Puzzling

The Puzzle Wizard, Greg Parker, and me, Jan 2007. The Wizard is standing on a chair. Greg Parker has been a friend and colleague of mine for many years. He single-handedly produces  The Puzzle Wizard  series of crossword books, which are available in newsagencies throughout Australia and New Zealand, and on subscription. They are excellent crossword magazines, and some of the few independent crossword publications out there. I designed Greg's web site , and I also design the covers of his World of Crosswords and Crossword Magic publications . In recent times I have started writing the cryptic in his World of Crosswords mag, too.  I thought you might like to get to know Greg better, so here is my interview for your enjoyment! Puzzling: How long have you been writing crosswords? Greg: Since about six years of age — so 43 years. Puzzling:  What got you started on writing them? Greg:  I was fascinated by words (and numbers for that matter) from a young age.

Wiley produced two editions of Solving Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies . A paper book, and an eBook. The big downside of an eBook crossword book, however, is that (so far) you can't solve the crosswords on your eBook reader! To counteract this failing, I put together all the blank crossword grids from the book (sans clues — you need the book for them!). Wiley have 'Dummified' the layout, and put them up online .  So, if you have the eBook edition (or want to tackle the crosswords in your paper book a second time), download the free PDF, print the grids out, and solve to your heart's content!

My apologies for being rather invisible for a while, I've had two overseas trips in the past month! Anyway, I'm back again, and will try to heed my daughter's command to "Stay, Mummy, STAY!" for the rest of the year (although New York is beckoning). Last week I attended my first indexing conference, the biennial conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZSI) . Wow, that sounds so exciting , I hear you mutter sarcastically. Well, let me tell you, it was awesome . I met so many fabulous, intelligent, funny, and generous people (there were around 80 of us at the conference), learnt so many interesting things, found out how to expand my indexing business and improve my skills — and all in the delightful environs of Wellington, New Zealand . Wellington is similar to Canberra — the national capital that no-one is aware of. No, Sydney's not the capital of Australia, my hometown Canberra is. And Auckland isn't capital of New Zeal