Category: Personalized Cryptics

And Now For Something Completely Cryptic

7/6/2017

Today’s the day! If you meander down to your local library or bookstore today and pick up a copy of Montreal Review of Books, you’ll find a cryptic crossword puzzle written by yours truly.
(You can also download the puzzle right here -->)

mrb_crossword.pdf
File Size:	79 kb
File Type:	pdf

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It’s the first time I’ve had a cryptic in print and I'm thrilled. It's especially cool to know that The Bookshelf in Guelph, which was my favourite hang-out in high school, will have copies.

This is a special puzzle because it was custom made for the Summer 2017 issue of Montreal Review of Books. I absolutely love this publication, which exists to highlight the literature of English-language writers and publishers from Quebec, and I wanted the puzzle to reflect that. Six of the clues are personalized, including three clues that make reference to authors whose books are reviewed in this issue (one of the reviews was written by me).

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Happy Cryptic To Me!

1/27/2017

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It’s my birthday!
As a special present for myself, I carved out a little time every day of the last week and put together a cryptic crossword with personalized clues.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the momentum that good puzzles have and with this one, I’ve paid close attention to the difficulty level of each clue in the hopes that solvers will be pulled along.

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How The Cryptic Gets In

12/31/2015

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December was a month that started out hectic and only became more frenzied as the days wore on. Our flight left on the 20th and as the date approached, it was starting to look like I wouldn’t get everything crossed off my “to do” list before boarding. For the most part I didn’t mind but one item that stung was my annual Christmas Cryptic, a personalized puzzle I build for my family every year.

Ostensibly, the Christmas cryptic is my gift to the family. Really, it’s a gift that the family gives to me. I savour their coos of excitement as my parents, sister and husband first glimpse the grid. I smile ear to ear as they retreat to the armchairs and couches with mugs of coffee, ballpoint pens, and the puzzle. “Which one are you working on now?” I pester excitedly. “Have you got 12 Across yet?”

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Up Close and Cryptic

8/8/2014

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I wrote the cryptic crossword tutorial on this website because a friend was in a tough situation and there was nothing I could do.

This friend is an aid worker who has dedicated her professional life to alleviating the suffering of others, primarily through the prevention of starvation and malnutrition. She works in countries that have been wrenched apart by war and natural disaster.

She works extremely long hours under difficult conditions and she is often lonely. When she is, there is very little I can do to help and that breaks my heart.

When I am lonely, distraction helps and as you know from the contents of this website, I find cryptic crosswords to be a wonderful distraction. I could not give my friend a hug or make her dinner but perhaps I could distract her from her loneliness, I reasoned. Perhaps I could show her the hidden door that leads into the magically complex world of cryptics, and in so doing, give her some respite from the world around her. I wrote her a guide to solving cryptic crosswords. And, to make the process as engaging as possible, I wrote her a personalized puzzle, with clues and answers designed especially for her.

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Cryptic Control to Major Tom

6/5/2014

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I don't typically read memoirs but I recently sat down with astronaut Chris Hadfield's autobiography and it was great. Hadfield generalizes the things that made him successful as an astronaut to every day life in a way that I found surprisingly relatable. (The full title of the book is "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth".)

Three things in the book caught my particular attention.

The first was Hadfield's advice to start making choices that are consistent with your long-term goals. For example, when he was tempted, in childhood, to skip his homework, he would ask himself which a future astronaut would do -- complete his homework or slack off -- then, act accordingly. (Hint: no one gets to be an astronaut by slacking.)

The second was his recommendation to be prepared for the situation you'd like to be in, even if it's a long shot. He describes how he prepared for a possible but unlikely appearance alongside Elton John by learning to play "Rocket Man" on the guitar. (It was unneccessary, it turns out.)

The third thing that caught my attention was this:
Chris and Helene Hadfield do the New York Times crossword puzzle every Sunday.

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And Now For Something Completely Cryptic

Happy Cryptic To Me!

How The Cryptic Gets In

Up Close and Cryptic

Cryptic Control to Major Tom

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