New and notable

📚 I'm delighted to share "Word Search Puzzles For Brain Fitness," another book in the 90-Day Challenge series from Zeitgeist and Penguin Random House! The book features 102 themed word searches of varying difficulties — if you're looking for some light, engaging puzzling, click here. (July 15, 2025)

Other puzzles

📚 I co-wrote a book of mid-sized puzzles with Aimee Lucido, which you can purchase here.

🧩 I write midi crosswords, hints, and Circuits puzzles for Puzzmo, a daily puzzles and games home page. You can find my profile here.

🧪🔮 Since May ’26, I've contributed levels to TED Games' Letter Brew, which you can play daily here.

📓 Since March ’25, I've written monthly crosswords for JSTOR Daily (mostly 7x7 with the occasional 15x15). You can find them here.

🔲 From March ’23 – April ’26, I created levels for Squared Away, a bite-sized word game at the Puzzle Society.

More fun stuff

🪿 12/12/24: “Take It From Me: See Birding As a Puzzle” (Audubon)

💡 11/15/24: Puzzmo newsletter conversation with Brooke Husic

🎥 2/6/22: Boswords Winter Wondersolve Interview

with Featured Solvers Rebecca Neipris and Darby Ratliff

📰 3/5/21: “St. Louisans Create Crosswords for Sid's Grids, Happy Little Puzzles, and The New York Times” (Ladue News)

🎧 1/13/21: “These 2 St. Louisans Are Bringing New Life To Crossword Puzzles” (St. Louis Public Radio)

Many of my puzzles are published in newspapers and online. You can find them here.

7/6/26: “Bird's the Word,” Apple News+
7/1/26: “You've Got Mail,” AVCX*
6/14/26: “Funny Business,” USA Today
6/11/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
6/5/26: “Magic Shell,” USA Today
5/31/26: “24/7 Coverage (Freestyle),” USA Today
5/30/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
5/6/26: “Long Road,” Apple News+*
4/26/26: “Themeless Sunday 181,” Universal
4/23/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
4/1/26: “A Breath of Fresh Air,” The New York Times*
3/28/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
3/22/26: “You Have A Point,” USA Today
3/17/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
3/15/26: “Justice is Served,” These Puzzles Fund Abortion 6 (with Hope Allchin)
3/15/26: “Major Concerns,” Universal Sunday (with Sam Koperwas)
3/5/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
2/10/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
2/9/26: “Italian Class,” Defector*
2/9/26: The New York Times Crossword*
2/6/26: AVCX Cryptic Crossword*
1/22/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
1/13/26: Apple News+ Crossword*
1/11/26: The Atlantic Crossword (with Will Nediger)
1/8/26: Apple News+ Crossword*

🧩

12/30/25: “Outfox,” USA Today (pdf)
12/30/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
12/15/25: “Themeless No. 9,” Yale Public Humanities (pdf/puz)
12/15/25 “Out of Court,” Defector*
12/7/25: “Cryptic #250,” The Browser (with Steve Mossberg)*
12/6/25: “Sleep In,” USA Today (pdf)
12/4/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
12/1/25: “Cryptic No. 2,” Subtropics (pdf)
11/28/25: “A Filling Puzzle,” USA Today (pdf)
11/23/25: “Themeless Sunday 160,” Universal (pdf)
11/22/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
11/17/25: “Pennywise,” Apple News+*
11/13/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
11/9/25 The New York Times Variety Crossword (with Brooke Husic)*
11/2/25: “Tail End,” Apple News+*
10/21/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
10/20/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (pdf/puz)
10/16/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
10/7/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Mark Valdez) (pdf/puz)
10/7/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
9/30/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
9/15/25: The New York Times Crossword (with Michael Lieberman)*
9/14/25: “For the Love of the Game,” Apple News+*
9/8/25: “Chomp Chomp,” Defector (with Hope Allchin)*
9/2/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
8/24/25: The Atlantic Crossword (pdf/puz)
8/23/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Willa Angel Chen Miller) (pdf/puz)
8/12/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
8/8/25: The New York Times Crossword (with Rafael Musa)*
7/30/25: “Tear Down,” USA Today (pdf)
7/27/25: “Character Sketches,” Apple News+*
7/24/25: AVCX Cryptic Crossword*
7/15/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
7/1/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
6/23/25: “Lines of Business,” Defector*
5/28/25: “AV Classic Themeless #82,” AVCX (with Caitlin Reid)*
5/20/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
5/19/25: “Off-Center,” Puzzmo Big|Crossword
5/15/25: “Themeless No. 8,” Yale Public Humanities (pdf/puz)
5/6/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
5/4/25: “All Together Now (Freestyle),” USA Today (pdf)
5/1/25: “Cryptic No. 1,” Subtropics (pdf)
4/24/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
4/14/25: “😀🟢,” Apple News+*
4/9/25: “We Are The Champions (Freestyle),” USA Today (pdf)
4/2/25: “Taste The Nation,” USA Today (pdf)
3/29/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
3/17/25: “Good Vibrations (Freestyle),” USA Today (pdf)
3/17/25: “Penalty Boxes,” Defector*
3/11/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
3/8/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Erica Hsiung Wojcik) (pdf/puz)
3/6/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
3/1/25: “Cinnamon Roll,” These Puzzles Fund Abortion 5*
2/25/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
2/8/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Amie Walker) (pdf/puz)
2/6/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
2/5/25: “Look BeforeYou Leap,” AVCX (with Jeremy Newton)*
2/2/25: “Fudge RIP-ple (Freestyle),” USA Today (pdf)
1/29/25: “Stretching Exercises,” Universal (pdf/puz)
1/27/25: “Spirit of the Game (Freestyle),” USA Today (pdf)
1/21/25: “Singin' In The Rain,” USA Today (pdf)
1/17/25: “Where it's At,” USA Today (pdf)
1/16/25: Apple News+ Crossword*
1/2/25: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (pdf/puz)

🧩

2024 12/22/24: “Resolve,” Apple News+ 12/21/24: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Stacey Yaruss McCullough) 12/8/24: “Cryptic #201,” The Browser (with Kate Baicker) 12/2/24: “Bed Bath & Beyond,” USA Today (with Mark Valdez) 11/29/24: Apple News+ Crossword 11/29/24: The New York Times Crossword (with Willa Angel Chen Miller) 11/7/24: American Values Club Cryptic Crossword 11/4/24: Apple News+ Crossword 10/23/24: The New York Times Crossword (with Brooke Husic) 10/1/24: Apple News+ Crossword 9/15/24: “Themeless 83,” The Modern 9/10/24: Apple News+ Crossword 9/1/24: “Product Integration,” New York Times (w/ Chandi Deitmer) 8/29/24: “Water Signs,” USA Today 8/25/24: “Color TV,” USA Today 8/20/24: Apple News+ Crossword 7/27/24: The New York Times Crossword (with Barbara Lin) 7/26/24: “Place Setting,” Apple News+ 6/29/24: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Nate Cardin) 5/29/24: The Los Angeles Times Crossword 5/9/24: American Values Club Cryptic Crossword 5/4/24: “Let's Roll!” USA Today 4/26/24: The New York Times Crossword (with Christina Iverson) 4/23/24: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Wendy Brandes) 4/5/24: “Destroy Buzz Lightyear,” AVCX+ 4/4/24: “Gone Fishing,” USA Today 3/27/24: “Themeless No. 5,” Yale Public Humanities 3/27/24: “Cover All Your Bases,” AVCX 3/15/24: “Themeless No. 4,” Yale Public Humanities 3/15/24: The New Yorker Crossword: "Poking Holes" (with Tracy Gray) 3/15/24: “Cinnamon Roll,” These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4 3/10/24: “Rack 'Em Up,” New York Times (with Enrique Henestroza Anguiano) 3/4/24: “Double Team,” Defector 2/29/24: “Table Talk,” Universal 2/26/24: “Hit the Gym,” Apple News+ 2/21/24: “Daybreak,” USA Today 2/20/24: Apple News+ Crossword 2/18/24: “Food Drive,” USA Today 2/16/24: “Themeless No. 3," Yale Public Humanities 2/12/24: “Bad Hare Day (Freestyle),” USA Today 2/11/24: “Center of Attention,” Los Angeles Times (with Chandi Deitmer) 2/7/24: “Oh! Oh!” Apple News+ 2/2/24: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Amie Walker) 1/29/24: “#Gains,” Apple News+ 1/27/24: “Livin' on the Edge (Freestyle),” USA Today 1/20/24: The New York Times Crossword (with Caitlin Reid) 1/3/24: “It's Alright,” Apple News+ (with Brooke Husic)

2023 12/31/23: “Midnights,” USA Today 12/31/23: “Squad Goals, Los Angeles Times (with Miranda Carson) 12/17/23: “Come Inside,” USA Today (with Willa Angel Chen Miller) 12/16/23: “Multicolor Medley,” The Modern (with May Huang) 12/13/23: “Open Doors,” Universal (w/ Jess Goldstein) 12/9/23: “Awesome!” The Modern (w/ Taylor Johnson) 12/6/23: “World Bank,” American Values Club 11/29/23: “Loose Ends,” Apple News+ 11/26/23: “Themeless Sunday 61,” Universal 11/19/23: “It's Raining Men,” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 11/13/23: “Go For a Dip (Freestyle),” USA Today 11/13/23: The Los Angeles Times Crossword 11/12/23: “Themeless 48,” The Modern (with Rafael Musa) 11/8/23: “Mince Meat,” Apple News+ 11/6/23: “Group Hug,” Defector 11/5/23: “We're All In This Together,” USA Today 11/4/23: “Freestyle 97,” Universal 11/2/23: Apple News+ Crossword 10/29/23: “Bop to the Top,” USA Today 10/26/23: Apple News+ Crossword 10/25/23: “DMs,” USA Today (with Mark Valdez) 10/23/23: “Dress Down,” Yale Public Humanities 10/22/23: “When There Was Me And You,” USA Today 10/21/23: “Oral Exam,” The Modern (with Bill Pipal) 10/21/23: The Los Angeles Times Crossword 10/16/23: “Inflation Measures,” Universal 10/15/23: “Stick to the Status Quo,” USA Today 10/11/23: “Let 'Er Rip!” USA Today (with Emet Ozar) 10/9/23: “Nice 2 C U,” Apple News+ 10/8/23: “Get'cha Head in the Game,” USA Today 10/2/23: “10 and 2,” USA Today 10/1/23: “Themeless 42,” The Modern (with Nova Qi) 9/29/23: “TTYL,” USA Today (with Natasha Isloor) 9/25/23: “What I've Been Looking For (Reprise),” USA Today 9/24/23: “What I've Been Looking For,” USA Today 9/23/23: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Caitlin Reid) 9/22/23: “Bursting with Flavor,” AVCX+ 9/17/23: “Start of Something New,” USA Today 9/16/23: Apple News+ Crossword 9/10/23: “Themeless 39,” The Modern 9/8/23: “Last Call,” USA Today (with Darby Ratliff) 9/5/23: “Themeless No. 2,” Yale Public Humanities 9/3/23: “Breaking Free,” USA Today 9/2/23: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (w/ Jimmy Peniston) 9/1/23: The New Yorker Crossword: “Put in the Hours” 9/1/23: “Spots of Color,” Apple News+ 8/25/23: “Da Ba Dee Da Ba Di,” Apple News+ 8/20/23: “Themeless 36,” The Modern (w/ Amanda Rafkin) 8/20/23: “Tag Up,” USA Today 8/16/23: “Waterfowl,” Apple News+ 8/13/23: “Blood Bank,” Los Angeles Times 8/11/23: “Take A T.O.," USA Today 8/9/23: The New York Times Crossword (with Caryn Robbins) 8/7/23: Apple News+ Crossword 8/6/23: “Riseball,” USA Today 7/29/23: “T-Tops,” USA Today 7/26/23: Apple News+ Crossword 7/20/23: The Los Angeles Times Crossword 7/17/23: “Above Board,” USA Today 7/15/23: “Freestyle 81,” Universal (with Rafael Musa) 7/9/23: “P.S. I Love You,” USA Today 7/6/23: Apple News+ Crossword 6/28/23: “Food Chain,” USA Today 6/3/23: “After the Bell,” USA Today 6/2/23: “On the Plus Side,” AVCX+ 5/14/23: “RV Kitchen,” USA Today 5/4/23: “4 B.C.,” USA Today (with May Huang) 5/1/23: “The New York Times Crossword (with Alina Abidi) 4/30/23: “Inbox Zero,” Los Angeles Times (with Stacey Y. McCullough) 4/28/23: The New Yorker Crossword: “High Spirits” 4/21/23: The New York Times Crossword (with Erica Hsiung Wojcik) 4/19/23: “Two FT Tall,” USA Today (with Emet Ozar) 4/1/23: “Phantom Thread,” Crosswords Club (with Kate Baicker) 3/28/23: “Feed Me!” USA Today 3/26/23: “Split A Ride,” Los Angeles Times (with Dylan Schiff) 3/10/23: The New Yorker Crossword: “Avast, Me Hearties” (with Paolo Pasco) 3/7/23: The New York Times Crossword (with Enrique Henestroza Anguiano) 3/3/23: “TK TK TK,” USA Today 2/27/23: “You're Unbelievable!” Universal (with Taylor Johnson) 2/14/23: “Down To Earth,” USA Today (with May Huang) 2/7/23: “Side Salad,” USA Today 1/22/23: The Atlantic Crossword (with Kelsey Dixon) 1/21/23: “Chill Out,” USA Today 1/15/23: “The Heart of Elm City,” Yale Public Humanities

2022 12/28/22: “Anagram Et Al.” USA Today 12/15/22: “It's Cold Outside!” Yale Public Humanities (with Rachel Fabi) 12/14/22: The New York Times Crossword 11/30/22: “A Thing Or Two,” AVCX (with Emet Ozar) 11/23/22: The New York Times Crossword (with Erica Hsiung Wojcik) 11/1/22: “Conjunction Junction,” Crosswords Club (with Katie Hale) 10/29/22: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (w/ Emet Ozar) 10/28/22: The New Yorker Crossword: “Bird's The Word” 10/6/22: “Coining A Phrase,” USA Today (with Emet Ozar) 10/1/22: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Pravan Chakravarthy) 9/21/22: The New York Times Crossword 9/17/22: “Last To Leave,” USA Today 9/9/22: The New Yorker Crossword: “Grand Theft Auto” 9/8/22: The New York Times Crossword 9/6/22: “In A Pickle,” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 9/1/22: “Play List,” Crosswords Club 8/20/22: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Christina Iverson) 8/19/22: “High Times,” AVCX+ (with Emet Ozar) 8/9/22: “Premier Hockey Federation,” USA Today 8/2/22: “Math Is All Around Us,” USA Today 8/1/22: “Don't Hold Your Breath!” Crosswords Club (with Christina Iverson) 7/29/22: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Emet Ozar) 7/23/22: “Left-Handed,” USA Today 7/15/22: The New York Times Crossword (with Nam Jin Yoon) 6/26/22: “Bonus Features,” The New York Times (with Finn Vigeland) 6/25/22: The Los Angeles Times Crossword (with Nova Qi) 5/21/22: “Keep Quiet,” USA Today 5/20/22: ”Beast Mode,” Universal (with Darby Ratliff) 5/17/22: “Junior High,” USA Today (with Malaika Handa) 5/8/22: “Monsters Incorporated,” Los Angeles Times 5/8/22: “Two-By-Two,” The New York Times (with Chandi Deitmer) 5/5/22: “Ahoy Mate-y,” USA Today 4/23/22: The New York Times Crossword 4/22/22: “Science Hill,” Yale Public Humanities (with Rachel Fabi) 4/17/22: “In Luck,” USA Today (with Amanda Rafkin) 4/17/22: The Atlantic Crossword 4/14/22: “Middle C's,” USA Today 4/7/22: “Metal Man,” Universal (with Nova Qi) 4/1/22: “Now You See Me ...” Crosswords Club 3/27/22: “Not I,” Universal Sunday (with Emet Ozar) 3/19/22: “Themeless 1,” Yale Public Humanities (with Rachel Fabi) 3/6/22: “Parlor Trick,” The New York Times (with Will Nediger) 2/28/22: “Teach-In,” Yale Public Humanities (w/ Rachel Fabi) 2/18/22: “Taking Sides,” Matt Gaffney's Weekly Crossword Contest 2/6/22: “Puzzle No. 4: Themeless,” Boswords Winter Wondersolve 1/26/22: “Back and Forth,” Universal (with Karen Stock) 1/20/22: “League Standings,” USA Today 1/19/22: “Core Classes,” Yale Public Humanities (with Rachel Fabi) 1/14/22: The New York Times Crossword (with Sid Sivakumar) 1/9/22: The Atlantic Crossword (with Malaika Handa)

2021 12/31/21: “You Can't Have It Both Ways,” Universal (with Emet Ozar) 12/30/21: “The GOAT,” USA Today (with Rebecca Goldstein) 12/27/21: “Auto Suggestion," Wall Street Journal (with Karen Stock) 12/3/21: “Up Your Game,” USA Today 11/19/21: “Something's Fishy,” Universal (with Ann Shan) 11/15/21: “Us First,” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 11/2/21: The New York Times Crossword (with Vaibhav Srikaran) 11/1/21: “The Voice of Beantown,” Crosswords Club (with Adrian Johnson) 10/5/21: “I-V League,” Yale Public Humanities (w/ Rachel Fabi) 10/2/21: “Creature Creep,” Wall Street Journal 10/2/21: “Central Air,” USA Today 10/1/21: “Garden Variety,” Crosswords Club 9/26/21: “Study Breaks,” The New York Times (with Priyanka Sethy) 9/17/21: The New York Times Crossword 9/1/21: “AVCX Themeless #58,” AV Club (with Erica Hsiung Wojcik) 8/31/21: “Top Pair,” Wall Street Journal (with Steph Brown) 8/28/21: “Across the Pond,” The Juggernaut (with Priyanka Sethy) 8/15/21: The Atlantic Crossword 8/8/21: “Where The Action Was,” Universal 8/5/21: “Residential Collage,”Yale Public Humanities (with Rachel Fabi) 8/1/21: “Off Brand,” The New York Times 7/22/21: “Break Up The Band,” USA Today 7/18/21: “Occupational Guidance,” Universal Sunday 7/1/21: “Highballs,” Crosswords Club (with Mollie Cowger) 6/27/21: “Turning Pro,” Universal Sunday (w/ Ella Dershowitz) 6/21/21: “PJ Party,” USA Today (with Malaika Handa) 6/18/21: “Rose Ceremony,” USA Today 6/11/21: The New York Times Crossword 5/30/21: The Atlantic Crossword (with Becca Gorman) 5/29/21: “Themeless Saturday,” Newsday (w Quiara Vasquez) 5/25/21: “Early Riser,” Universal (with Ella Dershowitz) 5/23/21: “F in Film Class,” Universal Sunday 5/22/21: The New York Times Crossword (with Sid Sivakumar) 5/9/21: “Form a Bond,” Universal (with Karen Stock) 4/20/21: “Open Invitations,” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 4/18/21: The Atlantic Crossword (with Michael Stock) 4/16/21: “Underground Ops,” Spyscape 4/16/21: “Xword Puzzle,” Universal (with Lana Pivarnik) 4/12/21: “Wearing Many Hats,” Universal (w/ Layla Beckhardt) 4/9/21: “She's Got Layers,” These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4/5/21: “50 Percent Off,” Yale Public Humanities 3/21/21: “Black Mirror,” Universal Sunday (w/ Becca Gorman) 3/9/21: “Sharing Memes,” USA Today 3/6/21: “I Spy,” Spyscape (with Cece Garcia) 2/28/21: “BB-8,” Universal 2/28/21: The Atlantic Crossword (with Quiara Vasquez) 2/24/21: “AVCX Themeless #54,” American Values Club 2/21/21: “Karaoke Bars,” The New York Times 2/8/21: “Can You Dig It!” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 2/6/21: “Top Secret,” Spyscape (with Stephanie Livieres) 2/5/21: “Top Schools,” Yale Public Humanities 2/1/21: “Hop To It!” USA Today 2/1/21: “7 Up,” Crosswords Club 1/25/21: “Center Cut,” USA Today (with Quiara Vasquez) 1/24/21: “In Here!” Universal Sunday 1/23/21: “Wardrobe Changes,” Wall Street Journal (with Christopher Adams) 1/13/21: The New York Times Crossword 1/11/21: “Finding Nemo,” USA Today (with Pao Roy) 1/7/21: The New York Times Crossword (with Sid Sivakumar) 1/2/21: “Breaking Cover,” Universal (with Ella Dershowitz)

2019 and 2020 12/29/20: “East Side,” USA Today 12/21/20: “Cold Cuts,” Wall Street Journal (with Nina Sloan) 12/17/20: “It's Fine!” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 12/7/20: “VR Headset,” USA Today (with Quiara Vasquez) 12/5/20: “B Sides,” USA Today 12/1/20: “Elements of Surprise,” Crosswords Club (with Brooke Husic)* 11/26/20: “It's Magic!" USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 11/7/20: “Stretch Your Mind,” Universal (with Layla Beckhardt) 11/2/20: “Double Down,” Universal (with Pravan Chakravarthy) 10/30/20: “A Little Spy Stuff,” Spyscape (with Cece Garcia) 10/27/20: “I Like To Move It,” USA Today 10/25/20: The Atlantic Crossword 10/2/20: “Dance Around,” Universal 9/24/20: “Together In The End,” USA Today 9/3/20: “It's Lit!” USA Today (with Brooke Husic) 🔥 8/22/20: “Colorado Couples,” Universal (with Jacki Evans) 8/3/20: “Opening Bars,” USA Today 7/5/20: The Atlantic Crossword 7/3/20: “Person-To-Person,” Universal 7/1/20: “Work It ... Make It ... Do It ... Makes Us ...,” “Grids For Good” puzzle pack (visit gridsforgood.org for donation and download info) 6/24/20: “Modern Midis 5” 9x9 puzzle pack (with Sid Sivakumar), The New York Times Crossword app* 6/21/20: The Atlantic Crossword 6/9/20: “Mistaken Identity,”Wall Street Journal 5/25/20: “I Before E?” Universal (with Priyanka Sethy) 5/24/20: The Atlantic Crossword 4/21/20: “Ball Game Over,” Universal 2/26/20: “Out Of Steam,” Universal 12/30/19: The Los Angeles Times Crossword