O | S | L | O | A | T | B | A | T | M | E | M | E | ||
R | I | E | N | R | O | A | C | H | O | V | A | L | ||
A | R | A | B | E | L | I | T | E | L | E | G | O | ||
L | I | F | E | A | N | D | L | I | M | B | O | |||
I | R | O | N | S | I | T | S | O | N | |||||
F | I | N | E | T | O | O | T | H | C | O | M | B | O | |
F | A | N | G | S | N | E | E | V | A | I | N | |||
L | I | C | O | C | T | A | R | C | L | S | U | |||
O | L | A | S | A | R | F | H | E | L | P | S | |||
J | U | S | T | P | L | A | I | N | D | U | M | B | O | |
O | P | E | R | A | C | H | I | R | P | |||||
A | L | I | T | T | L | E | L | A | M | B | O | |||
C | A | I | N | S | H | I | F | T | T | O | O | N | ||
B | L | O | G | N | O | V | A | E | H | E | D | Y | ||
D | A | N | E | T | R | E | N | D | S | T | Y | X |
I had dabbled in constructing before the pandemic, but once COVID hit, I decided I was determined to get a puzzle accepted in the Times.
I'm a comedy writer by trade, so I wanted my themers to elicit at least a slim to moderate chuckle. Turning COMB to COMBO was my way in, and after running through a bunch of -MB words, was pleasantly surprised to find the phrases I turned up worked out neatly for symmetry.
I'd originally had PHANTOM LIMBO as a themer until my editor suggested LIFE AND LIMBO, which is way better. Serious bucket list item crossed off today — hope to be back in these pages soon!