. we found this to be a surprisingly quick turnaround!
there are 72 clues in this puzzle. thirty-eight (53%) were kept identical. ten (14%) were updated slightly. twenty-four (33%) are new.

other things:

our original clue for CUTAWAY GAG was [Comedy scene breakout?]
our original clue for THIRST TRAP was [Hot flash result?]
the great clue for MOSCOW was courtesy of the Times team
after editing but before publishing, the editors show you a draft of the "final" puzzle for you to confirm. we asked that four of their new clues be changed (e.g. SHAY, which they wanted to clue as a carriage instead of Mitchell), and they agreed. many thanks to the NYT editors for putting in the time to do last-minute back-and-forths with us, and to the constructors who pushed hard for this to become part of their process. we hope that eventually this is standard procedure at all outlets.

Tue 1/31/2023
P	E	P	S	U	P				T	O	A	S	T	S
S	T	R	O	V	E			F	I	R	S	T	U	P
T	H	O	M	A	S		H	A	L	O	H	A	L	O
	I	V	E		T	H	O	N				T	A	R
T	O	E	D			E	N	T	O		M	I	N	T
O	P	R	A	H		R	E	A	P		A	C	E	S
L	I	B	Y	A		O	Y	S	T	E	R
L	A	S	S	I		F	L	Y		L	I	S	T	S
			O	R	E	O	O	S		M	A	O	R	I
C	O	M	O		O	R	C	A		S	H	R	U	G
O	M	A	N		S	H	U	G			C	O	N	N
S	A	T				I	S	A	W		A	R	C
T	H	A	T	H	U	R	T		A	E	R	I	A	L
C	A	T	C	A	F	E			Y	V	E	T	T	E
O	N	A	U	T	O				S	A	Y	Y	E	S

Fri 11/11/2022
N	A	S	A		A	P	P	A	L	L		P	R	E	P
O	V	E	R		D	A	H	L	I	A		R	U	L	E
R	O	C	K		D	R	I	F	T	S		E	S	M	E
E	C	O		F	I	T		R	E	S	T	S	T	O	P
F	A	N	T	A	S	Y	S	E	R	I	E	S
U	D	D	E	R		B	I	D	S		M	E	N	U
N	O	L	A		A	U	K			A	P	R	O	N	S
D	O	I		W	I	S	H	L	I	S	T		T	I	M
S	I	N	G	E	D			I	N	K		W	H	O	O
	L	E	I	A		M	A	P	S		S	W	A	N	K
			D	R	E	A	M	S	E	Q	U	E	N	C	E
Y	A	R	D	S	A	L	E		C	U	B		K	A	Y
O	L	A	Y		T	O	N	G	U	E		P	Y	R	E
R	O	K	U		E	N	D	U	R	E		B	O	D	Y
K	E	E	P		N	E	S	T	E	R		R	U	S	E

ERIK: I had originally come up with 25/50-Across as a clue/answer pairing, and felt pretty self-satisfied about it, so imagine my surprise when Brooke was like "I wonder if there could be a third one?" and then proceeded to actually find one??? Her mind!

BROOKE: Erik is a god-tier clue writer. My favorites of his in this puzzle are 1A, 35A, 9D, and 35D.

POW Fri 9/23/2022
L	I	N	G	O		H	U	L	A		M	A	M	A
O	C	E	A	N		E	N	E	R	G	Y	T	A	X
F	O	R	T	E		W	H	I	T	E	G	A	Z	E
I	N	V	E	S	T	S				N	U	D	E	S
	S	E	C	T	S		S	H	A	D	Y
			R	E	P		P	O	L	E		F	A	E
	L	E	A	P		W	A	T	E	R	S	I	G	N
M	E	S	S	A	G	E	R	E	C	E	I	V	E	D
B	A	T	H	T	O	W	E	L		U	S	E	S
A	K	A		A	T	O	M		O	P	T
			S	T	O	N	E		W	H	E	T	S
A	S	A	H	I				I	N	O	R	O	U	T
N	O	C	O	M	M	E	N	T		R	A	N	T	O
T	H	E	R	E	I	T	I	S		I	C	A	R	E
S	O	R	T		D	A	L	Y		A	T	L	A	S

A few notes:

Filename on my computer: rw4.cfp (rw because I set out basically trying to make a bootleg Robyn Weintraub grid, 4 being the fourth different grid layout I tried around the seeds, with multiple fill attempts per layout)
Seeds: 18a followed by 16d
Original clue for the latter: [Happiness that a new outfit or haircut might bring]
Clue I loved from the NYT team: 42d
Random book rec totally unrelated to the puzzle: "The Archer" by Shruti Swamy
Have a great weekend!

Fri 8/5/2022
S	M	U	S	H		S	C	I		B	O	L	T	S
H	E	N	N	A		T	A	N		A	V	A	I	L
A	L	T	O	S		R	N	A		L	E	T	G	O
W	E	I	G	H	T	E	D	B	L	A	N	K	E	T
L	E	E		T	H	E	Y	S	A	Y		E	R	S
			P	A	Y	T	H	E	T	A	B
C	R	A	I	G		F	E	N		G	A	S	P	S
H	A	R	E	S		O	A	T		E	L	T	O	N
A	C	E	S		D	O	R	I	S		K	I	W	I
P	E	N		R	E	D	T	A	P	E		L	E	T
S	A	D	D	E	N				O	R	D	E	R	S
	H	E	A	V	Y	S	E	C	U	R	I	T	Y
H	E	L	M		I	O	T	A	S		A	T	O	M
B	A	L	E		N	O	T	R	E		N	O	G	O
O	D	E	S		G	N	A	T	S		A	S	A	P

ERIK: My friend Brooke is also one of my favorite constructors, and I'm honored to be involved in one of her brilliant creations. Happy so many of our tricky clues made the cut — hers at 33-Down is my favorite. Hope you like it!

BROOKE: I'm indebted to Erik for reaching out to me in early 2020 to encourage me to create crossword puzzles. I'm so grateful now to have created this puzzle with a friend! Thanks to the editors for preserving our voices — my favorite of Erik's clues is 29-Down.

POW Mon 5/2/2022
A	C	H	O	O		E	D	S		S	A	L	E	M
P	L	A	N	K		N	Y	E		U	S	A	G	E
N	E	V	E	R	E	V	E	R		R	I	N	G	S
E	R	A		A	L	I		B	R	E	A	D	T	H
W	I	N	E		M	A	R	I	A			B	A	E
S	C	A	N	S		B	E	A	R	S	E	A	R	S
			R	E	A	L	M		E	N	A	C	T
		L	A	D	L	E		F	L	A	S	K
	N	I	G	E	L		R	O	Y	C	E
H	O	V	E	R	O	V	E	R		K	U	R	T	A
A	T	E			T	E	X	T	S		P	E	A	T
H	A	L	F	A	S	S		N	A	P		T	N	T
A	F	O	U	L		T	H	I	G	H	H	I	G	H
H	A	N	E	S		E	B	T		D	A	R	L	A
A	N	G	L	O		D	O	E		S	W	E	E	T

Excited to be back in the Times!! Proceeds from the puzzle will go towards #SettlerSaturday funds. Hope you like it!

POW Sat 10/16/2021
S	K	A			S	T	I	R		N	O	V	A	S
C	R	I	B		N	O	N	A	P	O	L	O	G	Y
R	I	R	I		I	T	S	H	A	N	D	L	E	D
E	S	C	O	R	T		E	R	I	E		C	N	N
W	H	O	S	E		S	C	A	N		W	A	D	E
U	N	O		F	I	L	T	H		C	O	N	E	Y
P	A	L	M	E	D	O	R		F	L	O	O	R
			A	R	E	W	E	G	O	O	D
	N	I	N	E	S		P	L	U	S	S	I	G	N
H	I	N	G	E		B	E	A	L	E		C	O	O
E	C	H	O		W	E	L	D		I	N	E	R	T
Y	E	A		F	A	L	L		U	N	I	P	O	D
N	O	S	P	O	I	L	E	R	S		T	O	G	O
O	N	T	H	E	F	E	N	C	E		S	P	U	N
W	E	E	D	S		S	T	A	R			S	E	E

Fri 2/5/2021
I	T	S	O	N				S	E	E	S	F	I	T
N	E	W	D	A	D			H	A	V	E	A	G	O
T	R	E	E	T	O	P		E	R	E	C	T	E	D
E	R	A		S	C	R	O	L	L		R	I	T	A
N	A	R	C		S	O	I	L			E	M	I	T
D	I	J	O	N		F	L	O	W	S	T	A	T	E
	N	A	V	E	L		B	U	I	C	K
		R	E	P	A	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
			R	A	Z	O	R		S	T	O	P	S
I	M	A	L	L	E	A	R	S		S	C	O	O	P
M	O	R	E			D	E	L	A		K	I	L	L
P	O	R	T		A	T	L	A	S	T		L	O	U
A	L	I	T	T	L	E		T	A	G	T	E	A	M
C	A	V	E	A	T	S			P	I	E	R	C	E
T	H	E	R	O	O	T				F	A	S	T	S

Quick note unrelated to this puzzle. I've mentioned this to Jeff in private, but since this site isn't the only place I've experienced it, I want to say it more publicly too:

Making a point of calling out "hard-to-spell" names in puzzles is a classic example of something that may seem inherently "colorblind" to you on paper, but really is racist in practice, i.e., disproportionately impacts people of color. Whether you're an editor rejecting a name from a puzzle for that reason or a blogger "just asking questions" about someone's gridworthiness, understand that bigots are cheering you on.

I'm told my colleague/idol slated for Saturday will touch on this topic as well, so I'll leave it there for now.

Fri 12/25/2020
R	A	B	B	I		C	L	A	P	S		J	O	G
I	M	O	L	D		Z	O	R	R	O		U	R	L
P	E	N	A	L		A	B	B	E	Y		I	D	A
O	N	E	B	E	D	R	O	O	M		A	C	E	S
F	R	I	S	C	O			R	E	N	D	E	R	S
F	A	N		H	U	L	A		D	O	O	B	I	E
			G	A	L	O	S	H		T	R	A	N	S
	G	R	E	T	A	T	H	U	N	B	E	R	G
F	A	I	N	T		R	E	L	O	A	D
I	M	F	R	E	E		S	K	I	D		P	G	A
R	E	F	E	R	E	E			S	A	L	O	O	N
E	T	E	S		L	E	A	S	E	T	O	O	W	N
L	I	D		O	P	R	A	H		A	U	D	I	O
I	M	O		N	O	I	R	E		L	I	L	L	Y
T	E	N		S	T	E	P	S		L	E	E	D	S

WENDY: Everything that Crossworld says about Erik being generous, kind, patient, and brilliant is all true. I would also say that the standards he sets for himself are an inspiration. What I learned from Erik while working on this themeless — how to use Crossfire properly (!), that pluralizing uncommon names isn't a great idea, using words with "un" or "re" as prefixes can drag down a puzzle, and only the most common abbreviations are acceptable.

The first seed entry that came to mind was GRETA THUNBERG — because, well, she's Greta Thunberg! For me, that is the highlight of the puzzle.

This is my first New York Times crossword. Without my great friend, the brilliant Martha Jones, with whom I've written several puzzles, I would not have taken the plunge into constructing. Patrick Merrell, an amazing constructor, spent time teaching Martha and me the basics of construction. Laura Braunstein, Tracy Bennett, Rebecca Falcon, David Steinberg, Patti Varol, and Robyn Weintraub also helped, supported, taught, and encouraged me. And, of course, Erik is hands down, the best in the business with a heart to match.

ERIK: Honored to be involved with Wendy's NYT debut, and looking forward to many more from her. I will steal "generous, kind, patient, and brilliant" because they're all perfect adjectives to describe her. You can show her some love on Twitter at @WendyBrandes1.

POW Sat 11/14/2020
G	O	E	S	I	N	T	O		S	A	S	H	A	Y
E	U	R	O	P	E	A	N		A	S	T	U	T	E
L	I	A	I	S	I	N	G		G	E	I	S	H	A
			T	E	N	D	O	N		A	C	H	E	S
W	A	R	S			O	D	I	N		K	E	N	T
A	V	O	C	A	D	O		H	O	L	Y	D	A	Y
R	O	B	O	T	A	R	M		H	E	S
M	N	E	M	O	N	I	C	D	E	V	I	C	E	S
			E	N	D		S	O	L	I	T	U	D	E
U	M	P	T	E	E	N		G	P	S	U	N	I	T
P	A	L	O		R	I	G	G			A	Y	E	S
W	R	A	T	H		P	E	E	K	A	T
A	N	T	H	E	M		E	R	I	C	I	D	L	E
R	E	T	I	N	A		N	E	W	M	O	N	E	Y
D	R	E	S	S	Y		A	L	I	E	N	A	T	E

EMILY: Very excited to finally get a Saturday puzzle and hit for the crossword cycle! Big thanks to Erik for being an incredibly generous partner for my first collaborative effort. His superhuman cluing abilities and a constant push for inclusivity in the cross-world are a true inspiration. And also, thanks to the editors for teaching me a new mnemonic device, RIP Pluto.

ERIK: Emily is brilliant. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with her and really happy with how it turned out. Kudos to her for the clever 23-Down clue and to the Times team for 27-Across.

Wed 9/30/2020
	I	L	L	S	A	Y		S	K	E	W		G	M	S
G	R	O	U	P	I	E		P	A	R	A		O	O	H
R	A	N	K	A	M	A	T	E	U	R	S		T	R	U
A	N	G	E	R			A	C	A	I		T	W	O	S
P	I	E		S	T	I	N	K	I	N	G	R	I	C	H
P	A	S	S	E	R	S				G	L	A	N	C	E
A	N	T	I		A	L	P	S			U	P	D	O	S
			R	I	P	E	O	L	D	A	G	E
B	U	N	D	T			D	Y	E	S		Z	I	G	S
U	S	A	U	S	A				C	H	E	E	T	A	H
F	U	N	K	Y	C	H	I	C	K	E	N		S	R	A
F	R	E	E		T	A	D	A			I	S	L	A	M
A	P	T		F	O	U	L	L	A	N	G	U	A	G	E
L	E	T		A	N	N	E		L	I	M	I	T	E	D
O	D	E		N	E	T	S		S	T	A	T	E	S

We're pleased to see how many of our original clues made the final cut. Our compliments to the editors for their fun STATES clue!

Inspired by Margit Christenson, last Wednesday's constructor, Erik and I will be donating our payment for this puzzle. Erik is donating to Deja's transition fund. I will be donating to the families of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and Jacob Blake.

ANDY: As always, I'm so grateful that I get to make puzzles with Erik. (very mutual! -ea) If you're not already solving the puzzles he edits over at USA Today, go do that. You won't be sorry.

POW Fri 9/11/2020
P	A	L	M	F	R	O	N	D	S		S	M	O	G
S	Q	U	A	R	E	F	E	E	T		O	A	H	U
S	U	C	K	E	D	F	A	C	E		S	I	F	T
T	A	K	E	S		A	T	E	A	M		D	O	S
			S	C	A	N		I	M	A	G	E	R	Y
B	B	C		A	U	D	I	T		R	U	N	G
F	L	A	W		T	O	T		B	R	I	N	E
F	A	S	H	I	O	N	A	B	L	Y	L	A	T	E
	C	H	O	P	S		L	A	O		E	M	I	R
	K	O	L	A		T	Y	S	O	N		E	T	A
A	M	N	E	S	I	A		E	D	I	T
R	A	H		S	T	R	A	W		C	O	B	R	A
E	G	A	D		E	S	C	A	P	E	R	O	O	M
N	I	N	O		M	A	N	G	O	L	A	S	S	I
A	C	D	C		S	L	E	E	P	Y	H	E	A	D

ERIK: Grateful to Caitlin, one of the greats, for the opportunity to collaborate! She's responsible for most of this grid, including that bottom-left corner where I just could not find a good fill, and also many of the standout clues (e.g. 1-Across, 61-Across, 12-Down, 29-Down). I'm also thankful to the NYT team for adding a Rihanna reference at 11-Down — love to see it!

CAITLIN: You'd have to be a fool to pass up an opportunity to work with Erik, and I ain't no fool! It is always my great pleasure to work with and learn from him. Erik is such a master at writing clues, turning even the most usual fill like 50-Across into something fresh and clever. A lot of his other clues were softened up for this Friday offering, but rest assured they were likewise brilliant. I also loved the editing team's sneaky misdirection at 39-Down. I hope the fun we had in making this puzzle together translates into an enjoyable solve!

Fri 7/31/2020
P	R	O	M		B	F	F	S		M	A	L	T	A
A	E	R	O		E	L	A	S	T	I	G	I	R	L
N	C	A	A		L	A	Y	E	R	C	A	K	E	S
D	O	N	T	C	A	R	E		A	R	I	E	S
A	N	G		R	Y	E		L	I	O	N
	C	E	L	I	E		B	U	L	B		P	G	A
H	I	S	A	N	D	H	I	S		L	A	L	A	W
A	L	O	N	G		A	L	T		A	B	A	S	E
L	E	D	G	E		R	E	S	I	D	E	N	T	S
F	D	A		W	A	D	S		C	I	D	E	R
			P	O	L	Y		H	E	N		T	O	S
	A	L	E	R	T		R	E	D	G	I	A	N	T
A	M	E	N	T	O	T	H	A	T		T	R	O	U
D	I	N	A	H	S	H	O	R	E		L	I	M	B
O	D	D	L	Y		U	S	D	A		L	A	Y	S

ERIK: Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

POW Mon 7/13/2020
C	H	E	R		A	R	E	A	S		T	O	T	S
R	U	T	H		M	A	N	G	O		B	U	R	P
A	L	T	O		U	D	D	E	R		S	T	A	R
P	L	U	M	B	L	O	S	S	O	M		T	I	E
			B	E	E	N			R	E	B	A	T	E
A	U	G	U	S	T		T	W	I	S	T	S
F	R	O	S	T		N	O	R	T	H	W	I	N	D
A	G	O			H	I	D	E	Y			G	E	E
R	E	D	D	R	A	G	O	N		L	O	H	A	N
		F	R	O	T	H	S		P	A	N	T	R	Y
B	O	O	Y	A	H			N	A	N	A
E	R	R		M	A	H	J	O	N	G	T	I	L	E
E	N	Y	A		W	E	A	V	E		E	D	I	T
F	O	O	D		A	R	I	E	L		A	L	M	A
S	T	U	D		Y	E	L	L	S		R	E	E	S

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

POW Mon 6/1/2020
S	T	O	W			A	B	B	A		A	J	A	R
L	A	V	A		F	L	O	A	T		V	E	R	A
A	P	E	X		R	U	M	B	A		O	M	E	N
W	E	R	E	N	U	M	B	E	R	O	N	E
			S	C	I		S	L	I	P		L	I	E
A	S	S		I	T	T				A	M	E	N	S
N	T	H		S	H	E	S	A	L	L	T	H	A	T
D	R	O	P		A	C	U	T	E		V	I	D	A
Y	O	U	R	E	T	H	E	T	O	P		L	A	T
E	N	T	E	R				A	P	E		L	Y	E
T	G	I		I	T	C	H		A	A	A
		T	H	E	Y	R	E	G	R	R	R	E	A	T
W	H	O	A		P	A	L	E	D		M	A	X	I
H	A	U	L		E	V	I	L	S		O	S	L	O
O	N	T	O		S	E	X	T			R	Y	E	S

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Sat 5/23/2020
A	C	C	R	A		K	A	L	E	S	A	L	A	D
S	A	L	O	N		A	M	E	R	I	C	A	N	O
T	R	O	U	T		R	O	G	E	R	T	H	A	T
I	T	S	N	O	T	A	R	A	C	E
		E	D	N	A			L	T	D		A	P	R
A	S	S			M	I	L	L			O	B	O	E
D	U	H		M	A	D	E	I	T	W	E	I	R	D
D	I	A	D	E	L	O	S	M	U	E	R	T	O	S
S	T	V	A	L	E	N	T	I	N	E		S	U	E
T	U	E	S			T	E	T	E			T	S	A
O	P	S		O	R	G			U	S	S	R
				C	H	E	C	K	P	L	E	A	S	E
H	E	A	D	T	O	T	O	E		A	G	N	E	S
U	P	L	O	A	D	I	N	G		P	U	G	E	T
M	A	T	H	L	E	T	E	S		S	E	E	M	E

ERIK: This grid took a long time to come together (i.e., many iterations of us talking each other out of bad fill) and I'm so happy with the end result! One of my favorite themeless puzzles I've ever been involved in. Thankful to Wyna for the opportunity to collab and to the Times team for preserving many of our clues.

WYNA: This one took a while! I was inspired to start this grid by Erik's excellent DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, one of the entries from a word list we'd made. Probably went through about ten iterations before arriving at the grid we submitted, which is almost entirely different from what we started with. The editors (correctly) requested one more revision to get rid of USIE. In that process, we lost FAITH HEALER and gained A BIT STRANGE. I really enjoyed all the work we put into this grid, and I'm proud of the result!

Favorite clues in this puzzle are all Erik: 15A, 33A, 8D, and 34D. Thanks to the eds. for some great revisions, 49A and 29D in particular, though I was sad to lose our original clue for 16A [Watered-down drink].

Sat 5/9/2020
T	E	S	T	A	M	E	N	T		S	N	A	G	S
I	N	T	E	R	A	L	I	A		H	O	L	L	E	R
T	R	E	E	T	R	U	N	K		O	B	L	A	T	E
L	A	N	D			D	J	E	D		L	A	M	P	S
E	G	O		T	R	E	A	T	I	S	E		P	I	C
	E	S	T	E	E		S	H	A	H		D	I	E	U
			O	N	I	T		E	L	E	G	A	N	C	E
I	M	P	O	S	S	I	B	L	E	B	U	R	G	E	R
C	O	A	L	E	S	C	E		D	A	R	T
E	R	R	S		U	T	E	S		N	U	H	U	H
P	E	T		B	E	A	R	H	U	G	S		N	E	Z
O	T	T	E	R		C	A	R	L			R	I	L	E
P	H	I	L	I	P		M	I	N	I	B	U	S	E	S
S	A	M	I	A	M		I	N	A	M	O	M	E	N	T
	N	E	A	R	S		D	E	E	P	S	I	X	E	S

MIRIAM: My thanks to all who contributed to the NYT's How to Make a Crossword Puzzle series. It was so thoughtfully organized, and a big help to me.

POW Thu 4/23/2020
E	T	T	A		W	A	N	D				S	H	Y
B	E	A	N		A	B	O	U	T			C	U	E
B	A	K	I	N	G	B	R	E	A	D		O	M	G
	L	E	M	O	N	Y			C	U	E	R	V	O
S	E	S	A	M	E		I	N	T	H	R	E	E	D
L	O	I	T	E	R		M	O	I		O	D	E	S
A	N	G	E	R			P	I	L	E	S
B	I	N		C	A	T	E	R	E	D		C	G	I
			M	Y	B	A	D			G	I	L	E	S
A	S	I	A		O	L	E		D	E	M	O	T	E
C	O	M	P	A	R	E	D		O	O	P	S	I	E
T	I	L	S	I	T			A	M	U	L	E	T
I	R	A		R	E	L	O	C	A	T	I	O	N	S
N	E	T			D	E	L	H	I		E	N	O	S
G	E	E				E	D	E	N		S	E	W	N

YACOB: In June 2018, Erik and I were brainstorming themes for a back-to-school themed puzzle for the Lollapuzzoola crossword tournament. In our list of funky ideas, we considered making a puzzle centered around the revealer PASSING NOTES where musical notes (e.g. DO/RE/MI) would move from one theme answer to the next. I wrote up some code to try to find entries that could work for each musical note.

ERIK: Little did we know that Paolo Pasco was already working on a similar puzzle for the tournament! It's always a bummer to be scooped on a theme idea, but it stings a little less when it's by one of the greats.

YACOB: After Lolla, we remembered that we found a lot of promising entries for RE, and we figured sometime down the line, we could find a way to make a cool theme centered around just moving RE. This is that puzzle! Hope you all enjoy :)

Sat 4/11/2020
D	E	S	P	A	C	I	T	O		H	I	H	A	T
A	C	C	O	L	A	D	E	S		A	G	A	M	E
W	H	O	L	E	R	E	S	T		L	I	V	E	N
G	O	T	O	W	A	S	T	E		O	V	E	N	S
			P	I	T	T		O	R	G	E	A	T
R	I	D	O	F			A	L	O	E		H	O	P
I	N	A	N	E		S	W	O	O	N		E	T	A
D	O	R	Y		S	T	A	G	S		B	A	H	T
I	N	N		B	E	R	R	Y		S	A	R	A	H
N	E	T		A	L	E	E			M	I	T	T	S
	P	O	O	D	L	E		O	R	A	L
B	I	O	M	E		T	I	G	E	R	B	A	L	M
R	E	T	A	G		M	O	R	A	T	O	R	I	A
A	C	I	N	G		A	T	E	D	I	N	N	E	R
D	E	N	I	S		P	A	S	S	E	D	O	U	T

WYNA: What can I say? Erik's the best. This was our third collaboration, and first puzzle in the Times. Erik sent me this grid with the NW and SE stacks filled in. I was so happy to see POLO PONY — my dog's name is Polo!

It took two days of back-and-forth revisions and a couple extra black squares to arrive at this grid. Love Erik's clue for 27-Down. Thanks to the editors for 4-Down.

ERIK: I'm happy with how this one turned out! You can always count on Wyna's themelesses for some lively answers and mindbending clues, and she definitely brought it for this one. It's been a pleasure to work with her and see her genius up close, and I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance.

Sat 3/28/2020
H	O	P	A	C	A	B		E	D	U		C	D	C
T	H	A	T	O	N	E		C	E	N	T	A	U	R
S	O	L	O	A	C	T		H	A	I	R	S	P	A
		E	I	T	H	E	R	O	R		A	E	O	N
P	R	O		S	O	L	E			O	V	I	N	E
C	O	L	A				C	O	M	M	E	N	T	S
S	T	I	L	E	T	T	O	H	E	E	L	S
	I	T	S	R	A	I	N	I	N	G	M	E	N
		H	A	U	D	E	N	O	S	A	U	N	E	E
S	U	I	T	C	A	S	E				G	S	I	X
O	P	C	I	T			C	R	A	G		I	N	T
A	L	D	A		B	E	T	A	T	E	S	T
P	A	I	N	M	E	D		B	O	O	H	I	S	S
E	T	E	S	I	A	N		A	N	D	O	V	E	R
D	E	T		A	K	A		T	E	E	P	E	E	S

This was the last of my 2018 puzzles on file, and in retrospect, I'm excited to turn over the new leaf. I try to keep my puzzles free of the contrived and the obscure — ideally I want everything that's in there to feel like I want it to be there — but a few answers in this one fall short for me: 18a, 41a (spelled out like that), 42a, 52a (in the singular), 57a, 61a (as opposed to the two-i spelling), 4d, 56d, and especially 32d.

Looking at the clue changes, the editing team did a tremendous job pulling this puzzle into shape from the original submission - thanks, folks!

Wed 3/11/2020
P	E	C	A	N		H	E	A	T		C	O	B	R	A
A	R	U	B	A		A	L	T	O		I	D	E	A	S
L	E	T	U	P		T	E	L	E		T	E	E	N	S
M	A	I		E	Y	E	C	A	N	D	Y		F	L	U
E	D	E	N		A	S	T	R	A	Y		S	C	A	M
R	E	P	O		P	O	R	G	I	E		T	A	P	E
	R	I	C	A		N	O	E	L		A	R	K	S
		E	A	R	P					A	L	O	E
			S	T	U	D	M	U	F	F	I	N
B	L	A	H		M	E	A	N	E	R		G	A	G	S
O	A	R			A	N	G	E	L	O			R	A	T
U	T	E	P		S	T	E	A	L	S		H	I	Y	A
G	I	N	U	P		I	N	T	O		M	I	A	M	I
I	N	T	R	O		S	T	E	W		I	N	N	E	R
E	X	I	L	E		T	A	N	S		S	T	A	R	S

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Fri 2/21/2020
B	O	T	T	L	E	S		S	I	D	E	B	E	T
E	V	A	S	I	V	E		P	R	E	G	A	M	E
E	U	R	A	S	I	A		R	O	L	O	D	E	X
F	L	O	R	A	L	P	R	I	N	T		M	R	T
E	A	T	S		G	L	E	N	S		D	O	G	E
D	R	S		C	R	A	F	T		T	R	U	E	D
			P	A	I	N	E		C	H	A	T	S
		R	U	N	N	E	R	S	H	I	G	H
	H	O	P	E	S		E	W	E	R	S
S	I	L	A	S		S	N	E	A	D		L	A	D
I	T	L	L		S	A	D	A	T		M	A	G	I
T	H	E		L	U	N	A	R	C	R	A	T	E	R
P	O	D	C	A	S	T		J	O	S	H	I	N	G
A	M	R	A	D	I	O		A	D	V	A	N	C	E
T	E	S	T	E	E	S		R	E	P	L	A	Y	S

ANNE: I was excited to get the chance to collaborate with Erik again for my first, and hopefully not last, NYT appearance! He could not have reached out at a more perfect time. It was a nice little time window where I happened to be transitioning jobs and had more free time than usual. I had a great time finishing out the grid and cluing the puzzle with Erik. It was particularly fun thinking of trickier clues.

One of the last clues we worked on was for 30-Across. Erik's made the cut, but I wanted to give a shout out to my version — "Rhapsody in shoes."

ERIK: I had the good fortune of working with Anne on a puzzle for the Universal Sunday Crossword, and it was a pleasure to do so again here. She's a quick study, has a fun and witty cluing voice (see above), and thinks about crosswords like she's a constructing veteran. I can't wait for her next one!

Fri 2/7/2020
S	A	N	D	P		S	U	P	E		R	A	P	S
U	H	U	R	A		T	R	E	X		A	U	R	A
N	A	K	E	D	L	U	N	C	H		S	T	U	B
	S	E	A	M	A	N			I	P	H	O	N	E
			M	A	S	T	E	R	B	R	E	W	E	R
J	E	W	E	L	S		Q	U	I	E	R	O
A	V	E	D	A		S	U	I	T	S		R	A	E
P	E	R		K	A	T	A	N	A	S		K	I	A
E	R	E		S	L	O	B	S		R	E	E	D	S
		A	W	H	I	R	L		D	E	F	R	A	Y
I	B	L	A	M	E	M	Y	S	E	L	F
C	A	L	V	I	N			P	L	E	A	T	S
E	L	S	E		A	P	P	A	L	A	C	H	I	A
U	S	E	R		T	O	E	S		S	E	A	L	S
P	A	T	S		E	X	A	M		E	D	I	T	S

MARY LOU: After our last collaboration that started as a themeless, then ended up as a themed, I asked Erik if he'd like to give that themeless a try again. When he replied in the affirmative, I sent him a list of possible seed entries. I couldn't come up with clean fill on the first grid he put together after multiple tries, so he came up with another. It filled smoothly and incorporated three of my seed entry suggestions, PADMA LAKSHMI, MASTER BREWER, and I BLAME MYSELF.

It is a pleasure to have worked with Erik. He is such a pro. I appreciate his efforts to include more underrepresented groups as crossword constructors. He has been one of those at the forefront of this movement, setting up and moderating a Facebook page to connect new constructors from underrepresented groups with collaborators/mentors.

I wish him all the best in his new position as in-house editor of the USA TODAY Crossword puzzle.

Sun 1/26/2020 FOOD ENGINEERING
M	R	P	I	B	B		S	P	U	R		C	A	R	B			A	T	M
E	A	R	N	E	R		H	I	R	E		A	C	O	R	N		S	I	A
S	K	I	N	N	Y	J	E	A	N	S		T	I	M	E	F	L	I	E	S
S	E	M	I		N	A	A	N		T	E	N	D		A	L	A	N	I	S
		A	N	A		I	T	O			D	A	I	S			S	I	N	E
B	A	R	G	R	A	P	H	S		R	I	P	C	U	R	R	E	N	T	S
A	M	Y		A	B	U		O	B	I	T	S		C	H	O	R	E	O
Y	O	D	E	L	E	R		N	A	P	E		S	C	O	T	S
		E	L	S	E			A	G	E	D		M	I	N	E		G	R	R
	O	B	I	E		I	N	T	E	R		R	A	N	D		A	R	I	A
W	H	A	T	A	S	T	E	A	L		L	I	Z	C	A	M	B	A	G	E
A	N	T	E		A	C	E	S		B	O	N	E	T		A	R	M	S
D	O	E		T	V	A	D		A	L	O	G			S	L	I	M
			M	O	O	N	S		L	E	N	T		T	O	O	L	A	T	E
	T	W	O	B	I	T		F	L	A	S	H		H	A	D		R	U	E
C	O	R	N	E	R	B	O	O	T	H		E	Y	E	P	O	P	P	E	R
H	E	A	D			E	U	R	O			A	V	E		R	I	O
A	L	P	A	C	A		S	H	O	P		L	O	N	E		C	L	I	P
C	O	P	Y	P	A	S	T	E		U	P	A	N	D	V	A	N	I	S	H
H	O	E		R	A	C	E	R		F	E	R	N		A	L	I	C	I	A
A	P	R			A	I	D	E		F	A	M	E		N	I	C	E	S	T

I made a bit of a tactical error in building this grid around 62-Down. I construct most of my themed puzzles this way, starting with a seed answer that intersects one or more of the theme answers. I try for that answer to be something that makes people who don't see themselves enough in crosswords feel seen. The NYT puzzle is a big platform, so it feels like a wasted opportunity to not do that. Finding the right seed answer can be very time-consuming, but since clues (like 89-Down, which was originally [Orji of "Insecure"]) and even shorter answers (like 79-Down, which was the record label TDE) often get changed in editing, it's necessary. So that's what I tried to do here, except it didn't occur to me that the Beyoncé song at 62-Down could be reclued with a more general meaning. (In the words of the great Tiffany Pollard: "Beyoncé, sweetie, I'm so sorry.")

As an editor, I understand the impulse to make things accessible to as many people as possible, and a general phrase is likely to be more widely known than a song title. Still, it's hard to imagine, say, the answer I'M A LOSER being "translated" in this way, which raises questions about who gets to be a part of the puzzle's intended audience. As a constructor, it hurts to have such an essential thing negated - but I'll take it as a reminder to always be as precise as possible in my efforts until the day I don't have to be.

Thu 1/16/2020
F	E	T	A		S	P	R	I	G	S		C	H	A	I
A	A	R	P		T	O	E	T	A	P		R	O	D	S
U	T	E	P		A	N	G	O	R	A		O	R	A	L
N	I	A	L	O	N	G			B	R	O	W	N	I	E
A	T	T	E	N	D					E	L	D	E	R	S
			J	O	U	R	N	E	Y	M	A	N
M	E	G	A		P	E	E	W	E	E		O	T	I	S
E	X	E	C	S		S	T	O	W		P	I	A	N	O
L	A	N	K	A		T	S	K	S		A	S	K	U	P
	M	E	S	S	Y					G	R	E	E	K
E	T	A		H	O	N	E	Y	B	E	E		A	T	L
B	A	L	T		D	I	R	E	L	Y		O	K	I	E
O	B	O	E		U	N	I	T	A	S		A	N	T	E
O	L	G	A		D	E	C	I	D	E		F	E	U	D
K	E	Y	S		E	R	A	S	E	R		S	E	T	S

JEFF: Once in a while, some oddity of the English language will strike me, and I'll have to stop whatever I'm doing to write it down. Genealogy to geology by "taking a knee" (the "knee" syllable removed)? Pretty sure I stopped somewhere awkward, like in the middle of an intersection.

There had to be more examples like this, right?

*crickets*

Think harder, dammit!

*more crickets*

Luckily, Erik had asked if I wanted to do a themeless with him, and I sent him this concept. Maybe his mind would turn up more.

Sure enough, HONEYBEE to HUBBY came to him quickly. Yes!

And JOURNEYMAN to GERMAN? Who could possibly think of that? Genius!

To round things out, he came up with NIA LONG to ALONG and BROWNIE to BROW, too.

The answer to every problem clearly is to get Erik involved.

POW Thu 12/19/2019
	C	V	E	R		R	E	H	A	B		E	M	I
S	W	A	T	H		I	C	E	P	L	A	N	E	T
A	G	R	E	E		C	O	M	P	A	N	C	A	R
D	I	G	R	A	P	H			T	H	O	R	N	Y
I	R	A	N		A	L	I	A	S		N	O	M
E	L	S	A		S	Y	N	C		B	E	A	U	T
			L	E	T		T	I	L	E		C	G	I
S	P	A		B	E	C	H	D	E	L		H	S	N
V	A	L		A	L	O	E		S	A	T
U	T	L	E	Y		S	W	T	S		R	A	M	S
	O	S	X		K	A	Y	O	S		A	R	G	O
N	O	T	I	M	E			P	O	P	C	O	R	N
S	T	A	T	E	L	I	N	E		O	H	M	A	N
F	I	R	S	T	L	O	O	K		P	E	A	T	Y
W	E	S		Z	Y	N	G	A		E	A	S	E

Hope you enjoy solving this puzzle as much as we enjoyed making it!

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Also, if you haven't already checked it out, Queer Qrosswords 2 was released in September. QQ2 is a collection of top-notch crosswords made by folks in the LGBTQ+ community, which you can purchase by donating $10 or more to an LGBTQ+ charity and emailing Queer Qrosswords the receipt.

Sat 12/7/2019
T	E	N		J	A	M	A	I	C	A	N	R	U	M
R	Y	E		I	M	E	T	S	O	M	E	O	N	E
E	E	K		G	O	T	T	A	B	O	U	N	C	E
S	T	O	W	S		H	E	I	R	S		N	A	T
C	E	C	E		P	A	N	D	A		C	I	G	S
H	E	A	D	B	A	N	D	S		C	R	E	E
I	T	S	G	O	N	E		O	G	L	E
C	H	E	E	S	E				L	O	W	F	A	T
			D	O	S	T		C	O	M	M	I	S	H
	G	S	I	X		W	R	A	P	P	A	R	T	Y
C	R	A	N		L	I	A	R	S		T	E	A	R
H	E	N		P	A	N	I	C		S	E	A	T	O
I	T	C	H	E	C	K	S	O	U	T		W	I	I
B	E	T	A	R	E	L	E	A	S	E		A	N	D
A	L	A	R	M	S	Y	S	T	E	M		Y	E	S

KEVIN: I hope my co-constructor Erik Agard won't mind when I say that he is a genius. I witnessed clever clues pour forth from him the way that melodies sprang effortlessly from Mozart's fingertips at the piano as he improvised for his audiences.

Wed 11/20/2019
A	C	T		T	D	S			Z	E	S	T	S
C	H	A	N	C	E	I	T		I	N	G	O	T	S
C	O	M	O	E	S	T	A		G	O	T	E	A	M
T	O	P	O	L			L	U	Z			T	G	I
			B	L	A	C	K	P	A	N	T	H	E	R
E	W	W		S	P	R	I	N	G	B	R	E	A	K
A	A	H	S		S	O	N			C	A	L	C
U	T	A	H		E	P	C	O	T		M	I	T	T
	E	T	A	L			I	M	A		S	N	O	B
O	R	C	H	E	S	T	R	A	T	E		E	R	A
P	L	A	S	T	I	C	C	R	A	T	E
D	E	N			C	U	L			H	E	G	E	L
O	V	I	N	E	S		E	M	P	A	N	A	D	A
C	E	D	E	T	O		S	P	I	N	Y	E	E	L
	L	O	G	A	N			H	E	E		A	N	A

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Sat 11/2/2019
A	M	I	L	L	I		L	A	K	E	B	E	D	S
T	I	N	E	A	R		I	W	I	L	L	N	O	T
B	A	N	A	N	A		C	O	M	E	A	T	M	E
I	M	O	N		Q	U	I	K		C	H	E	E	P
R	I	C	E	S		S	T	E	N	T		R	D	S
T	H	E	R	E	S	T		N	O	R	M
H	E	N		M	E	E	K		F	I	E	N	D
	A	C	T	O	R	D	I	R	E	C	T	O	R
	T	E	R	R	E		D	E	A	F		T	E	A
			E	D	N	A		F	R	A	C	T	A	L
A	S	H		N	A	C	R	E		N	A	O	M	I
D	H	A	B	I		C	E	R	N		R	O	D	S
L	A	B	E	L	E	R	S		C	O	M	B	A	T
I	N	L	E	A	G	U	E		I	D	E	A	T	E
B	E	A	T	P	O	E	T		S	E	N	D	E	R

PAOLO: This one started with Erik's home-run clue/answer pair at 38A; from there, I filled the right half of the grid, and Erik worked his magic on the left. As always, Erik was a joy to work with. So many things I love about the finished puzzle are his, including the clues for 42A/60A/61D, and sliding the entry A MILLI into 1A. I really miss his clue for 48D: [Apt name for a fan of "Transformers?"].

Also! Hit up the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory, especially if you're a person from an underrepresented group who's interested in writing crosswords.

ERIK: Pretty much everything that I pride myself on as a constructor/collaborator, Paolo is better at, including the being kind part. It would be infuriating if I didn't feel so lucky to be alive at the same time as him. If you haven't solved his puzzles at Grids These Days, fix that.

Sun 10/13/2019 LINES OF WORK
	B	R	A	D	S		M	E	N	O	R	A	H			L	O	W	P	H
	R	A	R	E	R		I	M	A	N	A	G	E		S	A	L	A	R	Y
S	O	F	T	B	A	L	L	P	L	A	Y	E	R		U	R	A	N	I	A
U	N	F	I	T		I	O	T	A				O	O	P	S		G	M	C
N	C	I	S		M	A	R	Y		E	R	M	I	N	E		S	A	R	I
G	O	A	T	H	E	R	D		S	N	O	O	Z	E		P	E	R	O	N
				U	M	S			I	T	S	P	E	C	I	A	L	I	S	T
O	N	A	U	T	O		A	C	C	R	A		D	U	S	T		M	E	H
P	A	L	P	S		P	U	L	S	A	R	S		P	A	R	K	A
T	A	P	S		T	A	D	A		N	I	C	K		W	O	M	A	N
S	C	H	E	D	U	L	I	N	G	C	O	O	R	D	I	N	A	T	O	R
	P	A	L	E	R		O	G	R	E		T	O	U	T		R	H	E	A
		B	L	A	N	C		S	A	M	S	U	N	G		S	T	A	N	K
H	I	E		D	E	L	I		N	U	R	S	E		R	E	S	I	D	E
O	R	T	H	O	D	O	N	T	I	S	T			C	A	M
U	R	B	A	N		S	C	O	T	I	A		M	A	G	I	C	I	A	N
S	I	L	T		S	E	A	T	A	C		R	A	C	E		O	N	M	E
E	G	O		P	U	R	R				D	O	R	A		T	U	T	U	S
C	A	C	H	E	D		E	P	I	D	E	M	I	O	L	O	G	I	S	T
A	T	K	I	N	S		O	T	T	O	M	A	N		A	G	A	M	E
T	E	S	T	S			F	A	S	T	O	N	E		B	O	R	E	D

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Big congrats to the Queer Qrosswords folks on another great set of puzzles!

POW Tue 10/1/2019
R	O	A	M		A	H	A	B		D	E	B	I	T
A	N	T	I		F	O	I	E		S	C	E	N	E
W	E	L	L	D	R	I	L	L		T	R	Y	S	T
F	I	A	S	C	O		S	I	P		U	H	U	H
I	O	S		C	P	A		Z	O	O		I	R	E
S	T	E	W		U	N	D	E	R	C	O	V	E	R
H	A	S	H		F	D	R			T	I	E	R	S
			O	F	F	S	E	A	S	O	N
A	Z	U	R	E			A	U	K		K	I	T	T
W	E	T	L	A	U	N	D	R	Y		S	T	A	Y
A	N	T		T	S	O		A	H	A		S	U	P
I	D	E	S		D	J	S		O	B	L	A	T	E
T	A	R	P	S		O	P	P	O	S	I	T	E	S
E	Y	E	U	P		K	O	O	K		M	I	N	E
D	A	D	D	Y		E	T	D	S		B	E	S	T

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

Sat 9/21/2019
T	R	A	C	K	D	O	W	N			D	E	A	L
R	E	P	A	I	R	S	H	O	P		I	A	G	O
I	M	P	R	E	S	S	I	V	E		S	T	E	W
B	O	E	U	F		O	P	A	L		T	O	M	B
E	R	A	S	E	R				L	A	R	V	A	L
C	A	L	O	R	I	F	I	C		L	I	E	T	O
A	S	S			C	A	M	E	R	A	C	R	E	W
			S	O	C	I	A	L	I	S	T
M	A	J	O	R	I	N	G	I	N			S	A	G
A	G	A	P	E		T	E	A	K	E	T	T	L	E
L	E	B	R	O	N				S	U	R	E	D	O
W	N	B	A		E	L	B	A		R	I	P	E	R
A	D	I	N		C	O	A	R	S	E	N	I	N	G
R	E	N	O		K	U	N	T	A	K	I	N	T	E
E	R	G	S			T	H	E	M	A	S	S	E	S

joon and erik: we originally had "manmade" in the phrasing for the 8-down clue, and are grateful to the nyt team for the thoughtful edit there (as well as other improvements like 46-across). hope you enjoyed the puzzle!

POW Mon 8/26/2019
C	A	S	T	S		B	I	B	S		L	A	U	D	E
O	N	E	U	P		A	L	O	E		E	S	S	E	X
B	A	A	B	A	A	B	L	A	C	K	S	H	E	E	P
R	I	M		R	U	E			T	A	B		M	M	A
A	S	S	E	R	T					N	I	C	E	S	T
			B	O	O	B	O	O	B	E	A	R
I	K	N	O	W		L	I	L	O		N	I	C	K	I
O	R	E	O		S	E	N	D	O	N		B	O	N	A
T	I	C	K		T	A	K	E	T	O		S	M	O	G
A	S	K		S	U	R			L	I	E		O	X	O
		B	Y	E	B	Y	E	B	I	R	D	I	E
D	R	O	O	L		E	R	I	C		I	N	S	T	A
R	A	N	G	E		Y	O	L	K		T	A	T	U	M
A	T	E	I	N		E	D	G	E		E	N	A	C	T
T	E	S	S	A		D	E	E	R		D	E	S	K	S

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

POW Sat 8/10/2019
S	T	E	A	D	I	C	A	M			M	A	I	A
P	O	W	E	R	M	O	V	E		T	U	R	N	T
L	I	E	S	A	H	E	A	D		A	T	E	I	T
A	L	L	O	W	E	D		I	M	I	T	A	T	E
Y	E	L	P	E	R		E	C	O			C	A	N
				R	E	D	S		U	P	S	O	L	D
O	P	P	S		T	I	P		S	A	U	D	I	S
W	H	A	T	D	O	Y	O	U	E	X	P	E	C	T
N	O	R	U	S	H		R	A	P		E	S	S	O
E	N	A	B	L	E		T	W	O	S
R	E	S			L	A	S		I	T	S	L	I	T
S	L	I	P	U	P	S		U	N	R	E	A	D	Y
H	I	T	O	N		H	A	L	T	E	R	T	O	P
I	N	I	G	O		E	R	N	E	S	T	I	N	E
P	E	C	S			D	E	A	R	S	A	N	T	A

ANNA: I'm so excited for this puzzle to exist — this is my first NYT print puzzle, and working with Erik is a great experience. I've had puzzles previously in the LA Times, American Values Club, minis for the NYT app, the Indie 500 and Crosswords LA tournaments, and I'm also now the puzzle creator for Kinfolk magazine. I've been solving puzzles (or trying to) since I was something like ten years old, so this is a kind of huge deal for me.

Erik and I have created puzzles before, which is always wonderful. For this one, Erik provided some 15-letter entries to start a puzzle with. I picked the big central across one, put in 6-Down, and the whole northwest chunk just kinda miraculously fell into place. I'm not the best at making these wide-open themelesses, but I love solving them, so pulling this off felt real good. The smaller northeast/southwest portions were weirdly much harder to get into place. Our original cluing probably skewed a bit more Millennial/Gen Z, but it's nice to see that a lot of our clues stayed in place, or at least carried the same essence.

Thu 7/25/2019
S	T	R	A	W			B	A	S	S		C	S	I
O	R	I	S	I	T		A	B	L	E		R	E	N
M	O	B	I	L	E		Y	E	A	R		A	P	P
A	D	S	A	L	E	S		T	V	M	O	V	I	E
			M	I	N	A	J			O	C	E	A	N
A	D	A		A	S	T	U	D	E	N	T
R	E	A	L	M		A	M	I	S		O	B	I	E
E	C	H	O		O	N	P	O	P		P	A	R	K
S	O	S	O		P	I	E	R		G	I	J	O	E
			P	E	T	C	R	A	T	E		A	N	D
I	N	D	E	X			S	M	A	R	T
T	O	R	R	E	N	T		A	R	M	O	I	R	E
S	K	I		T	O	W	N		P	A	T	R	O	L
O	I	L		E	R	I	E		S	N	E	A	K	S
K	A	L		R	I	T	Z			E	S	Q	U	E

Sat 7/6/2019
I	P	A	S	S		T	A	P	E			P	D	A
M	O	N	A	E		I	M	A	X		B	R	U	N
D	I	D	J	A		M	O	T	O	R	B	I	K	E
O	S	H	A		T	B	S			I	B	E	A	M
W	O	O	K	I	E	E		L	P	S		S	K	I
N	N	W		N	A	R	C	O	L	E	P	T	I	C
			P	A	B	L	O	C	A	S	A	L	S
		D	E	C	L	A	R	A	T	O	R	Y
	D	A	R	L	E	N	E	L	O	V	E
D	O	N	E	A	N	D	D	O	N	E		L	A	S
R	T	E		I	D	S		F	I	R	E	A	X	E
O	C	C	U	R			A	F	C		S	T	I	X
P	O	O	P	E	M	O	J	I		A	T	I	L	T
I	M	O	N		G	U	A	C		M	E	N	L	O
T	S	K			M	I	R	E		T	E	X	A	N

I wouldn't submit this puzzle today. As a constructor it was satisfying to be able to fill that wide-open space in the middle, but as a solver I'd prefer a themeless that's packed with fascinating answers and/or clever clues at every turn (like this recent Caitlin Reid masterpiece - so jealous) over an architectural feat held together by less interesting stuff like 32-Across and 18-Down, and, worse, too many names. (I'm hardly anti-name, and I was excited to highlight 33-Across*, but everything in moderation.)

Hope you enjoyed it anyway, and thanks as always to the NYT team for having me!

*although the clue is a textbook example of how, in contrast to men being clued by their work/accomplishments (see 32-Down), women in crosswords are often contextualized by their relationships to men

Mon 6/17/2019
S	C	R	U	B			S	L	A	M		M	O	S
P	R	U	N	E	S		L	O	B	E		A	A	H
F	U	N	I	N	T	H	E	S	U	N		C	S	I
S	E	T		G	O	O	D	S		O	N	A	I	R
			M	A	L	T			A	R	O	U	S	E
I	C	I	C	L	E		S	P	L	A	T
M	A	D	E	I	N	T	H	E	S	H	A	D	E
O	R	E	S			I	O	N			C	R	A	W
	B	A	C	K	I	N	T	H	E	B	L	A	C	K
			H	I	R	E	S		L	A	U	G	H	S
T	E	R	E	S	A			B	E	N	E
U	S	E	R	S		E	P	I	C	S		O	O	H
P	I	C		E	Y	E	I	N	T	H	E	S	K	Y
A	G	O		R	E	N	T		S	E	A	L	E	D
C	N	N		S	A	Y	S			E	R	O	D	E

YACOB: I found Erik after he mentioned the Facebook group he created (Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory) in the XWord Info notes for one of his puzzles in 2018. I reached out to ask him for ideas on how to improve a theme idea I had in mind. He responded fifteen minutes later with a bunch of useful feedback. Two months later, he checked back in to see if that theme idea had materialized and asked if I was interested in co-constructing a puzzle. I said yes, and this is the puzzle we produced! Since making this puzzle, we worked together on another one that ran as a part of the Lollapuzzoola tournament last summer.

Just wanted to shout out Erik for being an awesome mentor! And also, if you're interested in learning how to construct, the Facebook group is a great place to start and look around for resources and potential mentors.

ERIK: If memory serves, this is the lowest proportion of clues I've ever had changed by editors from submission to publication, which seems like a strong argument either for collaboration in general or for working with Yacob in particular (I highly recommend both).

Sat 5/18/2019
A	F	C			A	G	E	N	T			M	A	T
C	L	A	M		D	R	I	E	R		C	O	L	E
C	A	S	A	B	L	A	N	C	A		U	C	L	A
E	S	T	R	E	E	T		K	I	S	S	C	A	M
S	H	O	R	T	R	I	B		N	E	P	A	L	I
S	Y	R	I	A		N	O	U	S	E		S	O	N
			A	T	V		E	N	T	I	C	I	N	G
	T	I	G	E	R	P	R	O	O	F	I	N	G
H	E	R	E	S	H	O	W		P	I	T
A	L	I		T	E	X	A	N		C	A	P	O	S
N	E	S	T	E	A		R	E	L	A	T	E	T	O
G	C	H	O	R	D	S		M	A	R	I	N	E	R
M	O	S	S		S	O	M	E	P	E	O	P	L	E
A	M	E	S		E	L	I	A	S		N	A	L	A
N	S	A			T	O	N	N	E			L	O	T

As always, Erik and I had a blast working together. We had a tough time cluing HANGMAN, but the editing team came up with the superb clue [Bad choices in it might cost you an arm and a leg]. We wanted to share a few of our favorite clues that hit the cutting room floor:

[PDA screen?] for KISS CAM
[Forward-looking figure?] for LOT
[Part of a subway series] for TRAIN STOP

Tue 4/30/2019
A	L	O	H	A		S	E	R	F		S	M	O	G
C	O	N	E	S		I	D	E	A		P	A	P	I
C	H	E	A	P	T	R	I	C	K		L	Y	E	S
R	A	N	D		R	E	E	S	E		A	I	N	T
A	N	D	S	O	O	N			D	I	S	C
			L	A	Y		S	Z	E	C	H	U	A	N
G	O	T	A	T		C	H	E	E	K		T	M	I
U	T	E	P		G	R	O	U	P		L	I	O	N
A	T	E		Q	U	I	T	S		W	O	N	K	A
C	O	N	S	U	L	T	S		F	A	N
		V	I	A	L			R	O	Y	G	B	I	V
L	O	O	M		I	M	E	A	N		J	U	D	E
I	A	G	O		B	O	D	Y	D	O	U	B	L	E
S	T	U	N		L	O	G	O		U	M	B	E	R
T	H	E	E		E	D	E	N		I	P	A	D	S

Wed 4/17/2019
R	O	T	H		M	O	S	S	Y			J	A	W	S
A	C	R	E		A	N	I	M	E	S		A	V	O	W
S	T	A	L	E	C	E	R	E	A	L		M	A	K	E
C	A	D	E	T	S			A	R	I	A		T	E	A
A	G	E	N	T		B	U	R	N	T	T	O	A	S	T
L	O	O		A	E	O	N				S	O	R	T	S
	N	F	L		L	A	M	B		P	E	P
		F	I	X	B	R	E	A	K	F	A	S	T
			B	R	A		T	G	I	F		Y	U	P
A	P	N	E	A				E	T	T	U		N	A	P
M	E	A	L	Y	A	P	P	L	E		S	L	A	T	E
I	R	E		S	L	U	R			H	E	I	F	E	R
G	U	N	N		S	P	O	I	L	E	D	M	I	L	K
A	S	A	P		O	I	N	K	E	R		I	S	L	E
S	E	E	R			L	E	E	D	S		T	H	A	D

ALISON AND ERIK: This puzzle blossomed from an email exchange riffing on a previous NYT puzzle that had HOT OATMEAL as a theme answer ("What's the alternative? Cold oatmeal?!"). The realization that LUKEWARM OATMEAL (15) is the perfect length to span a weekday grid sent us down a rabbit hole of, with increasing semi-seriousness, suggesting suboptimal foods for theme answers. When we thought of the phrase FIX BREAKFAST and its dual meaning, we knew we had something legit.

We had a lot of fun creating this puzzle (and a fair amount of horror upon realizing that some common breakfast foods do not Google well — please just take our word for it), and we hope you have just as much fun solving it.

Wed 3/20/2019
T	R	I	P		C	L	O	T	H			A	V	A
R	A	V	E		D	O	N	H	O		T	S	A	R
I	C	A	N	T	S	L	E	E	P	A	W	I	N	K
B	E	N	T	O		I	B	C		C	A	F
E	R	A		K	I	T	C	H	E	N	S	I	N
			V	E	N	A		A	X	E		C	A	P
	F	R	A	N	C		E	M	T		J	A	D	E
P	O	U	R		H	O	T	P	I		A	R	E	A
A	R	M	Y		A	K	A		N	E	W	E	R
C	U	R		B	O	A		A	C	T	S
	M	A	K	E	S	Y	O	U	T	H		P	D	T
		I	R	E		D	V	D		A	L	L	A	Y
D	I	S	A	P	P	E	A	R	I	N	G	I	N	K
D	R	I	B		E	A	T	E	N		B	E	N	E
S	A	N			G	R	E	Y	S		T	S	O	S

AMANDA and KARL:

This is our first puzzle ever accepted by the New York Times after Erik jump-started our construction efforts. We received the news when we were in Oregon, watching the total solar eclipse. Amanda still remembers the e-mail with Will Shortz closing with "Welcome Aboard!" Among the clues, we can appreciate the couple of nods to California along with the lead into one of Karl's favorite poems, "Jabberwocky."

ERIK:

Of the clues not written by us, my favorite is 31-Across. Wish I thought of that! I'm unsure about 1-Down — I fear that "making" implies that those groups had more agency in the historical creation of that system than they did, or that the "?"-ness of it all is a bit too flippant for the subject matter. I hope I'm wrong. Thanks to Amanda and Karl for helping turn an okay idea into a great idea, as they always do.

Wed 3/6/2019
	W	H	I	M		L	I	O	N		I	C	A	N	T
	P	E	N	A		O	M	O	O		N	O	V	A	E
	M	A	R	C	H	O	F	P	R	O	G	R	E	S	S
		R	E	A	R			S	E	X		D	R	A	T
S	I	T		W	E	B	B		E	X	P	O
K	O	H	L	S		L	I	M	N		A	N	G	E	R
E	D	I	E		D	E	L	I		L	A	B	I	L	E
W	I	N	T	E	R	W	O	N	D	E	R	L	A	N	D
E	D	G	I	L	Y		X	I	I	I		E	N	I	D
R	E	S	T	S		L	I	M	B		B	U	T	N	O
			S	A	T	E		A	S	T	I		P	O	T
T	A	I	L		A	T	L			O	K	R	A
S	P	R	I	N	G	H	A	S	S	P	R	U	N	G
A	S	A	D	A		A	L	A	I		A	N	D	Y
R	E	N	E	W		L	A	M	B		M	E	A	N

Mary Lou:

Erik got in touch with me last January about co-constructing a themeless. We emailed a few times about it before I shared a grid I'd been playing around with. It had the LION->LIMN->LIMB->LAMB words in the corners and three other themers. Together we came up with three themers that were stronger than the ones I had initially chosen. Erik then arranged them in a grid with a ladder structure. I filled the grid and Erik tweaked it slightly. We worked together on the cluing. It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with Erik. So glad he reached out to me. Hopefully we'll get back to that themeless soon.

Sun 2/24/2019 EVERYTHING EVENS OUT IN THE END
C	H	E	W	B	A	C	C	A		C	L	U	B				L	I	D	S
D	E	V	I	A	T	I	O	N		R	I	F	E			C	E	L	I	E
S	M	A	L	L	T	O	W	N	S	A	L	O	N		W	H	I	L	S	T
			L	S	U		S	O	L	D		S	E	P	I	A		U	L	T
P	A	S	S	A	N	T		Y	U	L	E			R	P	I		M	O	L
I	M	P		M	E	W	L		R	E	I	N	D	E	E	R	R	I	D	E
G	E	A	R		D	O	I	T			D	A	R	T		S	O	N	G
S	C	R	E	W		P	L	U	M	B		G	A	O	L		L	A	I	R
T	H	E	F	A	R	M	T	E	A	M		A	G	R	I		E	T	N	A
Y	E	S	S	I	R				S	W	I	N	G	I	N	G	S	I	G	N
				S	A	N	G	T	O		V	O	Y	A	G	E
I	S	N	O	T	T	O	O	I	N	T	O				O	N	I	O	N	S
N	A	A	N		E	T	R	E		P	R	O	T	E	S	T	P	O	E	T
K	I	T	S		D	O	D	O		S	Y	R	I	A		S	O	L	A	R
	L	I	E	S		F	I	F	A			G	A	S	P		D	A	T	A
F	O	O	T	N	O	T	E	F	O	N	T		S	E	R	T		L	E	N
U	R	N		A	V	E			L	E	A	D		L	E	E	W	A	R	D
M	M	A		R	E	N	E	W		S	T	A	Y		C	R	O
B	O	L	G	E	R		W	H	A	T	A	R	E	T	H	E	O	D	D	S
L	O	T	U	S			E	A	S	E		L	O	S	E	S	L	E	E	P
E	N	V	Y				S	P	U	D		A	W	K	W	A	F	I	N	A

Periodic reminder: the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a resource for puzzlemakers from underrepresented groups. If you're interested in writing crosswords (or other puzzles) and would like some tips on getting started, someone to critique your work, or someone to collaborate with, give it a look.

POW Tue 2/5/2019
H	A	M	M	Y			S	P	F		L	U	B	E
A	P	B	I	O		C	H	E	R		A	P	O	P
R	E	A	D	Y	W	H	E	N	Y	O	U	A	R	E
			J	O	N	I			B	U	N	G	E	E
	L	I	U		B	L	U		R	I	C	A
D	A	N	N	Y	A	I	N	G	E		H	I	S	S
A	T	S	E	A			S	E	A	M		N	I	T
M	I	T		P	R	E	C	E	D	E		S	M	U
U	N	I		S	O	A	R			S	I	T	O	N
P	A	N	S		B	R	E	A	T	H	M	I	N	T
		C	H	A	I		W	W	I		A	T	E
O	B	T	A	I	N			A	L	E	C
S	O	U	N	D	S	L	I	K	E	A	P	L	A	N
L	O	A	D		O	G	R	E		C	R	E	M	E
O	N	L	Y		N	A	E			H	O	I	S	T

Sat 1/19/2019
T	A	K	E	T	H	I	S		C	R	O	A	K	S
O	N	A	L	E	A	S	H		U	V	U	L	A	E
P	O	T	B	E	L	L	I	E	D	S	T	O	V	E
A	D	I	A		L	E	A	R				N	A	H
Z	E	E		D	O	T		M	M	A		E	K	E
			M	O	W		B	I	E	L		T	A	R
		C	A	S	E	S	E	N	S	I	T	I	V	E
	M	I	C	H	E	L	L	E	O	B	A	M	A
P	E	R	S	O	N	A	L	S	P	A	C	E
R	N	C		T	I	P	S		O	B	S
I	S	U		S	I	S		P	T	A		L	I	P
V	W	S				A	S	I	A		A	I	D	A
Y	E	A	R	O	F	T	H	E	M	O	N	K	E	Y
T	A	C	O	M	A		A	C	I	D	T	E	S	T
O	R	T	E	G	A		H	E	A	D	E	D	T	O

ERIK: None of my favorite clues from this puzzle are mine: 34-Across (a clue which could have never existed if this puzzle was published at the time we wrote it - trust the process!) and 23-Down came from the NYT team, while 31-Down is a classic Paolo fanute. Thanks to all involved for the collaboration!

PAOLO: Speaking as the person who saw Erik write the clues for 17- and 35-Across, I can tell you Erik is being modest as per usual. It was a pleasure to collaborate again with this Jeopardy! champ, crossword wunderkind, and major force behind the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory (which you should totally hit up if you're an aspiring puzzle maker who's underrepresented in any way). Echoing my thanks to the NYT team, and I hope you enjoyed the solve!

Sat 12/15/2018
H	A	M	M		C	H	U	P	A	C	A	B	R	A
E	C	R	U		H	E	S	I	T	A	T	I	O	N
R	U	M	S		U	N	D	E	R	S	T	O	O	D
T	R	O	T		T	R	A	D	E	T	A	L	K	S
Z	A	M	B	E	Z	I		P	S	I
			E	S	P		S	I	T	N	S	P	I	N
	R	E	N	T	A	C	O	P		G	O	O	S	E
D	E	M	I		H	I	N	E	S		C	L	A	W
O	N	I	C	E		G	A	R	L	I	C	K	Y
H	O	T	E	L	B	A	R		E	N	E
				G	R	R		C	D	D	R	I	V	E
S	U	P	P	R	E	S	S	E	D		T	R	I	X
I	L	L	B	E	T	H	E	R	E		E	A	R	P
B	E	E	R	C	O	O	L	E	R		A	Q	U	A
S	E	A	S	O	N	P	A	S	S		M	I	S	T

Just gonna retweet my and Doug's constructor notes from last month, adding that The Inkubator can now be found here, and that the house clues I most enjoyed in this one are 24-Across, 40-Across, 25-Down, and 26-Down. Happy holidays!

Sat 11/17/2018
A	T	F	I	R	S	T		C	H	E	A	P	I	E
T	R	A	C	E	E	E	L	L	I	S	R	O	S	S
T	E	L	E	V	I	S	I	O	N	P	I	L	O	T
A	X	L	E	S		T	A	S	T	Y		A	L	A
C	E	O	S		E	R	I	E	S		E	R	A	T
H	S	N		C	R	U	S	T		W	R	O	T	E
			K	A	I	N	E		D	O	R	I	E	S
	C	R	A	N	K	S		H	O	W	O	D	D
B	A	A	B	A	A		M	O	V	E	R
A	B	D	U	L		W	I	N	E	D		L	A	T
S	O	I	L		L	E	A	D	S		T	E	C	H
E	C	O		L	L	A	M	A		P	E	S	T	O
T	H	E	B	O	O	K	O	F	M	O	R	M	O	N
W	O	R	L	D	S	E	R	I	E	S	R	I	N	G
O	N	A	T	E	A	R		T	W	E	E	Z	E	S

With the publication of this puzzle, the two of us each have one more Saturday NYT appearance (1) than every woman constructor combined (0) in 2018. Here's hoping that will change in the coming weeks — if not, it could be the fourth time in eight years that the NYT has gone ohfer on publishing women on Saturdays.

You can find more stats on XWord Info; additionally, if you're a woman seeking a constructing partner, feedback/test-solving on your puzzle, or perhaps just someone to yell with about how low the number zero is, you can contact us and many other constructors through the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory.

And one last plug: it's not too late to throw your support behind The Inkubator, a forthcoming weekly puzzle from crossworld stars Tracy Bennett and Laura Braunstein.

Also, we're very proud of this puzzle! Thanks to the NYT team for having us, and for the brilliant clues at 17-Across and 9-Down.

Sun 10/28/2018 MATCH PLAY
T	R	A	C	T	S			A	P	B	S		D	O	C		T	E	R	I
B	A	C	H	A	T	A		B	O	L	T		O	N	O		R	E	A	D
S	W	E	E	T	A	N	D	S	O	U	R		N	E	G		E	R	G	O
				A	N	T	E		H	E	A	R	T	A	N	D	S	O	U	L
E	R	R	S		T	I	L	T		J	P	O	P		A	R	T	S
S	H	E	E	S	H		L	E	I	A		B	L	A	C	U	L	A
P	E	A	C	H	E	S	A	N	D	C	R	E	A	M			E	A	T	S
N	A	P	T	I	M	E		T	A	K	E		Y	O	G	I		R	H	O
				B	A	N				E	D	S		S	U	N	N	I	E	R
	T	A	R	A	N	D	F	E	A	T	H	E	R		S	T	O	N	E	R
D	A	L	A	I		S	U	R	F		A	G	U	A		E	L	E	G	Y
I	M	M	U	N	E		R	I	G	H	T	A	N	D	W	R	O	N	G
A	P	O	L	U	N	E		S	H	E				D	I	S
N	O	N		S	E	A	S		A	A	H	S		O	N	E	S	T	E	P
A	N	D	Y			S	T	A	N	D	U	P	A	N	D	C	H	E	E	R
		C	U	E	S	T	A	S		S	H	A	M		O	T	E	L	L	O
		O	P	R	Y		R	S	V	P		S	P	E	W		M	E	S	S
S	T	O	P	A	N	D	S	T	A	R	E		E	T	R	E
W	I	K	I		C	O	P		M	I	X	E	D	D	O	U	B	L	E	S
A	R	I	E		U	N	O		O	N	I	T		S	C	R	O	O	G	E
B	E	E	S		P	E	T		S	G	T	S			K	O	W	T	O	W

Here are the clues for some scrapped theme answers:

[Jacked in]
[ABC powers]
[Ring-a-levio]
[Arlen Specter]

POW Fri 10/12/2018
N	E	S	S		A	D	A	G	E		P	R	A	T
O	C	T	A		T	U	P	A	C		F	I	S	H
W	H	A	T	S	T	H	E	B	I	G	I	D	E	A
L	O	T	I	O	N				G	A	Z	E	A	T
E	B	E	R	T		M	C	S		M	E	S	S	I
T	O	M	E		P	E	O	N	S		R	H	Y	S
M	O	O		B	A	G	N	O	L	D		O	A	T
E	M	T		I	R	A	Q	W	A	R		T	S	O
S	E	T		D	E	D	U	C	T	S		G	A	S
E	R	O	S		D	E	E	R	E		J	U	B	A
E	S	S	E	X		T	S	A		F	A	N	C	Y
			L	I	G	H	T	B	U	L	B
L	A	T	I	N	O				R	O	B	U	S	T
A	V	E	N	G	E				N	A	E	N	A	E
B	A	D	A	S	S				S	T	R	O	D	E

ERIK: Can't spell "Bruce Haight" without "bright"! As a solver, I'm always excited to see this multiple Orca nominee's byline on a puzzle, so it's an honor for me to join him for his 43rd NYT crossword.

BRUCE: Erik is the reigning ACPT champion, having blown thru a super tough finals puzzle in the record time of 4 minutes 58 seconds back in March of this year. So many people wanted so badly for him to get his first win there, and for him to do it in such dramatic fashion was amazing. Also in March, he was named as one of the two crossword constructors of the year (for 2017) by Diary of a Crossword Fiend. When you work with a brilliant 25-year-old like Erik you try to stay out of his way and not embarrass yourself.

The "grid-art" here was my idea, but Erik came up with the fabulous second theme entry WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA. He also came up with about 90% of the fill on this grid — the inside of the bulb was particularly hard to fill cleanly. I wouldn't have even known how to spell MEGADETH, and since I am 65 years old, you would be right in guessing I don't have much of their music on my iPhone. The clue for 31-Across was Erik's idea also — pretty funny I think.

It was a ton of fun working with Erik, and thanks to Will and the editing team for allowing BADASS and making us fine tune the fill. I'm super pleased with the way the puzzle turned out - hope solvers enjoy it!

Wed 9/5/2018
J	U	T	S		D	A	N	E		T	I	T	A	N	S
A	S	H	E		S	T	A	N		O	C	E	L	O	T
C	H	E	E	R	L	E	A	D		T	E	N	E	T	S
O	E	D		O	M	A	N		T	A	U	T
B	R	O	N	C	O	S		D	O	L	P	H	I	N	S
	E	G	O		D	E	M	O	N	S		I	V	A	N
	D	A	F	O	E		O	R	A		K	N	E	E	L
		T	E	A	M	B	U	I	L	D	I	N	G
S	P	E	W	S		E	N	T		A	N	I	O	N
O	D	I	E		G	E	T	O	U	T		N	T	H
P	A	T	R	I	O	T	S		B	E	N	G	A	L	S
			T	W	O	S		R	U	L	E		P	G	A
B	A	T	H	O	S		L	U	N	I	S	O	L	A	R
U	R	B	A	N	E		A	T	T	N		R	A	M	I
G	I	A	N	T	S		S	H	U	E		O	N	E	S

TEAMBUILDING as a revealer came about as we brainstormed for a different puzzle. The last Super Bowl must have been on Amanda's mind because PAT-RIOTS jumped out immediately as a funny way to say PATRIOTS. Turns out a lot of team names can be broken down into other words! We went about making a list and, with the theme set selected, moved onto the grid.

Erik has an amazing knack of connecting theme entries (4 in this case) and he built the majority of the grid. We had originally clued the theme entries to both be people (in some way or another) to stick with the TEAMBUILDING concept, but this works too!

POW Tue 8/14/2018
P	B	J		R	U	M	B	A		A	B	I	D	E
E	R	A		U	R	B	A	N		N	I	N	E	S
R	O	D		B	L	A	S	T	I	N	G	C	A	P
U	S	E	B	Y		S	E	E	M		H	I	D
			O	D	E			S	P	A	I	N
	S	C	R	E	W	I	N		E	X	T	E	N	T
T	H	R	E	E	W	A	Y	T	I	E		R	A	E
I	R	A	S			G	M	A			M	A	R	C
P	E	Z		P	E	O	P	L	E	W	A	T	C	H
S	K	Y	P	E	D		H	E	A	R	S	E	S
		H	O	P	I	N			R	E	O
	S	O	S		T	O	A	D		A	N	G	E	L
B	O	R	S	C	H	T	B	E	L	T		R	A	Y
E	A	S	E	D		C	L	A	S	H		A	R	F
D	R	E	S	S		H	E	R	D	S		B	L	T

ERIK: Easy puzzles are so hard to write! Many of our tougher themes have seemed to develop almost instantaneously, but when we sat down and decided to try for an early-week publication, it took us several hours of rejected ideas and general head-scratching to come up with this one theme. Getting a sufficiently clean fill was not without its challenges, either; Andy's grid wizardry saved our bacon a couple of times when I was sure the task would be impossible to complete.

ANDY: I was surprised this wasn't slated for a Monday, though I expect many solvers will welcome a breezy Tuesday.

One challenge we had with filling this grid is that although all the theme answers are 11 letters long (and thus theoretically interchangeable in the grid), we agreed that the articles of clothing should be ordered in the grid from top to bottom as a person would wear them. The loveliest touches in the fill — RUBY DEE, CRAZY HORSE, SHREK, RUMBA, etc. etc. — are Erik's handiwork.

I do miss our original clue for THREE-WAY TIE, [Article of neckwear for Cerberus?]. It brought me no small amount of joy to imagine a three-headed hellhound wearing a little tie on each of its necks, though I admit that the Three Stooges are more suitable for an early-week puzzle.

Sun 8/5/2018 GHOSTED
C	A	S	A		W	E	N	T		F	L	O	R	A		T	R	I	O	D	E
A	C	E	R		E	A	C	H		R	I	P	U	P		S	E	A	L	U	P
P	A	R	T	Y	T	R	A	Y		A	M	I	S	S		A	N	G	L	E	E
N	I	E	C	E		L	A	M	A	Z	E		H	E	A	R	T	R	A	T	E
		N	E	A	T			E	L	I	J	A	H		I	S	E	E
I	R	A	N	G	A	T	E		T	E	U	T	O	N	S		D	E	A	L	S
T	A	S	T	E	T	E	S	T		R	I	T	U	A	L	S			P	O	I
A	D	L	E	R		A	T	O	M		C	A	R	M	E	N	M	C	R	A	E
L	I	A	R		I	R	O	N	O	R	E				S	O	A	R	I	N	G
Y	O	M		G	R	A	N	I	T	A		U	S	B			P	U	L	S	E
			L	O	S	T	I	N	T	H	E	S	H	U	F	F	L	E
Y	E	A	S	T			A	G	O		N	O	T	T	R	U	E		B	A	H
A	T	T	A	I	N	S				S	E	N	E	G	A	L		B	A	D	U
C	H	A	T	T	Y	C	A	T	H	Y		E	T	O	N		A	B	N	E	R
H	E	R			S	A	M	H	I	L	L		L	O	C	A	L	C	A	L	L
T	R	I	E	D		L	I	E	F	L	A	T		D	E	P	L	A	N	E	S
			M	A	G	I		N	I	A	C	I	N			P	A	R	A
G	A	M	E	R	R	A	G	E		B	O	X	O	U	T		Y	A	R	D	S
A	P	A	R	N	A		O	R	A	L	S		B	R	A	S	S	B	A	R	S
G	O	R	G	E	S		T	V	S	E	T		E	G	G	O		I	M	I	N
S	P	E	E	D	S		H	E	S	S	E		L	E	S	T		C	A	P	S

ALISON: I am a grad student at UC Berkeley in global health and infectious disease. I went to Emory University as an undergraduate and then got my Master of Public Health degree from Berkeley in 2017. I started "solving" the NYT crossword with my grandma when I was a kid (with erasable pens) and got more and more into solving them during grad school (with normal pens, mostly). On a whim, I started making puzzles a few months ago with a friend after we saw that Rex Parker (Michael Sharp) had offered his help to any aspiring constructors. Rex referred me to the Facebook group called the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory, and I sent my first-ever puzzle to a handful of "test-solvers," including Erik. The feedback I got from the dozen or so people who replied was all genuinely kind, supportive, and helpful. I'm so grateful for everyone's help and encouragement—especially from Erik, who became my de facto crossword mentor, and then co-constructor. We began collaborating on a few puzzles and submitted "Ghosted" in the middle of April.

ERIK: Ever notice how in the phrase "green energy," ENERGY is GREEN mixed up with a bonus letter? We set out to find out if there were any other phrases with this property; a computer-aided search turned up a large handful of possibilities, ranging from the erudite (ALFRED ADLER, ANDRE DERAIN) to the colloquial (FAST FACTS, RIDE-OR-DIE). Alison noticed that, using only phrases that dropped the letter in the second word, we could spell out PHANTO, which we found to be (most of) an apt description of the disappearing letters. The toughest part was trying to find phrases for the M and the S, since nothing in our wordlists would work and we had to search manually. How did people do this stuff before computers? Thanks to Alison for sharing her debut byline with me, and to the NYT team for having us.

Mon 7/16/2018
O	P	A	L		S	W	A	G		P	E	R	M	A
P	A	C	E		T	A	L	E		I	M	O	U	T
E	L	L	A		O	X	E	N		L	O	O	M	S
C	O	U	N	T	R	Y	C	O	D	E		F	B	I
			I	I	I			M	R	I		T	A	G
C	O	U	N	T	E	R	F	E	I	T	C	O	I	N
C	N	N			S	I	R		P	O	O	P
S	O	F	A	S		G	A	P		N	O	B	E	L
		A	M	E	N		M	I	C			A	G	O
C	O	M	P	L	E	T	E	C	O	N	T	R	O	L
O	U	I		F	Y	I			R	O	E
A	T	L		C	O	M	E	C	O	R	R	E	C	T
R	A	I	T	A		E	T	O	N		E	V	E	R
S	T	A	R	R		R	A	C	E		S	I	L	O
E	E	R	I	E		S	L	O	T		A	L	L	Y

This theme has been done a few times over the years, so I did my best to use answer phrases that weren't in those previous puzzles.

Sun 6/17/2018 TRICKY TRIOS
S	T	A	L	L	S		U	T	E	S		C	A	P		B	R	A	S	S
O	O	H	O	O	H		N	O	S	H		A	D	O		R	O	U	T	E
S	N	A	P	C	R	A	C	K	L	E	A	N	D	P		O	L	D	I	E
A	S	S		K	I	L	O			R	C	A		U	N	C	L	I	P	S
			T	E	N	O	R		T	I	E	D		L	I	A	I	S	E
P	A	S	S		K	U	K	L	A	F	R	A	N	A	N	D	E
H	U	M	P	T	Y			O	O	F			C	R	E	E		A	L	A
I	R	A		I	D	T	A	G	S		C	L	I	O	S		W	N	Y	C
S	A	L		D	I	A	N	E		C	L	A	S	P		V	E	N	O	M
H	E	L	S	I	N	K	I		B	R	I	N		I	M	A	L	O	N	E
		W	Y	N	K	E	N	B	L	Y	N	K	E	N	A	N	D	D
A	M	O	N	G	S	T		L	U	P	E		L	I	M	E	S	O	D	A
M	E	R	C	S		O	V	E	R	T		Z	O	O	M	S		M	I	C
A	W	L	S		S	T	E	W	S		H	E	N	N	A	S		I	C	U
L	S	D		H	E	H	E			F	A	T			R	A	D	N	E	R
			P	E	T	E	R	P	A	U	L	A	N	D	Y		R	I	D	A
	M	O	O	L	A	H		H	U	R	L		A	R	G	U	E
W	A	I	T	I	T	I		A	N	I			Y	A	L	L		L	A	O
A	F	L	A	C		L	A	S	T	O	N	E	S	T	A	N	D	I	N	G
S	I	E	G	E		L	I	E		S	A	G	A		N	A	S	C	A	R
H	A	D	E	S		S	L	R		A	H	O	Y		D	E	L	E	T	E

AMANDA AND KARL: We are from the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoy many shared hobbies, one of which is crossword puzzles. Amanda renewed her interest in crosswords a few years ago and introduced them to Karl when we first met. After a few attempts at constructing, we got more serious last year after a chance encounter with Erik Agard at ACPT 2017. Erik mentored and guided us as aspiring constructors through several puzzles and is a constant inspiration for us. We are delighted to have one of our collaborations with Erik as our debut NY Times puzzle. We would also like to express gratitude to Will, Sam, Joel, and the rest of the NY Times team for their kind encouragement and invaluable advice.

ERIK: With crossword tournaments, it's more about the people than the puzzles. The 2017 ACPT was fairly painful for me on the competitive front, but I met these two, so on balance, it was a fantastic weekend. I'm grateful to A & K for regularly blowing my mind with fresh ideas, fills, and clues, and for allowing me to be the third banana in this cruciverbal trio.

AMANDA AND KARL: We originally had LASTMANSTANDING as the revealer but realized after brainstorming that there were trios we liked with a non-"man" as the last one listed. Erik came up with LASTONESTANDING which nicely solved this problem. While creating the grid, we struggled with how many theme entries to include and how to "hide" the "standing" names. After many iterations, we decided to go with quality over quantity, and this turned out to be a very good decision, as it made for an open grid that lent itself to better fill for the "standing" names. Erik did an incredible job finding those long downs that cross three(!) theme entries. We shared the rest of the fill and cluing duties and are very happy with the result.

Working with a collaborator like Erik is a joy, with both sides being open-minded and motivated to make the best puzzle we can.

We are also very pleased to be debuting WAITITI and FURIOSA!

Thu 5/24/2018
D	I	S	H		M	A	R	C	O	S		T	R	O	T
A	C	T	I		A	R	T	H	U	R		H	E	R	E
W	H	I	N	N	Y	M	E	E	T	S		E	R	I	N
S	A	R	G	E	S			E	E	L		W	O	O	D
O	B	I	E	S		J	E	R	R	Y	C	E	L	L	O
N	O	T		S	H	O	T	S			H	E	L	E	N
	D	U	D		D	E	C		L	E	A	K
		P	A	S	T	Y	H	O	O	D	I	N	G
			R	E	V	S		N	R	A		D	A	D
S	T	A	K	E			I	T	E	M	S		R	I	G
P	A	Y	G	R	O	U	P	O	N		H	A	R	S	H
A	C	E	R		U	N	H			C	A	L	I	C	O
D	O	S	E		S	P	O	O	N	E	R	I	S	M	S
A	M	I	E		T	E	N	D	E	D		B	O	A	T
Y	A	R	N		S	N	E	E	Z	E		I	N	N	S

Thanks to the NYT team, not least for their incredible clue at 62-Down.

Also, see if you can figure out this theme answer that was left on the something room floor: [Breaking pitch thrown by an oddsmaker?] (6,6)

POW Sun 5/13/2018 LOVE AT FIRST SITE
N	B	A	J	A	M		P	S	A	S		S	W	A	M			B	A	T
S	A	T	I	R	E		R	U	N	T		I	A	G	O		S	O	L	E
F	R	E	N	C	H	C	O	N	N	E	C	T	I	O	N		E	A	T	S
W	R	A	P	S		O	N	R	E	P	E	A	T		O	P	E	R	A	S
	E	L	I		O	C	T	A			O	R	S	O		H	Y	D	R	A
E	L	O	N		B	O	O	Y	A	H				D	R	E	A	M
P	E	N	G	U	I	N			S	E	A	N	B	E	A	N		E	R	A
A	D	E		S	T	U	D	F	I	N	D	E	R		H	O	M	E	E	C
			B	E	S	T	I	E		R	U	B	B	E	R	M	A	T	C	H
	A	W	E	D			B	E	R	Y	L			N	A	S	T	I	E	S
	P	E	T		P	A	S	T	A		T	R	I	S	H		R	N	S
F	A	S	T	C	A	R			M	A	S	O	N			B	O	G	S
A	C	T	I	O	N	I	T	E	M	S		F	L	I	P	O	N
C	H	E	E	S	E		O	P	E	N	F	L	A	M	E	S		M	E	T
E	E	R		T	R	I	N	I	D	A	D			M	O	N	D	A	V	I
		N	A	N	A	S				P	A	C	T	E	N		A	K	I	N
A	Z	U	R	E		M	I	M	E			H	E	N	S		T	E	L
M	I	N	E	R	S		T	O	O	T	S	I	E	S		P	A	I	G	E
A	P	I	N		O	R	G	A	N	I	C	C	H	E	M	I	S	T	R	Y
S	P	O	T		R	O	U	T		C	A	L	E		O	N	E	S	I	E
S	O	N			T	O	Y	S		K	N	E	E		B	A	T	O	N	S

NEVILLE AND ERIK: We don't really know what to say. Our hearts are very full at this moment.

It's an honor and a privilege to work with the Times team, who pushed us to improve on our original fill and preserved our constructorial voice through the edit.

P.S. To all those competing in next month's Indie 500 Crossword Tournament: may God guide you in your quest.

Mon 4/9/2018
U	R	L			A	M	A		A	P	P	L	E	T
L	E	A	H		C	A	T		T	H	R	I	V	E
T	A	K	E	A	C	U	T		H	A	I	L	E	D
A	L	E	C	G	U	I	N	N	E	S	S
			K	O	R			O	N	E	M	O	R	E
A	N	D	Y	G	A	R	C	I	A		S	H	E	A
D	I	R	E		C	U	L					I	M	S
A	G	E	S		Y	E	A	R	S		F	O	O	T
P	I	X					R	A	W		E	A	V	E
T	R	E	S		A	V	A	G	A	R	D	N	E	R
S	I	L	E	N	T	I			G	E	E
			S	I	L	V	E	R	S	C	R	E	E	N
I	T	H	A	C	A		R	E	U	S	A	B	L	E
C	H	I	M	E	S		O	A	R		L	A	S	S
E	X	P	E	R	T		S	P	F			Y	E	T

As usual, thanks to the NYT team for crafting some of the best clues in the puzzle, including 15-Across, 4-Down, 40-Down, and 58-Down. And apologies to Anna Gunn, who was cut from the original draft.

ICYMI: The Puzzle Collaboration Directory is a Facebook group created to provide resources for people of color, women, and other underrepresented folks who are interested in learning to make crosswords. (If you're not on Facebook, you can email me at agarderik@gmail.com and I'll get you started.

Fri 3/23/2018
M	A	L	T	A		E	P	S			F	T	L	B
A	T	E	O	F		M	O	O	R		R	O	O	M
S	T	A	R	R		P	O	L	I	C	E	B	O	X
K	I	S	S	O	N	T	H	E	C	H	E	E	K
	C	H	I	P	P	Y			H	A	Z	E	S
			O	U	R		S	C	E	N	E	X	I	V
D	J	I	N	N		O	A	R	S		R	A	N	I
I	A	N		K	I	B	B	U	T	Z		C	O	D
E	N	I	D		N	I	L	E		A	E	T	N	A
S	E	T	A	D	A	T	E		H	M	M
	T	I	R	E	S			F	I	B	B	E	R
	M	A	K	E	U	P	T	U	T	O	R	I	A	L
G	O	L	D	M	I	N	E	R		N	A	D	J	A
U	C	L	A		T	I	L	L		I	C	E	I	N
S	K	Y	Y			N	E	S		S	E	R	V	E

My thanks to whoever wrote the clues at 16-Across and 57-Across, two of my favorites in the puzzle.

Fri 1/12/2018
T	H	A	T	S	A	T	A	L	L	O	R	D	E	R
E	A	C	H	O	N	E	T	E	A	C	H	O	N	E
A	R	A	I	S	I	N	I	N	T	H	E	S	U	N
M	A	K	E	A	F	R	E	S	H	S	T	A	R	T
	M	E	L			O	M	S			T	S	E
				R	E	U	P	P	E	D
S	P	A	R	E	D	N	O	E	X	P	E	N	S	E
C	A	M	E	L	I	D		E	C	L	A	I	R	S
I	N	C	L	A	S	S		D	I	U	R	N	A	L
			O	X	O				T	S	P
I	M	A	C		N	A	C	R	E		I	S	A	O
R	A	B	A	T		M	L	I		D	E	A	L	T
V	I	C	T	O	R	I	A	S	S	E	C	R	E	T
I	N	D	E	P	E	N	D	E	N	C	E	A	V	E
N	E	E	D	S	T	O		S	L	A	S	H	E	R

Always wanted to do a quad stack. Probably won't go for the quint. Love and appreciation to the stack god Martin Ashwood-Smith, one of my favorite constructors to solve.

POW Sun 12/10/2017 FULL-BODY CAST
A	W	A	L	K		S	H	E	L				I	N	N	O	T	I	M	E
T	O	M	E	I		T	A	L	I	B			H	O	T	L	I	N	E	S
O	W	I	E	S		E	V	O	K	E	S		E	T	H	A	K	I	T	T
M	E	G	A	S	T	A	R		E	L	W	A	Y			V	I	T	A	E
	D	O	N	C	H	L	E		S	L	A	L	O	M				I	L	E
			N	A	V			J	O	H	N	L	U	I	Z	A	M	O
Z	A	P		M	O	I	R	A		O	N	E		N	O	L	O
E	T	O	N		C	O	I	N	O	P			B	A	N	G	O	R
E	L	S	A	L	A	N	C	E	R			P	O	R	K	A	D	O	B	O
	A	T	B	A	T				A	T	T	U	N	E			S	O	I	R
I	N	D		D	E	N	Z	E	L	W	A	S	G	T	O	N		K	G	B
S	T	O	P			B	O	N	S	A	I				V	I	S	I	T
T	A	C	O	S	T	A	N	D			M	I	C	H	E	L	L	E	O	H
		S	C	H	E	M	E			H	E	A	L	E	R		Y	A	D	A
			K	I	E	V		T	E	E		T	E	X	T	S		R	O	T
		R	Y	A	N	P	H	I	L	L	P	E			I	A	N
U	S	E				S	A	V	I	O	R		O	L	P	L	A	T	T
R	E	N	A	L			N	O	T	R	E		P	A	S	T	R	I	E	S
B	I	T	P	A	R	T	S		E	T	C	H	E	D		C	U	L	P	A
A	N	T	I	G	O	N	E			S	U	T	R	A		O	T	T	E	R
N	E	O	N	S	I	G	N				T	S	A	R		D	O	S	E	S

LAURA: I've been solving crosswords all my life, it seems — my grandfather, who was an immigrant, would solve puzzles to practice English, and he used to ask for my help when I was a kid. I've only been constructing for about a year. I'm a librarian at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and Andrew Kingsley (an NYT constructor), who recently graduated, used to work on his grids in the reference room. We would chat about puzzles, and one day I decided that if puzzles were things that people made, I could make them too.

I've been so fortunate to have friends and mentors who have supported me through the process of learning to construct. Recently, one of my favorite speculative fiction authors, Charlie Jane Anders, tweeted that a definition of success that makes her happy is "getting to be associated with people I admire, who keep surprising me." That is also my definition of success in crosswords. Last winter when I started trying to make puzzles, I never imagined that within a year my first NYT byline would be shared with Erik Agard, whom I admire so much as a constructor and a person.

Erik and I had been looking for ideas for co-constructing, and one day he emailed with this idea about names of body parts hidden in phrases, and thus ensued a 67-message email chain where the idea evolved, first to something with book titles, then to a meta idea, then finally to where it ended up with actor names. Some entries rejected from our final list included JIM [BACK]US, RED [BUTT]ONS, the non-specific M[ORGAN] FREEMAN, and someone with the awesome name of JACK [NOSE]WORTHY, who had a bit part in "Event Horizon."

ERIK: Laura is a true umptuple threat: solver (finished top-100 at Lollapuzzoola in her tournament debut), constructor (wrote a great puzzle for this year's Boswords tournament), blogger (her reviews at Crossword Fiend and Rex Parker usually get a laugh out of me), community pillar (consistently an outspoken advocate for women and other underrepresented groups in crossword construction)... and she's a kickass librarian and probably some other stuff I don't even know about. She's one of those people who can take your one pretty good idea and turn it into three great ideas; it was as much a pleasure to write this puzzle with her as it is a privilege to share her first NYT byline.

Wed 11/29/2017
A	C	R	O	S	S		F	A	S	T		O	R	E	O
S	L	E	E	P	Y		A	L	M	A		R	E	A	P
S	U	P	R	E	M	E	C	O	U	R	T	C	A	S	E
T	B	S		A	B	A	T	E	S		R	A	M	E	N
			S	K	O	R			H	A	Y
M	I	L	A		L	A	L	A		T	O	T	A	L	S
A	N	I	M	E		C	O	N	T	O	U	R	K	I	T
I	N	B	O	X		H	O	J	O		T	A	I	K	O
M	I	R	A	C	L	E	M	O	P		S	U	R	E	R
S	T	A	S	E	S		S	U	S	S		M	A	N	Y
				R	U	B			P	A	P	A
S	C	O	O	P		I	N	S	I	D	E		T	A	U
T	E	M	P	T	A	T	I	O	N	I	S	L	A	N	D
I	C	E	E		V	E	N	D		S	T	E	R	E	O
R	E	N	D		A	S	E	A		M	O	T	O	W	N

Many of my family's holiday traditions have changed as I've neared adulthood: we phased out the fir tree a few years ago, dinner is now takeout, the presents have shrunk in size but grown in meaning, and so on. But some things will never change - for one, the holidays just aren't the holidays without A Motown Christmas playing on our ancient stereo. I'm away from home at the time of this writing, but I'm looking forward to getting back in a couple of weeks and getting to be with my folks while Stevie Wonder bodies "Ave Maria" in the background. Thanks to the good people at NYT for publishing this near-and-dear theme

Sun 10/8/2017 POWER BALLADS
T	S	A			I	M	P	E	L		A	S	S	E	T			G	P	S
A	L	L	A		C	I	R	C	A		T	E	A	R	A	T		O	O	H
B	I	L	L	Y	O	C	E	A	N		A	R	C	A	D	E	F	I	R	E
S	T	E	F	A	N		P	R	E	G	G	E	R	S		T	O	N	E	D
		G	R	R		P	A	D		D	U	N	E			R	U	G
G	R	E	E	N	D	A	Y		S	P	E	E	D	S		A	R	P
R	O	D		S	E	I		C	A	S	S		C	O	L	D	P	L	A	Y
I	S	L	E		C	R	O	O	N		S	T	O	N	E		M	A	T	E
T	A	Y	L	O	R	S	W	I	F	T		I	W	O	N	T		C	E	L
			T	H	Y		I	N	R	O	A	D		F	O	R	R	E	A	L
	P	R	O	W		M	E	T	A	L	L	I	C	A		Y	E	S	M
S	E	E	N	O	T	E		O	N	E	O	N	E		D	O	I
E	T	C		W	O	L	F	S		T	H	E	S	P	I	N	N	E	R	S
A	R	A	T		N	O	R	S	E		A	S	T	O	N		S	T	O	P
L	I	L	W	A	Y	N	E		N	E	O	S		N	A	Y		Y	M	A
		C	O	L		S	E	T	T	L	E		M	C	H	A	M	M	E	R
		U	M	A			Z	E	R	O		R	U	E		D	E	O
A	T	L	A	S		C	E	M	E	N	T	E	D		T	I	T	L	E	S
F	R	A	N	K	Z	A	P	P	A		S	U	P	E	R	G	R	O	U	P
R	O	T		A	I	R	O	U	T		A	S	I	D	E		O	G	R	E
O	D	E			T	O	P	S	Y		R	E	E	S	E			Y	O	W

ERIK: Music and wordplay are but two of Alex's superpowers (you can see some of her punny drawings on her Instagram), so when this puzzle's then-half-formed theme needed rescuing, I knew who to shine the Bat-Signal for. Through a couple of revisions and upwards of a hundred emails, the collaboration was always fun, and I'm looking forward to her next puzzle.

ALEX: Erik was the true superhero here — zipped nimbly through the bulk of the work and picked up after all my snafus. I'm a super-newbie to everything in the crossword world, but I do enjoy myself a good pun every now and then, so this was fascinating and foreign and exciting and daunting all at once! And I owe much thanks to Erik for inviting me to sidekick this mission in the first place.

For your enjoyment (we hope), here are some of the theme answers from the cutting room floor:

[Human Torch's favorite band?] (3,7,4)

[Blade's favorite band?] (7,7)

[Wonder Twins' favorite band?] (5)

[Storm's favorite rapper?] (6)

[Beast's favorite singer?] (6)

[Wolverine's favorite guitarist?] (5)

[Lady Deathstrike's favorite band?] (13)

[Banshee's favorite band?] (5,5)

POW Mon 9/11/2017
P	S	I		S	O	S	P	A	D		L	S	D
O	M	G		P	O	M	A	D	E		A	P	E
M	A	L	A	Y	P	E	N	I	N	S	U	L	A
P	R	O	F		S	L	E	D		A	R	I	D
	T	O	R	T	I	L	L	A	F	L	A	T
			O	W	E			S	E	A
P	A	L	E	O					D	A	W	E	S
E	G	A	D		H	I	C	K		M	A	X	X
A	U	K		D	A	S	H	E	S		L	P	S
R	A	E		I	L	L	I	N	I		L	O	W
		P	E	R	F	E	C	T	G	P	A
	F	L	U	K	E			S	H	A	W	L
L	E	A	D		M	O	O	T		M	A	I	L
A	R	C	O		P	A	P	A		P	L	E	A
L	A	I	R		T	H	A	T		E	L	O	N
A	L	D	A		Y	U	L	E		R	A	N	D

ERIK: Earlier this year, Paolo mentioned he'd had an idea for a LA LA LAND puzzle; he had WALLA WALLA and LAKE PLACID but was having trouble finding more theme answers. Feeling like a genius, I quickly rattled off what I thought were some solid additions: DALAI LAMA? LAPIS LAZULI? BLACK FLAG? SOLAR FLARE? He responded "ooh those are good" ... and then very gently and casually hipped me to the fact that his themers were both LANDs and not just LA LAs. Woah.

This illustrates two things I know to be true about Paolo: one, that his puzzling brain has access to levels of holistic awareness that few others are capable of reaching (you can now see this on display every week at his website, Grids These Days); and two, that his emotional intelligence is comparably enviable. If I were starting some sort of Crossword Thing and needed someone to put in charge of editing or wrangling or what have you, Paolo would certainly make my short list.

Big thanks to Will et al. for getting this thing into Monday shape. It's hard to write clues that are evocative and concise and accessible all at once, so I appreciate the help. The 35-Across clue is maybe a tad more derogatory than the one we submitted (a Larry Bird reference), but maybe that's our bad for putting it in the grid? That aside, I'm very satisfied with the way this one turned out, and I hope you enjoyed it.

PAOLO: As a longtime Glutton For Pun solver, I am overjoyed to be collaborating with Erik Agard himself. After solving his excellent 2017 Oscars-themed puzzle, I went to Twitter to flood him with praise via direct message. Somewhere in the ensuing conversation, I brought up my idea for a LA LA LAND-themed puzzle (with only the entries WALLA WALLA and LAKE PLACID at hand). Thankfully, Erik was open to collaborating, even though making a puzzle inspired by "La La Land" may have gone against every fiber of his being. It says something about his graciousness, and I'm grateful for that. He found MALAY PENINSULA and TORTILLA FLAT to round out the theme, and so it went.

Another note: I almost feel like there's a "Moonlight"/"La La Land" situation between the GFP and NYT puzzles. As with the two movies, I feel like both of the puzzles have their own merits. This puzzle is like "La La Land"; it's meant to appeal to general audiences, and it'll be consumed by more people than its counterpart. Fun, breezy — mass appeal. Erik's solo puzzle, on the other hand, is like "Moonlight"; more independent, and consumed by fewer people, but absolutely mold-breaking.

I will say this about both "Moonlight" and Erik's Oscar puzzle: if you haven't experienced either, you need to remedy that post haste. This is to say: Erik Agard is an absolute cruciverbal artist, and I am honored and humbled to have been able to work with him. Hope you enjoyed!

Sat 7/29/2017
D	U	C	T	S			C	A	N	I	L	I	V	E
I	N	A	W	E		E	A	S	Y	M	O	N	E	Y
E	S	S	E	N	C	E	M	A	G	A	Z	I	N	E
T	A	K	E	S	A	N	A	P		M	E	T	A	L
A	V	E	S		M	Y	R	R	H		N	I	L	E
R	E	T	T	O	N		O	O	O		G	A	L	T
Y	D	S		W	E	D		C	U	T	E	L	Y
			K	I	W	I		K	R	I	S
	C	R	U	E	T	S		Y	A	M		L	S	D
P	H	E	W		O	C	T		N	E	G	A	T	E
R	I	G	A		N	O	B	I	G		A	L	I	A
I	C	E	I	N		B	O	U	L	E	V	A	R	D
M	A	N	T	O	M	A	N	D	E	F	E	N	S	E
E	N	C	I	R	C	L	E	S		T	U	N	I	S
D	A	Y	S	A	I	L	S			S	P	E	N	T

Thanks for having me back so soon - I wasn't sure if I'd be allowed back at all after my last puzzle for the Gray Lady, which I hear was raisin' quite the controversy.

Anyway, there's way more "I'm not convinced anyone has ever said this in real life ever" answers than I'd like in this grid: EFTS? CUTELY? VENALLY? DEADEST? TWEEST? Get outta here. Not wild about AVES or MCI, either. Otherwise, I like it. The editing team did a great job dialing up the clues.

"Girls Trip", which takes place at Essence Fest, is currently in theaters, so 16-Across (one of my seed entries for the puzzle) feels timelyish.

Thu 7/6/2017
	R	S	V	P		S	I	G	H		B	R	A	D
	U	P	C	S		O	S	L	O		E	U	R	O
	M	A	R	T	I	N	L	A	W	R	E	N	C	E
A	R	R	S		D	Y	E	D		A	F	T	E	R
B	A	E		T	E	X	T		B	I	P	O	D	S
F	I	T		E	S	P		B	O	N	A
A	S	I	A	N		E	B	A	Y		T	P	S
B	I	R	D	S		R	I	M		S	T	O	N	E
	N	E	O		P	I	B	B		P	Y	L	O	N
			P	A	R	A		O	B	I		E	W	E
B	I	S	T	R	O		K	O	R	N		D	A	M
U	N	T	A	G		G	A	P	E		M	A	N	Y
S	T	E	P	H	E	N	H	A	W	K	I	N	G
T	R	E	E		T	A	L	L		O	N	C	E
S	O	R	T		A	T	O	M		R	E	E	L

I have to shout out two indirect inspirations for this puzzle:

-Elizabeth Gorski, the Crossword Nation auteur: it was in one of her Crosswords with Friends puzzles that I first saw the triple-black corner design that you see in the NW and SE here. I was like, "Wait, you can do that?? The universe won't implode??" It's bailed me out many a time when I've had to fit in almost-but-not-quite-grid-spanning theme answers, and it was indispensable for this puzzle. Also, I think it looks pretty.

-Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel, the LeBron James of crossword construction: I'm totally biting her style here with these double-stacked long downs (1&2-Down, 33&34-Down).

Hope you dug it.

Thu 5/25/2017
D	R	A	G		A	R	N	O				S	P	F
E	U	R	O		S	O	A	R	S		L	E	I	A
F	E	E	L		P	U	R	P	L	E	I	R	A	N
			F	R	E	N	C	H	I	G	U	A	N	A
R	E	B	R	A	N	D		A	D	O		P	O	R
C	L	U	E	S		T	A	N			L	E	S	T
A	I	R	S	H	O	W	S		M	D	I
		R	O	L	L	O	F	I	C	O	N	S
			R	Y	E		O	M	A	R	E	P	P	S
P	A	R	T			A	R	M		I	D	E	S	T
A	P	E		F	W	D		E	A	T	A	W	A	Y
C	O	V	E	R	I	V	E	R	S	O	N
I	L	L	G	O	F	I	R	S	T		C	A	M	P
F	L	O	G		I	C	I	E	R		E	L	L	A
Y	O	N				E	N	D	O		R	I	B	S

The idea for this puzzle came to me as I was watching the documentary IVERSON, which I emphatically recommend, even if you're not big on sports. The grid went through a couple of revisions, chiefly to remove this extra theme answer: [The blood of Jesus, say?] (6,5). I am fully at peace with that decision.

I am less at peace with what is going on at 4-Down. Not my clue, not my president, not my breakfast test. If this worsened your solving experience at all, my apologies.

On the bright side, I got a kick out of the shortcut at 12-Across and the vocabulary at 40-Down (both Shortz et al.'s finds). Not sure I'll ever have occasion to use the former, but I promise to work the latter into as many conversations as I can think to.

Thanks for reading, and stay well.

POW Sun 1/8/2017 THE DOWNSIZING OF NATHANIEL AMES
B	C	C	S		I	S	I	S			P	A	C	E				H	T	S
B	O	R	A		O	P	A	H		S	U	N	R	A			O	A	R	S
C	L	O	V	E	C	I	G	A	R	E	T	T	E	S		E	N	R	O	N
R	A	C	E	R		D	O	R	A	G		B	E	E	R	D	A	R	T	S
A	W	K		I	K	E		P	R	O	S	E	P	O	E	T	R	Y
D	A	P		S	I	R	R	E	E		P	A	I	N	T		A	H	A	S
I	R	O	N		D	Y	E	R		H	O	R	N		C	A	N	O	L	A
O	S	T	E	E	N		V	I	D	E	O	S		N	O	U	T	U	R	N
			A	R	E	S		M	I	N	K		D	A	N	K		D	O	J
S	C	U	R	R	Y	A	W	A	Y		S	C	U	M		S	E	I	K	O
T	A	R	T		S	L	O	G				H	E	E	P		S	N	E	S
A	G	L	O	W		M	E	E	T		M	A	L	I	E	M	P	I	R	E
M	E	H		H	M	O	S		R	E	I	N		T	R	O	I
E	D	I	T	I	O	N		M	I	X	C	D	S		J	E	E	V	E	S
N	U	J	A	Z	Z		H	I	C	S		L	U	L	U		D	I	N	E
S	P	A	R		A	S	O	N	E		R	E	V	E	R	B		C	T	A
		C	H	A	R	T	T	O	P	P	E	R		O	E	R		E	R	M
T	A	K	E	A	T	E	S	T		I	D	B	E	T		U	S	U	A	L
A	R	I	E	S		T	H	A	N	K	S	I	N	A	D	V	A	N	C	E
G	E	N	L			H	O	U	S	E		N	Y	R	O		K	I	T	S
S	A	G				O	T	R	A			G	A	D	S		E	T	E	S

erik: it's always a pleasure to collaborate with peter (an indie crossword legend + one of the most brilliant people i have the good fortune of knowing) and this puzzle was no exception.

i'm happy we were able to sneak a shoutout to another indie puzzling titan into the grid. did you spot it?

also, a tough bonus puzzler: what's a 2-word, 10-letter phrase that consists of two names "downsized" like the ones in this theme? hint: the names are both actresses, one from the ‘60s and one contemporary.

Sat 9/20/2014
S	T	R	E	A	K	S			L	E	A	D	U	P
Q	U	I	R	R	E	L	L		A	N	G	I	N	A
U	N	D	E	R	D	O	G		S	T	R	E	W	N
A	N	D		A	S	P	E	C	T	R	A	T	I	O
D	E	L	T	S			L	O	S	E		S	E	P
S	L	E	W		A	P	E	X			P	O	L	L
			O	P	T	I	C			S	O	D	D	Y
	P	R	O	J	E	C	T	R	U	N	W	A	Y
C	L	A	U	S			R	I	F	L	E
L	A	I	T			C	O	M	O		R	A	V	E
A	Y	N		S	H	U	N			A	S	T	I	N
M	A	G	I	C	T	R	I	C	K	S		H	O	F
A	R	E	N	O	T		C	O	C	A	C	O	L	A
T	E	A	R	U	P		S	T	U	N	T	M	A	N
O	A	R	E	R	S			S	P	A	R	E	S	T

if you found this puzzle challenging, then you should really thank mr. shortz, because the one i sent him was a lot harder. my favorite clues of will's are [Muscles for some fraternity guys?], [Sportsperson who may take a bow?], and [Macs and such].

Wed 8/28/2013
B	A	B	E		E	M	I	T	S		I	T	C	H
I	C	E	S		N	A	S	A	L		S	O	L	O
T	H	E	S	U	L	T	A	N	O	F	S	W	A	T
S	E	R	E	N	I	T	Y		W	O	U	N	D	S
			S	I	S			P	A	R	E
H	A	T		S	T	A	T	U	T	E		H	S	T
O	A	H	U		E	T	O	N		G	R	A	T	E
P	R	E	S	I	D	E	N	T	H	O	O	V	E	R
E	G	R	E	T		A	G	E	E		D	R	I	P
S	H	E		A	R	M	A	D	A	S		E	N	S
			A	L	E	S			R	U	B
H	O	R	R	I	D		M	A	K	E	U	P	T	O
I	H	A	D	A	B	E	T	T	E	R	Y	E	A	R
T	I	T	O		A	R	G	O	N		E	R	I	C
S	O	A	R		T	E	E	M	S		R	U	T	H

This is a textbook quote puzzle. The textbook was Mankiw's "Principles of Microeconomics". It was my freshman year in college (go 32-Down!), and we were learning about inflation. Fun fact: in today's dollars, 1-/67-Across would be outearned by the average MLB player, whereas 38-Across would make more than twice as much as his current counterpart. Well, I say fun. I mean egregious. Hope you liked the puzzle.

Erik Agard author page

78 puzzles by Erik Agard
with Constructor comments

77 daily crosswords by Erik Agard

1 Variety puzzle by Erik Agard

G	O	O	D	S			C	H	A	R		T	S	O
E	X	T	R	A	C	H	E	E	S	E		R	A	N
M	E	T	A	L	U	M	L	A	U	T		A	M	E
S	N	O	W		B	O	L	D		T	E	N	E	T
			L	A	B	S		L	E	A	D	S	T	O
		M	O	B	Y		V	I	V		S	P	O	T
	V	O	T	E		W	A	N	E	S		R	Y	E
F	I	R	S	T	G	E	N	E	R	A	T	I	O	N
U	S	A		S	O	B	E	R		N	A	D	U
N	U	L	L		L	O	S		D	A	L	E
F	A	C	E	O	F	F		B	E	A	K
A	L	O	O	F		L	A	R	A		T	I	N	T
C	A	D		A	N	I	M	A	L	L	O	V	E	R
T	I	E		G	U	E	S	S	T	I	M	A	T	E
S	D	S		E	S	S	O			T	E	N	S	E

R	I	C	A	N			M	O	M		C	M	O	N
A	W	A	R	E		F	I	V	E		A	A	V	E
C	O	N	C	O	U	R	S	E	S		N	Y	E	T
E	N	D	S		S	E	R	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
S	T	Y		T	E	T	E			V	C	R	S
		G	E	A	R		A	M	I	G	O
S	H	I	F	T		E	D	I	T		M	E	S	S
C	A	R	F	A	R	E		C	A	V	E	A	T	S
I	S	L	A		A	L	P	S		A	I	S	L	E
			M	O	S	S	Y		T	I	N	Y
	G	L	A	D			T	H	E	N		G	M	A
B	R	A	N	D	I	S	H	E	S		S	O	A	R
E	A	R	L		S	H	O	R	T	E	N	I	N	G
D	I	V	E		P	O	N	D		C	O	N	D	O
S	L	A	Y		Y	E	S			O	B	G	Y	N

C	U	T	A	W	A	Y	G	A	G		L	A	I	R
O	N	E	T	I	M	E	U	S	E		O	N	T	O
L	I	M	O	N	C	E	L	L	O		L	O	S	T
E	X	A	L	T			P	A	D			T	S	O
			L	E	S	T		N	E	I	T	H	E	R
L	I	T		R	H	E	A		S	N	E	E	R	S
A	C	H		M	A	N	G	A		S	A	R	I
W	H	I	T	E	Y	O	N	T	H	E	M	O	O	N
	O	R	A	L		R	E	L	I	C		N	U	B
M	O	S	C	O	W		S	A	L	T		E	S	C
E	S	T	O	N	I	A		S	L	I	T
T	E	T			N	E	A			V	O	I	C	E
E	Y	R	E		O	S	L	O	N	O	R	W	A	Y
R	O	A	R		N	O	T	F	O	R	S	A	L	E
S	U	P	S		A	P	O	T	H	E	O	S	I	S

P	E	P	S	U	P				T	O	A	S	T	S
S	T	R	O	V	E			F	I	R	S	T	U	P
T	H	O	M	A	S		H	A	L	O	H	A	L	O
	I	V	E		T	H	O	N				T	A	R
T	O	E	D			E	N	T	O		M	I	N	T
O	P	R	A	H		R	E	A	P		A	C	E	S
L	I	B	Y	A		O	Y	S	T	E	R
L	A	S	S	I		F	L	Y		L	I	S	T	S
			O	R	E	O	O	S		M	A	O	R	I
C	O	M	O		O	R	C	A		S	H	R	U	G
O	M	A	N		S	H	U	G			C	O	N	N
S	A	T				I	S	A	W		A	R	C
T	H	A	T	H	U	R	T		A	E	R	I	A	L
C	A	T	C	A	F	E			Y	V	E	T	T	E
O	N	A	U	T	O				S	A	Y	Y	E	S

N	A	S	A		A	P	P	A	L	L		P	R	E	P
O	V	E	R		D	A	H	L	I	A		R	U	L	E
R	O	C	K		D	R	I	F	T	S		E	S	M	E
E	C	O		F	I	T		R	E	S	T	S	T	O	P
F	A	N	T	A	S	Y	S	E	R	I	E	S
U	D	D	E	R		B	I	D	S		M	E	N	U
N	O	L	A		A	U	K			A	P	R	O	N	S
D	O	I		W	I	S	H	L	I	S	T		T	I	M
S	I	N	G	E	D			I	N	K		W	H	O	O
	L	E	I	A		M	A	P	S		S	W	A	N	K
			D	R	E	A	M	S	E	Q	U	E	N	C	E
Y	A	R	D	S	A	L	E		C	U	B		K	A	Y
O	L	A	Y		T	O	N	G	U	E		P	Y	R	E
R	O	K	U		E	N	D	U	R	E		B	O	D	Y
K	E	E	P		N	E	S	T	E	R		R	U	S	E

L	I	N	G	O		H	U	L	A		M	A	M	A
O	C	E	A	N		E	N	E	R	G	Y	T	A	X
F	O	R	T	E		W	H	I	T	E	G	A	Z	E
I	N	V	E	S	T	S				N	U	D	E	S
	S	E	C	T	S		S	H	A	D	Y
			R	E	P		P	O	L	E		F	A	E
	L	E	A	P		W	A	T	E	R	S	I	G	N
M	E	S	S	A	G	E	R	E	C	E	I	V	E	D
B	A	T	H	T	O	W	E	L		U	S	E	S
A	K	A		A	T	O	M		O	P	T
			S	T	O	N	E		W	H	E	T	S
A	S	A	H	I				I	N	O	R	O	U	T
N	O	C	O	M	M	E	N	T		R	A	N	T	O
T	H	E	R	E	I	T	I	S		I	C	A	R	E
S	O	R	T		D	A	L	Y		A	T	L	A	S

S	M	U	S	H		S	C	I		B	O	L	T	S
H	E	N	N	A		T	A	N		A	V	A	I	L
A	L	T	O	S		R	N	A		L	E	T	G	O
W	E	I	G	H	T	E	D	B	L	A	N	K	E	T
L	E	E		T	H	E	Y	S	A	Y		E	R	S
			P	A	Y	T	H	E	T	A	B
C	R	A	I	G		F	E	N		G	A	S	P	S
H	A	R	E	S		O	A	T		E	L	T	O	N
A	C	E	S		D	O	R	I	S		K	I	W	I
P	E	N		R	E	D	T	A	P	E		L	E	T
S	A	D	D	E	N				O	R	D	E	R	S
	H	E	A	V	Y	S	E	C	U	R	I	T	Y
H	E	L	M		I	O	T	A	S		A	T	O	M
B	A	L	E		N	O	T	R	E		N	O	G	O
O	D	E	S		G	N	A	T	S		A	S	A	P

A	C	H	O	O		E	D	S		S	A	L	E	M
P	L	A	N	K		N	Y	E		U	S	A	G	E
N	E	V	E	R	E	V	E	R		R	I	N	G	S
E	R	A		A	L	I		B	R	E	A	D	T	H
W	I	N	E		M	A	R	I	A			B	A	E
S	C	A	N	S		B	E	A	R	S	E	A	R	S
			R	E	A	L	M		E	N	A	C	T
		L	A	D	L	E		F	L	A	S	K
	N	I	G	E	L		R	O	Y	C	E
H	O	V	E	R	O	V	E	R		K	U	R	T	A
A	T	E			T	E	X	T	S		P	E	A	T
H	A	L	F	A	S	S		N	A	P		T	N	T
A	F	O	U	L		T	H	I	G	H	H	I	G	H
H	A	N	E	S		E	B	T		D	A	R	L	A
A	N	G	L	O		D	O	E		S	W	E	E	T

S	K	A			S	T	I	R		N	O	V	A	S
C	R	I	B		N	O	N	A	P	O	L	O	G	Y
R	I	R	I		I	T	S	H	A	N	D	L	E	D
E	S	C	O	R	T		E	R	I	E		C	N	N
W	H	O	S	E		S	C	A	N		W	A	D	E
U	N	O		F	I	L	T	H		C	O	N	E	Y
P	A	L	M	E	D	O	R		F	L	O	O	R
			A	R	E	W	E	G	O	O	D
	N	I	N	E	S		P	L	U	S	S	I	G	N
H	I	N	G	E		B	E	A	L	E		C	O	O
E	C	H	O		W	E	L	D		I	N	E	R	T
Y	E	A		F	A	L	L		U	N	I	P	O	D
N	O	S	P	O	I	L	E	R	S		T	O	G	O
O	N	T	H	E	F	E	N	C	E		S	P	U	N
W	E	E	D	S		S	T	A	R			S	E	E

I	T	S	O	N				S	E	E	S	F	I	T
N	E	W	D	A	D			H	A	V	E	A	G	O
T	R	E	E	T	O	P		E	R	E	C	T	E	D
E	R	A		S	C	R	O	L	L		R	I	T	A
N	A	R	C		S	O	I	L			E	M	I	T
D	I	J	O	N		F	L	O	W	S	T	A	T	E
	N	A	V	E	L		B	U	I	C	K
		R	E	P	A	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
			R	A	Z	O	R		S	T	O	P	S
I	M	A	L	L	E	A	R	S		S	C	O	O	P
M	O	R	E			D	E	L	A		K	I	L	L
P	O	R	T		A	T	L	A	S	T		L	O	U
A	L	I	T	T	L	E		T	A	G	T	E	A	M
C	A	V	E	A	T	S			P	I	E	R	C	E
T	H	E	R	O	O	T				F	A	S	T	S

G	O	O	D	S			C	H	A	R		T	S	O
E	X	T	R	A	C	H	E	E	S	E		R	A	N
M	E	T	A	L	U	M	L	A	U	T		A	M	E
S	N	O	W		B	O	L	D		T	E	N	E	T
			L	A	B	S		L	E	A	D	S	T	O
		M	O	B	Y		V	I	V		S	P	O	T
	V	O	T	E		W	A	N	E	S		R	Y	E
F	I	R	S	T	G	E	N	E	R	A	T	I	O	N
U	S	A		S	O	B	E	R		N	A	D	U
N	U	L	L		L	O	S		D	A	L	E
F	A	C	E	O	F	F		B	E	A	K
A	L	O	O	F		L	A	R	A		T	I	N	T
C	A	D		A	N	I	M	A	L	L	O	V	E	R
T	I	E		G	U	E	S	S	T	I	M	A	T	E
S	D	S		E	S	S	O			T	E	N	S	E

R	I	C	A	N			M	O	M		C	M	O	N
A	W	A	R	E		F	I	V	E		A	A	V	E
C	O	N	C	O	U	R	S	E	S		N	Y	E	T
E	N	D	S		S	E	R	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
S	T	Y		T	E	T	E			V	C	R	S
		G	E	A	R		A	M	I	G	O
S	H	I	F	T		E	D	I	T		M	E	S	S
C	A	R	F	A	R	E		C	A	V	E	A	T	S
I	S	L	A		A	L	P	S		A	I	S	L	E
			M	O	S	S	Y		T	I	N	Y
	G	L	A	D			T	H	E	N		G	M	A
B	R	A	N	D	I	S	H	E	S		S	O	A	R
E	A	R	L		S	H	O	R	T	E	N	I	N	G
D	I	V	E		P	O	N	D		C	O	N	D	O
S	L	A	Y		Y	E	S			O	B	G	Y	N

C	U	T	A	W	A	Y	G	A	G		L	A	I	R
O	N	E	T	I	M	E	U	S	E		O	N	T	O
L	I	M	O	N	C	E	L	L	O		L	O	S	T
E	X	A	L	T			P	A	D			T	S	O
			L	E	S	T		N	E	I	T	H	E	R
L	I	T		R	H	E	A		S	N	E	E	R	S
A	C	H		M	A	N	G	A		S	A	R	I
W	H	I	T	E	Y	O	N	T	H	E	M	O	O	N
	O	R	A	L		R	E	L	I	C		N	U	B
M	O	S	C	O	W		S	A	L	T		E	S	C
E	S	T	O	N	I	A		S	L	I	T
T	E	T			N	E	A			V	O	I	C	E
E	Y	R	E		O	S	L	O	N	O	R	W	A	Y
R	O	A	R		N	O	T	F	O	R	S	A	L	E
S	U	P	S		A	P	O	T	H	E	O	S	I	S

P	E	P	S	U	P				T	O	A	S	T	S
S	T	R	O	V	E			F	I	R	S	T	U	P
T	H	O	M	A	S		H	A	L	O	H	A	L	O
	I	V	E		T	H	O	N				T	A	R
T	O	E	D			E	N	T	O		M	I	N	T
O	P	R	A	H		R	E	A	P		A	C	E	S
L	I	B	Y	A		O	Y	S	T	E	R
L	A	S	S	I		F	L	Y		L	I	S	T	S
			O	R	E	O	O	S		M	A	O	R	I
C	O	M	O		O	R	C	A		S	H	R	U	G
O	M	A	N		S	H	U	G			C	O	N	N
S	A	T				I	S	A	W		A	R	C
T	H	A	T	H	U	R	T		A	E	R	I	A	L
C	A	T	C	A	F	E			Y	V	E	T	T	E
O	N	A	U	T	O				S	A	Y	Y	E	S

N	A	S	A		A	P	P	A	L	L		P	R	E	P
O	V	E	R		D	A	H	L	I	A		R	U	L	E
R	O	C	K		D	R	I	F	T	S		E	S	M	E
E	C	O		F	I	T		R	E	S	T	S	T	O	P
F	A	N	T	A	S	Y	S	E	R	I	E	S
U	D	D	E	R		B	I	D	S		M	E	N	U
N	O	L	A		A	U	K			A	P	R	O	N	S
D	O	I		W	I	S	H	L	I	S	T		T	I	M
S	I	N	G	E	D			I	N	K		W	H	O	O
	L	E	I	A		M	A	P	S		S	W	A	N	K
			D	R	E	A	M	S	E	Q	U	E	N	C	E
Y	A	R	D	S	A	L	E		C	U	B		K	A	Y
O	L	A	Y		T	O	N	G	U	E		P	Y	R	E
R	O	K	U		E	N	D	U	R	E		B	O	D	Y
K	E	E	P		N	E	S	T	E	R		R	U	S	E

L	I	N	G	O		H	U	L	A		M	A	M	A
O	C	E	A	N		E	N	E	R	G	Y	T	A	X
F	O	R	T	E		W	H	I	T	E	G	A	Z	E
I	N	V	E	S	T	S				N	U	D	E	S
	S	E	C	T	S		S	H	A	D	Y
			R	E	P		P	O	L	E		F	A	E
	L	E	A	P		W	A	T	E	R	S	I	G	N
M	E	S	S	A	G	E	R	E	C	E	I	V	E	D
B	A	T	H	T	O	W	E	L		U	S	E	S
A	K	A		A	T	O	M		O	P	T
			S	T	O	N	E		W	H	E	T	S
A	S	A	H	I				I	N	O	R	O	U	T
N	O	C	O	M	M	E	N	T		R	A	N	T	O
T	H	E	R	E	I	T	I	S		I	C	A	R	E
S	O	R	T		D	A	L	Y		A	T	L	A	S

S	M	U	S	H		S	C	I		B	O	L	T	S
H	E	N	N	A		T	A	N		A	V	A	I	L
A	L	T	O	S		R	N	A		L	E	T	G	O
W	E	I	G	H	T	E	D	B	L	A	N	K	E	T
L	E	E		T	H	E	Y	S	A	Y		E	R	S
			P	A	Y	T	H	E	T	A	B
C	R	A	I	G		F	E	N		G	A	S	P	S
H	A	R	E	S		O	A	T		E	L	T	O	N
A	C	E	S		D	O	R	I	S		K	I	W	I
P	E	N		R	E	D	T	A	P	E		L	E	T
S	A	D	D	E	N				O	R	D	E	R	S
	H	E	A	V	Y	S	E	C	U	R	I	T	Y
H	E	L	M		I	O	T	A	S		A	T	O	M
B	A	L	E		N	O	T	R	E		N	O	G	O
O	D	E	S		G	N	A	T	S		A	S	A	P

A	C	H	O	O		E	D	S		S	A	L	E	M
P	L	A	N	K		N	Y	E		U	S	A	G	E
N	E	V	E	R	E	V	E	R		R	I	N	G	S
E	R	A		A	L	I		B	R	E	A	D	T	H
W	I	N	E		M	A	R	I	A			B	A	E
S	C	A	N	S		B	E	A	R	S	E	A	R	S
			R	E	A	L	M		E	N	A	C	T
		L	A	D	L	E		F	L	A	S	K
	N	I	G	E	L		R	O	Y	C	E
H	O	V	E	R	O	V	E	R		K	U	R	T	A
A	T	E			T	E	X	T	S		P	E	A	T
H	A	L	F	A	S	S		N	A	P		T	N	T
A	F	O	U	L		T	H	I	G	H	H	I	G	H
H	A	N	E	S		E	B	T		D	A	R	L	A
A	N	G	L	O		D	O	E		S	W	E	E	T

S	K	A			S	T	I	R		N	O	V	A	S
C	R	I	B		N	O	N	A	P	O	L	O	G	Y
R	I	R	I		I	T	S	H	A	N	D	L	E	D
E	S	C	O	R	T		E	R	I	E		C	N	N
W	H	O	S	E		S	C	A	N		W	A	D	E
U	N	O		F	I	L	T	H		C	O	N	E	Y
P	A	L	M	E	D	O	R		F	L	O	O	R
			A	R	E	W	E	G	O	O	D
	N	I	N	E	S		P	L	U	S	S	I	G	N
H	I	N	G	E		B	E	A	L	E		C	O	O
E	C	H	O		W	E	L	D		I	N	E	R	T
Y	E	A		F	A	L	L		U	N	I	P	O	D
N	O	S	P	O	I	L	E	R	S		T	O	G	O
O	N	T	H	E	F	E	N	C	E		S	P	U	N
W	E	E	D	S		S	T	A	R			S	E	E

I	T	S	O	N				S	E	E	S	F	I	T
N	E	W	D	A	D			H	A	V	E	A	G	O
T	R	E	E	T	O	P		E	R	E	C	T	E	D
E	R	A		S	C	R	O	L	L		R	I	T	A
N	A	R	C		S	O	I	L			E	M	I	T
D	I	J	O	N		F	L	O	W	S	T	A	T	E
	N	A	V	E	L		B	U	I	C	K
		R	E	P	A	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
			R	A	Z	O	R		S	T	O	P	S
I	M	A	L	L	E	A	R	S		S	C	O	O	P
M	O	R	E			D	E	L	A		K	I	L	L
P	O	R	T		A	T	L	A	S	T		L	O	U
A	L	I	T	T	L	E		T	A	G	T	E	A	M
C	A	V	E	A	T	S			P	I	E	R	C	E
T	H	E	R	O	O	T				F	A	S	T	S

Erik Agard author page

78 puzzles by Erik Agard with Constructor comments

77 daily crosswords by Erik Agard

1 Variety puzzle by Erik Agard

78 puzzles by Erik Agard
with Constructor comments

G	O	O	D	S			C	H	A	R		T	S	O
E	X	T	R	A	C	H	E	E	S	E		R	A	N
M	E	T	A	L	U	M	L	A	U	T		A	M	E
S	N	O	W		B	O	L	D		T	E	N	E	T
			L	A	B	S		L	E	A	D	S	T	O
		M	O	B	Y		V	I	V		S	P	O	T
	V	O	T	E		W	A	N	E	S		R	Y	E
F	I	R	S	T	G	E	N	E	R	A	T	I	O	N
U	S	A		S	O	B	E	R		N	A	D	U
N	U	L	L		L	O	S		D	A	L	E
F	A	C	E	O	F	F		B	E	A	K
A	L	O	O	F		L	A	R	A		T	I	N	T
C	A	D		A	N	I	M	A	L	L	O	V	E	R
T	I	E		G	U	E	S	S	T	I	M	A	T	E
S	D	S		E	S	S	O			T	E	N	S	E

R	I	C	A	N			M	O	M		C	M	O	N
A	W	A	R	E		F	I	V	E		A	A	V	E
C	O	N	C	O	U	R	S	E	S		N	Y	E	T
E	N	D	S		S	E	R	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
S	T	Y		T	E	T	E			V	C	R	S
		G	E	A	R		A	M	I	G	O
S	H	I	F	T		E	D	I	T		M	E	S	S
C	A	R	F	A	R	E		C	A	V	E	A	T	S
I	S	L	A		A	L	P	S		A	I	S	L	E
			M	O	S	S	Y		T	I	N	Y
	G	L	A	D			T	H	E	N		G	M	A
B	R	A	N	D	I	S	H	E	S		S	O	A	R
E	A	R	L		S	H	O	R	T	E	N	I	N	G
D	I	V	E		P	O	N	D		C	O	N	D	O
S	L	A	Y		Y	E	S			O	B	G	Y	N

C	U	T	A	W	A	Y	G	A	G		L	A	I	R
O	N	E	T	I	M	E	U	S	E		O	N	T	O
L	I	M	O	N	C	E	L	L	O		L	O	S	T
E	X	A	L	T			P	A	D			T	S	O
			L	E	S	T		N	E	I	T	H	E	R
L	I	T		R	H	E	A		S	N	E	E	R	S
A	C	H		M	A	N	G	A		S	A	R	I
W	H	I	T	E	Y	O	N	T	H	E	M	O	O	N
	O	R	A	L		R	E	L	I	C		N	U	B
M	O	S	C	O	W		S	A	L	T		E	S	C
E	S	T	O	N	I	A		S	L	I	T
T	E	T			N	E	A			V	O	I	C	E
E	Y	R	E		O	S	L	O	N	O	R	W	A	Y
R	O	A	R		N	O	T	F	O	R	S	A	L	E
S	U	P	S		A	P	O	T	H	E	O	S	I	S

P	E	P	S	U	P				T	O	A	S	T	S
S	T	R	O	V	E			F	I	R	S	T	U	P
T	H	O	M	A	S		H	A	L	O	H	A	L	O
	I	V	E		T	H	O	N				T	A	R
T	O	E	D			E	N	T	O		M	I	N	T
O	P	R	A	H		R	E	A	P		A	C	E	S
L	I	B	Y	A		O	Y	S	T	E	R
L	A	S	S	I		F	L	Y		L	I	S	T	S
			O	R	E	O	O	S		M	A	O	R	I
C	O	M	O		O	R	C	A		S	H	R	U	G
O	M	A	N		S	H	U	G			C	O	N	N
S	A	T				I	S	A	W		A	R	C
T	H	A	T	H	U	R	T		A	E	R	I	A	L
C	A	T	C	A	F	E			Y	V	E	T	T	E
O	N	A	U	T	O				S	A	Y	Y	E	S

N	A	S	A		A	P	P	A	L	L		P	R	E	P
O	V	E	R		D	A	H	L	I	A		R	U	L	E
R	O	C	K		D	R	I	F	T	S		E	S	M	E
E	C	O		F	I	T		R	E	S	T	S	T	O	P
F	A	N	T	A	S	Y	S	E	R	I	E	S
U	D	D	E	R		B	I	D	S		M	E	N	U
N	O	L	A		A	U	K			A	P	R	O	N	S
D	O	I		W	I	S	H	L	I	S	T		T	I	M
S	I	N	G	E	D			I	N	K		W	H	O	O
	L	E	I	A		M	A	P	S		S	W	A	N	K
			D	R	E	A	M	S	E	Q	U	E	N	C	E
Y	A	R	D	S	A	L	E		C	U	B		K	A	Y
O	L	A	Y		T	O	N	G	U	E		P	Y	R	E
R	O	K	U		E	N	D	U	R	E		B	O	D	Y
K	E	E	P		N	E	S	T	E	R		R	U	S	E

L	I	N	G	O		H	U	L	A		M	A	M	A
O	C	E	A	N		E	N	E	R	G	Y	T	A	X
F	O	R	T	E		W	H	I	T	E	G	A	Z	E
I	N	V	E	S	T	S				N	U	D	E	S
	S	E	C	T	S		S	H	A	D	Y
			R	E	P		P	O	L	E		F	A	E
	L	E	A	P		W	A	T	E	R	S	I	G	N
M	E	S	S	A	G	E	R	E	C	E	I	V	E	D
B	A	T	H	T	O	W	E	L		U	S	E	S
A	K	A		A	T	O	M		O	P	T
			S	T	O	N	E		W	H	E	T	S
A	S	A	H	I				I	N	O	R	O	U	T
N	O	C	O	M	M	E	N	T		R	A	N	T	O
T	H	E	R	E	I	T	I	S		I	C	A	R	E
S	O	R	T		D	A	L	Y		A	T	L	A	S

S	M	U	S	H		S	C	I		B	O	L	T	S
H	E	N	N	A		T	A	N		A	V	A	I	L
A	L	T	O	S		R	N	A		L	E	T	G	O
W	E	I	G	H	T	E	D	B	L	A	N	K	E	T
L	E	E		T	H	E	Y	S	A	Y		E	R	S
			P	A	Y	T	H	E	T	A	B
C	R	A	I	G		F	E	N		G	A	S	P	S
H	A	R	E	S		O	A	T		E	L	T	O	N
A	C	E	S		D	O	R	I	S		K	I	W	I
P	E	N		R	E	D	T	A	P	E		L	E	T
S	A	D	D	E	N				O	R	D	E	R	S
	H	E	A	V	Y	S	E	C	U	R	I	T	Y
H	E	L	M		I	O	T	A	S		A	T	O	M
B	A	L	E		N	O	T	R	E		N	O	G	O
O	D	E	S		G	N	A	T	S		A	S	A	P

A	C	H	O	O		E	D	S		S	A	L	E	M
P	L	A	N	K		N	Y	E		U	S	A	G	E
N	E	V	E	R	E	V	E	R		R	I	N	G	S
E	R	A		A	L	I		B	R	E	A	D	T	H
W	I	N	E		M	A	R	I	A			B	A	E
S	C	A	N	S		B	E	A	R	S	E	A	R	S
			R	E	A	L	M		E	N	A	C	T
		L	A	D	L	E		F	L	A	S	K
	N	I	G	E	L		R	O	Y	C	E
H	O	V	E	R	O	V	E	R		K	U	R	T	A
A	T	E			T	E	X	T	S		P	E	A	T
H	A	L	F	A	S	S		N	A	P		T	N	T
A	F	O	U	L		T	H	I	G	H	H	I	G	H
H	A	N	E	S		E	B	T		D	A	R	L	A
A	N	G	L	O		D	O	E		S	W	E	E	T

S	K	A			S	T	I	R		N	O	V	A	S
C	R	I	B		N	O	N	A	P	O	L	O	G	Y
R	I	R	I		I	T	S	H	A	N	D	L	E	D
E	S	C	O	R	T		E	R	I	E		C	N	N
W	H	O	S	E		S	C	A	N		W	A	D	E
U	N	O		F	I	L	T	H		C	O	N	E	Y
P	A	L	M	E	D	O	R		F	L	O	O	R
			A	R	E	W	E	G	O	O	D
	N	I	N	E	S		P	L	U	S	S	I	G	N
H	I	N	G	E		B	E	A	L	E		C	O	O
E	C	H	O		W	E	L	D		I	N	E	R	T
Y	E	A		F	A	L	L		U	N	I	P	O	D
N	O	S	P	O	I	L	E	R	S		T	O	G	O
O	N	T	H	E	F	E	N	C	E		S	P	U	N
W	E	E	D	S		S	T	A	R			S	E	E

I	T	S	O	N				S	E	E	S	F	I	T
N	E	W	D	A	D			H	A	V	E	A	G	O
T	R	E	E	T	O	P		E	R	E	C	T	E	D
E	R	A		S	C	R	O	L	L		R	I	T	A
N	A	R	C		S	O	I	L			E	M	I	T
D	I	J	O	N		F	L	O	W	S	T	A	T	E
	N	A	V	E	L		B	U	I	C	K
		R	E	P	A	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
			R	A	Z	O	R		S	T	O	P	S
I	M	A	L	L	E	A	R	S		S	C	O	O	P
M	O	R	E			D	E	L	A		K	I	L	L
P	O	R	T		A	T	L	A	S	T		L	O	U
A	L	I	T	T	L	E		T	A	G	T	E	A	M
C	A	V	E	A	T	S			P	I	E	R	C	E
T	H	E	R	O	O	T				F	A	S	T	S