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Matt Gaffney has been a professional crossword puzzle writer for the past 21 years. He currently writes for the Daily Beast, New York, the Wall Street Journal, and the Week, and his puzzles have also appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Slate, Billboard, Wine Spectator, and the Onion. He has also written a weekly contest crossword since 2008 at www.xwordcontest.com, plus 29 books of crosswords, as well as the 2006 narrative book Gridlock: Crossword Puzzles and the Mad Geniuses Who Create Them. He lives in Staunton, Virginia, with his wife and son.

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Island Hop with This Week’s Crossword Puzzle

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The pandemic may have curbed global travel habits, but with this week’s crossword grid, you can still be on island time.

Matt Gaffney | Published Oct 25, 2021

The Need for Speed When It Comes to Our Crossword

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Staying on top of breaking news is what The Daily Beast does best, and our crossword couldn’t be any different.

Matt Gaffney | Published Oct 18, 2021

A Puzzle Title Can Be Just as Hard to Nail as a Clue

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The nuances of choosing a puzzle title are all about being creative.

Matt Gaffney | Published Oct 11, 2021

The Dunkable, Twistable Cookie That Is a Perfect Puzzle Clue

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The Oreo is a classic snack food that also has a social media presence that is undeniably great.

Matt Gaffney | Published Oct 04, 2021

Heavy Is the Puzzle Head That Wears ‘The Crown’

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How we managed to fit as many actors’ names as possible into one small puzzle.

Matt Gaffney | Published Sep 27, 2021

It’s Not Our First Rodeo With These Clues

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This common phrase is a perfect opportunity for a puzzle title.

Matt Gaffney | Published Sep 20, 2021

There’s Nothing but Love for Tennis Player Clues

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With the U.S. Open finishing, we take a look at the tennis names that fill our puzzles.

Matt Gaffney | Published Sep 13, 2021

Three Letter Names Get Their Time in the Spotlight

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EVA’s and UMA’s unite, there’s another tip-tier three-letter name in the mix for puzzle clues: NIA.

Matt Gaffney | Published Sep 05, 2021

Wikipedia Can Be Both a Gift and a Curse for Puzzlers

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One thing can lead to another and down the Wikipedia hole you can go.

Matt Gaffney | Published Aug 30, 2021

There’s No Funny Business About SNL Cast Member Clues

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Cast members old and new make for a plethora of choices for puzzlers.

Matt Gaffney | Published Aug 23, 2021

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