Taylor Johnson author page
5 puzzles by Taylor Johnson
with Constructor comments
Taylor Johnson, of Minneapolis, is a stay-at-home dad who volunteers at a food co-op.
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We're excited to share a byline in The New York Times for the first (but hopefully not the last!) time. The two of us have collaborated on several other puzzles, which have appeared in The LA Times, Crosswords Club, and Universal Crosswords.
Another project we've worked on together is the Grids for Kids charity puzzle pack, for which we both volunteered as editors. We vetted themes (which are all related to parenting!) and helped edit a suite of puzzles for kids and adults. With a small donation to a kid-centered charity of your choice, you can download the puzzle pack, which consists of 17 themed puzzles, 2 cryptics, and 6 puzzles for kids. We're both parents of young children, Taylor with a 2- and 4-year-old, and Christina with a 3= and 5-year-old, so we were particularly inspired by this project.
Finally, a quick plug for Taylor's side project, Lemonade Disco, a platform for new constructors to showcase their talent in a supportive space. A new suite of puzzles is available every two months, edited by Taylor, Shannon Rapp, and Steve Mossberg.
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| R | S | S | H | A | R | D | C | S | O | L | E | C | O | R | G | I | |||||
| M | I | A | D | E | T | S | A | R | A | P | E | S | F | I | T | T | E | D | |||
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We want to thank the editing team, and especially Christina Iverson, for their patience and expertise while we made this puzzle into what you see today. Their efforts and guidance really helped this puzzle shine, and we are deeply appreciative that we get to share it with you all.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, our reality TV top three of all time:
Chandi
- Selling Sunset
- America's Next Top Model
- The Bachelor/Bachelorette Franchise
Taylor
- Planet Earth
- America's Funniest Home Videos
- Ted Lasso
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TAYLOR: This is one of the first puzzles I ever wrote, dating back to June 2021. I don't recall what inspired the idea, but I am grateful to Jeff for taking it on and providing me with my first bits of mentorship as I was very new to construction. Most of what I remember from this time in my life was the eight weeks of paternity leave I was on, as my daughter had just been born that spring. I remember many family walks, early mornings fueled by coffee, and my newfound love for making crosswords. It was a turning point in my life, and this puzzle serves as a welcome reminder of that.
Quick plug for my indie crosswords project: "lemonade disco". I'm still taking submissions of puzzles and queries for the current prompt: "game night." Visit www.taylormadecrosswords.com for more info. Thanks!!
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Great to be back in the Times! Truthfully, I don't remember much about constructing this puzzle other than it was made during a time I was obsessed with hidden word themes. Part of it may have been conceived while visiting family in Montana. All I remember is when I stumbled on 9-Down, I felt it would make for a perfect reveal.
I also want to encourage everyone to head to www.gridsforkids.com and check out this charity puzzle pack that just went live a couple of days ago. I'm honored to say I was part of the editing team for these puzzles and also a contributor. Thanks!
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Hi everyone! Thrilled to be making my NYT debut today. The inspiration for this puzzle struck me one day while making dinner with my (then) three-year old. I'm happy to report that Friday's are now the traditional 62-Across night in our household. Hope y'all enjoy!
Also, I wanted to take a minute to plug a crossword project I've been working on since this past summer: "lemonade disco". In an effort to support this inspiring community, I basically turned my indie blog into a venue for constructors to be published. I curate, edit, and publish a suite of puzzles each month for the world to solve! Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate! The next suite drops THIS THURSDAY the 17th.
More info can be found at www.taylormadecrosswords.com
Lastly, feel free to reach out! I'm always open to feedback, and I'm always willing to help others curious about the world of crossword construction. You can find me on Twitter @lemonade_disco_