Sega's hedgehog holds variable speed for many players (9) It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Sara's Halloween cryptic is an annual highlight in The Browser. No time like the present to check out all five of them if you haven't!

Crossword's conclusion leaves spirit low (3) @danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog. I hope it brightens your day! squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...

I've had a go at a puzzle for the American market in @avcx.bsky.social . avxwords.com. Thanks to @francisheaney.bsky.social for getting it in shape. I was advised against too much depressing reality, but was allowed one: Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)

Too American to lead English orchestra (4) Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Quick thing I gotta go do (4)

Mel Taub, the former Puns and Anagrams constructor and prince of puns, has died at 97. Obit written by the incomparable Penelope Green. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...

Me today: Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)

Dictator's hurt nation's capital (4) Delay evident in reactions to new allegations (9) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!

90 is a lot of puzzles, David. 🐙

I used to make these Quiptics to help my fellow North Americans grasp the more deceptive UK cluing style by limiting the wordplay devices to one per clue. Every once in a while I get the urge to set a few more for my old blog. Here's a new batch. squarepursuit.com/2025/08/19/q... #cryptic #crossword

In life things are rarely black and white. Except peppermint patties. People either love them or hate them.

I have a beginner-level mini #cryptic #crossword out on AVCX (@avcx.bsky.social). It's been fun working with @mossdef.bsky.social as editor. Do subscribe/buy if you can! avxwords.com/puzzles/1857/

Mog day in the Indy! Always good fun // @mossdef.bsky.social puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

It was a real pleasure editing this one, and not a cryptic to sleep on if you're up for the challenge!

We are less than $700 away from our goal, with one day left! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has helped us get here!! Fundraising ends tomorrow, Saturday, May 31. Don’t wait until the last minute! fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

The absolute highlight of my puzzling year, every year!

Want to hear a cool story about reproductive justice, mutual aid, and crossword puzzles? Let me tell you about These Puzzles Fund Abortion (www.abortionpuzzles.com / @tpfa.bsky.social), a crossword puzzle fundraiser that has raised over $350,000 in five years for abortion funds. 1/9

Monster herb is leek in the end (8) It's Mog again in @the-independent.com cryptic crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

New color; color has no limits! (3) #cryptic

We reached $30K this week! 🤑 That’s 6,000 💵 EACH to @baltimorefund.bsky.social Tampa Bay Abortion Fund Chicago Abortion Fund @iwrising.bsky.social Mariposa Fund We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to and shared our campaign! Thank you, thank you!! 💜 fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

Episode 3 of Crosstalk with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Credit to the constructors of this puzzle, @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social and @enriqueha.bsky.social !

80 is a lot of puzzles, David. 🐙

Dessert of maki rolls before soba and udon at the end (8) #cryptic #crossword

It’s not a competition… because we believe all abortion fundraising is GREAT! But it does warm our hearts to see TPFA on the leaderboard. That’s thanks to you! We still have a long way to go to reach our goal, so why not tell all your friends about our awesome crossword pack? Fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

To all the cool people I talked to this weekend at the 2025 #ACPT: Notice ooze leaking out the back (3) Who solves cryptics? Sheep I hear (3) Cry at deli counter, going through Kleenex ten-pack (4) Graduating class finally pay attention (4) It was so fun catching up with/meeting everybody!

I'm in the Independent! (Bluejacket, 12010, Mon 7th Apr 25) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Say what gets publicity, I say (4) This and more from me in the Indy #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Jess's puzzle here is awesome! It was great to have her as part of our important project. Please give it a try!

Headed to subscribers tonight, the perfect dessert. patreon.com/squarechase

This is a witty, soulful piece about my favorite kind of puzzle. I'm quite flattered to have my work mentioned in there.

Will really knows his stuff! I highly recommend this for puzzle makers who haven't had the chance to read it yet.

This was extremely useful advice to me early on.

Lots of new cryptic people on BlueSky now - so it's a good time to reshare this treasure trove of information and advice about setting from the late Neil Shepherd, with thanks to @willsnow8.bsky.social for organising www.alberich-crosswords.com

live now streaming quartiles, puzz society games, and some puzzles from the most recent @tpfa.bsky.social puzzle pack by @sallyhoelscher.bsky.social, @sarathegood.bsky.social and @mossdef.bsky.social. www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

It's so weird, I was mysteriously added to this top secret group chat and someone dropped a link to a site where you can donate money to abortion funds in exchange for crossword puzzles. Has this happened to anyone else?? fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the... @tpfa.bsky.social

Registration opens April 2 🎉 midwestgridfest.com

A portion of the proceeds from buying our merch is donated to the TPFA fundraiser!

If you need something else to do tonight, you could always donate to support abortion funds and get some crossword puzzles to solve instead of watching whatever is happening on tv 😇 So close to $10,000! fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...

Some Kieran or Adrien that snagged an Oscar (5) #cryptic #crossword

Some Kieran or Adrien that snagged an Oscar (5) #cryptic #crossword

I've been pretty quiet in the puzzle community, partly because a lot of things have changed in my life. If you want to know about one of those things (which is consuming a lot of my mind and heart), solve "Breaking Free" from this pack. I can't talk about it here or now, but it's autobiographical.

And it’s a good one!

Folks, I’m honored to be the cryptics and variety puzzles editor for this amazing crossword pack. It’s an incredibly important cause. Please join in the fun and lend your support!

New feature at Daily Crossword Links! Under the leadership of @jessbevrucks.bsky.social we'll host a Constructor Spotlight once a month. First up is @clr-xw.bsky.social who talks chemistry and cats in addition to crosswords dailycrosswordlinks.com/2025/02/27/c...

So proud, and so excited!

We are in the final stretch of editing These Puzzles Fund Abortion 5! I am so proud of the puzzles we've pulled together — although times are dark, our puzzles highlight joy, community, and solidarity 💕✨ You can learn more and donate for presale here: fund.nnaf.org/tpfa

The internet is our friend again! Fundraising site is working now (phew 😅): fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...

My friends at Crossweird, who have so flatteringly framed my punim here, are doing a great job getting fresh midi cryptics to the people and getting new setters paid. I had so much fun doing this. Go give them a try!