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Michael J. Doran author page

7 puzzles by Michael J. Doran
with Constructor comments

TotalDebutLatest
79/16/200311/8/2016
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1141000
RebusScrabbleFresh
11.5019%
Michael J. Doran
View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Editor (1)Jeff Chen (2)Jim Horne (1)Hide comments

See the 32 answer words debuted by Michael J. Doran.

Alternate names for this constructor:
Michael Doran, Mike Doran
Puzzles constructed by Michael J. Doran by year
Tue 11/8/2016
HARPPACEWATTS
OLIOTRONHIREE
STATEBIRDIKEAS
TOLLROADSTEERS
UMASHEENA
BIGCATSATTNAB
LARKCONTEIVE
OMEARALSEAMAE
ABEROMEONAIF
TINTIPNASALLY
LESLIETIM
GAIETYSMOKEOUT
ANGLOOPENHOUSE
ETHERNYSENSEC
LITRETSARETDS

This puzzle was accepted back in January 2013. I was pleasantly surprised last week when I got an email saying the puzzle would run today, as I'd completely forgotten about it being in the queue.

It's hard to give too much insight into the construction since I made this puzzle about four years ago. I do remember I got this theme idea while driving to work and passing a realtor's sign for an OPEN HOUSE. I spent the rest of the ride thinking of prefixes for HOUSE, and luckily for me there were lots of options to make common phrases from. I then got fortunate to include a few extra of these theme entries from my list when the stacks worked at 17/20 and 55/61-across.

Will and Joel did change a good amount of clues for this puzzle (for the better!), but I'm glad they left my opening clue at 1-across, as "She's Leaving Home" has always been one of my favorite Beatles songs.

The Election Day crossword has big shoes to fill after the famous CLINTON/BOB DOLE puzzle, so despite not being as clever as that puzzle, I hope solvers nonetheless enjoyed this one today. If nothing else, I hope it served as a nice diversion from this year's polarizing election.

Tue 11/12/2013
JETSRATEDGHOP
EARPAPOGEEERR
DRAFTDODGERRIO
ISMWARDCMON
DIRTYDANCING
CANONSIDEST
EXAMSANERCAD
DEMOLITIONDERBY
ESEORALSBALE
DURANTABBED
DUNKINDONUTS
IRAEROTASAS
MGMDOUBLEDUTCH
LEEONSITENATO
YDSSTATESIN2D

This theme idea came in the way that many constructors get their ideas — at the last possible time one would think they'd come up with one. Believe it or not, I was watching Jeopardy! one night while drinking something from Dunkin' Donuts when a player hit a Daily Double. I noticed the two phrases and their alliteration on the letter D, and the rest, as they say, is history. Then I simply added the twist of IN2D for an extra kicker in the SE corner. As an avid fan of Jeopardy! I was upset that due to certain constraints that Daily Double didn't make it into the grid, but I feel I came across enough common phrases to make the theme work. I hope Trebek will understand.

Sun 6/27/2010 TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
SWALESLURDARTSSAND
PISANTUNEDRURYAGEE
FILMCRITICATMANLOVE
BIERSOLYMPICLUGER
DEPENDKARLALLSET
AMOROSOSKOPJEPECAN
RANTERATYAOAGESAGO
LIZTABLOIDWRITERSER
ALIBISIRSSERTMINE
SITUTITHEDISBANDS
LICKINGALEVEPEACOAT
ACHESFORERINSTROW
NEEDEROSACTIENOCH
CAMELECTIONLOSERRHO
EXEMPTSRELOPENSKAL
TERISAISLESEDMEESE
NORISKIGETSOARED
TELEMARKETERHOURS
OLIOYESOREBAYPATRON
GAELONINETINELAURA
ANNANENESSTERSRTAS
Tue 8/22/2006
SEWERPLACETHE
AMORELENINOAR
WORDSANTICDIN
ITDEPENDSHAIRS
NESOXESSANEST
SKATLENO
PROTEMSECTIONS
RENOIDIOTNUIT
EXAMINESINTIME
PREYNOES
GREEKSGONEFOP
ROADSLETSDRIVE
OATOMANIFIRES
PDAMARIOUTERO
ESTESSENLASTS
Wed 4/6/2005
JIMSYAKSSCANT
IDEAOREOHATER
BODYGUARDESSAY
ELSIELADEHERS
NRATELECAST
BINGEDRINKER
OLEZENLOFTS
MISDEEDRESPIRE
BASICTICSUE
PHOTOGRAPHER
BOWLOVERUSA
OLEOANNAIRONS
ADAMSTAKEASHOT
SINAIEDIEEIRE
TESTSDONECOAT
Mon 4/19/2004
LOBONADIAIMPS
ALUMUSERSNARC
MEREDINESBRIE
BORNAGAINSEDAN
SKIMEALTIME
BTUINCSOW
LIVINGONTHEEDGE
EDENMEREIRE
DEADASADOORNAIL
IWONYELPS
REVERSESSPA
EDIFYTHATSLIFE
UGLIOHAREALEX
SELLLEVERMILE
EDAMDRESSOATS
Tue 9/16/2003
RAMPSPOSTOWES
AMOREATOMBENT
HITOVERTHEFENCE
PERKONESTAR
INKROADBEIGE
DIEASSISINEO
OCEANGERALD
EPICGREEKPOET
ARENASPOPUP
IDSPETROLTNT
COEDSSOREHES
ESCAPEDBETA
BARTANDLISASDAD
AGEECAINRHODE
GETSEYESTYSON
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