Author Archives: Sam Donaldson

The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Sunday-Sized Crossword

The Orcas continue today with the award for Best Sunday-Sized Crossword, the top honor for crosswords 21×21 and larger. (We thought about calling it the Best 21x Crossword, but we figure lay people would think it honors an extremely obscene … Continue reading

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The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Easy Crossword

It’s time for the 2014 Orca Awards! For the uninitiated, the Orcas honor outstanding achievement in crossword construction. This year, unlike years past, the Orcas will be presented over the course of a week. That’s eight awards over seven days! … Continue reading

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The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Crossword Nominees

Hollywoodland may be all abuzz about the upcoming Oscars, but Crosswordland is looking forward to the 2014 Orca Awards, coming to this website on Sunday, March 1! As in prior years (namely 2011, 2012, and 2013), the Orcas will honor … Continue reading

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The 2013 Orca Awards

The Orcas are back! Budget cuts forced us to scrap the fancy-shmancy awards ceremony this year. (Now we’ll just have to imagine what Henry Hook would have worn on the black-and-white carpet.) We had a cute little magic show all planned … Continue reading

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2013 Orca Awards – Best Crossword Nominees

Now that the Oscars are so five minutes ago, it’s time to get excited for the 2013 Orca Awards, coming to Diary of a Crossword Fiend on Wednesday, March 19! As in prior years, the Orcas will honor excellence in … Continue reading

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The 2012 Orca Awards

We’re back on the black and white carpet, just minutes from the start of the 2012 Orca Awards! Just like last year, this year’s Orca ceremony promises lots of surprises and special moments, including the Margaret Farrar Award for constructor … Continue reading

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2012 Orca Awards – Best Crossword Nominees

Mark your calendars: The complete 2012 Orca Awards ceremony will be featured right here at Diary of a Crossword Fiend on Sunday, February 24! Like last year, this year’s celebration of the most outstanding crosswords from 2012 will include awards … Continue reading

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My Big Fat Fun Wedding: Contest Results!

Forty-seven solvers from across the country submitted the correct “final word” to My Big Fat Fun Wedding contest in time for the random drawing. What was the final word? Who won? Where can you get the answers to the puzzles? … Continue reading

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Two Weeks Left to Enter “My Big Fat Fun Wedding”

There’s still time to send in your entry for my free puzzle contest, “My Big Fat Fun Wedding.” It’s a collection of easy-to-medium puzzles created in celebration of my upcoming wedding this summer. Solvers who submit the correct final answer … Continue reading

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The 2011 Orca Awards

We’re here on the black and white carpet, just minutes from the start of the 2011 Orca Awards! It’s a veritable who’s who of crosswording talent, and many are dressed in DIOR or YSL. The excitement is truly palpable!  Before … Continue reading

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