Please hold...

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted a puzzle to the blog! Well, it’s been a heck of a year. I’ve been editing little puzzles for Lil AVC X and doing my other usual stuff and also be getting sick from and recovering from COVID a few times since last I posted. So. Fun!

Anyhoo. I constructed the latest Lil AVC X puzzle, so I thought I’d put out a companion here. They don’t really have much in common other than both being the same size and both being by me. Most notably, no one else has looked over this puzzle — so if you see a typo or other whoopsie, please let me know! Or if you stream it. Or if you just want to say hi.

Heart Specialists

The AVCX Expansion was successfully kickstarted! Lil AVC X — a.k.a. the midi puzzle division, edited by Brooke, Enrique, and me — announced our line-up of constructors! And now, our very first puzzle has dropped: A little heart-shaped puzzle that I wrote! You can try this one for free even if you haven’t subscribed yet, but I encourage you to get a subscription. First month’s free, so you can see if you’re into it. Which I hope you are, but either way, have a heart-shaped day! 💜

A cool Kickstarter

Perhaps you’ve heard the news? The AVCX, an online crossword service that has been putting out quality puzzles (and paying constructors quality fees!) for fifteen years is looking to expand. It’ll go from being a weekly 15x puzzle to becoming a daily feature with a wide variety of puzzles—themed and themeless puzzles, cryptics, some trivia, and some bite-sized “midi” puzzles (about the size of the puzzle below). And guess what? I’m going to be one of the editors of the midi feature! I’ll be working with Brooke Husic and Enrique Henestroza Anguiano to bring you a wide variety of voices, challenges, and fun experiences. So go check out our Kickstarter!

And while you’re there, you might see that it’s the start of what we’re calling Hype Week. We’re putting out a week of puzzles from all the new features to show you what it will be like when our funding goals are successful. And the first puzzle is a weird little grid by me! Amazing!

If that’s not enough, here’s a little bonus hype for Hype Week. This puzzle is just between you and me, OK? It hasn’t been edited, it isn’t meant to be “fair”, and it’s not as representative of the work we’re going to put out with AVCX. Hopefully it’s still fun. Because this is all supposed to be fun. Enjoy!

(Oh hey wait also I did a puzzle in cahoots with Norah Sharpe as part of her amazing NaCroWriMo! It’s just… peachy.)

Kitchen Party (with Brooke Husic)

Oh, I see I forgot to add a link to a little themeless puzzle I made with Brooke! It’s hosted over on Norah’s site (and you should check out all the other puzzles there). Note that, although it’s an 11x11, it’s incredibly hard. It’s solvable, but very hard, and hopefully worth it. Enjoy!

BAF!

The fabulous Rachel Fabi asked if I’d be willing to contribute a puzzle to a fundraiser for the Baltimore Abortion Fund, and how could I say no? Like most people, I am frustrated and outraged by the lack of equitable, accessible healthcare in the US.* While we fight for more systemic solutions, we need to take care of people now. So if you can, please donate to this campaign — and, as thanks, you will receive a dozen or so thematically appropriate puzzles from some all-star constructors! And also me.

But here, let’s let Rachel explain more:

We are thrilled to release our crossword pack, "These Puzzles Fund Abortion," in support of the Baltimore Abortion Fund (BAF), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to people who live in or travel to Maryland for abortion care. BAF is part of the National Network of Abortion Funds, which consists of 70+ independently operated funds across the country. Abortion funds like BAF work to ensure that people have access to the resources necessary to make the decisions that are best for them and their family by removing financial barriers that may otherwise prevent them from accessing abortion care.  

This puzzle pack was made by a group of crossword constructors who are dedicated to promoting reproductive justice: Chris Piuma (midi-puzzle); Claire Rimkus; Matthew Stock; Rebecca Goldstein; Robyn Weintraub; Erica Wojcik; Natan Last; Nate Cardin; Brooke Husic; Finn Vigeland; Martha Kimes; Juliana Tringali Golden; Erik Agard; and Rachel Fabi.

Note: the puzzle pack is not yet available, but all donations to BAF made through this page before April 9, 2021 will pre-register you to receive the puzzles in the first wave of the release!

And so here’s my puzzle from the collection, as a little sampler. If you enjoy it, please give what you can!

* While Canada, where I live now, has significantly more equitable and accessible healthcare, it could also be a heck of a lot better. But that’s a story for another day.