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Much of the time, I struggle to come up with themes. I had been waiting to submit anything until I felt I had a "Times-worthy" idea, and I am happy to be making my NYT debut with this one.
I have always liked themes built around geometric shapes. Since I had exhausted all my ideas using boxes, I began playing with curves. One day, the idea for this puzzle seemed to pop into my head, fully formed. It seems the best ideas always do come along with the least effort.
I began constructing in early 2020 (actually, right before the pandemic hit) and have been delighted to discover the amazingly friendly and supportive "crossworld." I am grateful to all of the editors who have welcomed my submissions (good and bad!) and who have taken the time to provide helpful feedback and encouragement. I would also like to thank Mark McClain, who provided excellent mentoring when I was getting started.