Puzzling

I've started baking for the books' launch next month! And my crossword corset is nearly done too!

Containers are a common device which you will come across all the time in cryptic crosswords. You will also see them called Containers and Contents clues. I bet you can guess what happens with this cryptic device, given the name ... yes, letters or words are put inside other letters or words to get to the answer. These clues can be written as A being put inside B, or A going around, or containing, B. For example,  SARONG can be clued as RON put inside SAG – SA(RON)G. And PRY around an ANT to get a  PANTRY – P(ANT)RY. Abbreviations are often used in container clues, especially as it's rather rare for words to break up exactly into "One word put inside another word". So you may find DENVER clued as NV (an abbreviation for Nevada) put in DEER – DE(NV)ER. Containers may also be combined with other clue devices such as reversals (LAVENDER is VEND in REAL reversed –LA(VEND)ER), and anagrams (SCALLION is an anagram of LILAC put inside SON – S(CALLI)ON), and so on. ...

My analysis of the clues in the Gemini Cryptic from  The Canberra Times Friday 6 July 2012 Definitions are underlined (apart from double definition and cryptic definition clues).  Across 1. Tales of feet? (7) = LEGENDS Cryptic definition, feet are leg ends, get it? 5. Demoted at the centre, get all worked up (5) = EMOTE Deletion, it's the centre part of d emote d 8. Demanding porridge with fish (9) = GRUELLING Charade. GRUEL ( porridge ) + LING ( fish ) 9. Return of Eastern opponent (3) = FOE Reversal and charade. Of returns = FO + E (Eastern) 10. A gem of a girl? (4) = RUBY Double definition, both a possible girl's name, and a gem stone 12. Jumper , pocket-size originally (8) = KANGAROO Cryptic definition, I guess? I don't see any clear cryptic device at play in this one. Kangaroos have pockets, and baby kangaroos are originally very little and kept in pockets ... 14. The rest of the layers depends on them (6) = ROOSTS Cryptic defini...

When my Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies book was being checked by the American editors at Wiley, they decided that my handful of risqué clues couldn't stay in. So I edited the offending 11 clues to tame them down. But it's a pity to see such naughtiness go to waste. So I thought you'd like to have a try of them here! I've put the puzzle reference in, too, so you can find the edited versions in the book (which should be available in bookshops in a few weeks now). As ever, my chihuahuas Petal and Griff are the Guardians of the Answers. Have a good try of the clues yourself, and scroll below the pups to see full explanations of the clues, and the answers. The (Slightly) Rude Clues 1. Rampantly sexy, without a kiss? Absolutely! (3) Crossword 5, 21 Down, pg 36 2.  Mesmerist has weird phony tits  (9) Crossword 15, 1 Across, pg 56 3.  Naughty escort's laced undergarment  (6)  Crossword 24, 24 Across, pg 74 4.  101 in advertisement for tar...