Category Archives: Orca Awards

2024 ORCA Awards

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Rich Proulx

And the winners are…

Posted in Orca Awards | Comments Off

The Orca Awards are back! The annual celebration of creativity in crosswords returns to the pages of Diary of a Crossword Fiend to throw a spotlight on interesting puzzles from a broad variety of venues. The Orca Awards were created … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Ada Nicolle, Adam Wagner, Barbara Lin, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Brooke Husic, Bryant White, Caitlin Reid, Chandi Deitmer, Christina Iverson, Daniel Mauer, David Steinberg, Ella Dershowitz, Emet Ozar, Emma Oxford, Erica Hsiung Wojcik, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Hanh Huynh, Hoang-Kim Vu, Jeremy Newton, Jessica Zetzman, Kate Chin Park, Li Ding, Matthew Stock, May Huang, Michael Lieberman, Natan Last, Pao Roy, Patrick Berry, Paul Coulter, Rafael Musa, Rebecca Goldstein, Robyn Weintraub, Ryan McCarty, Sara Cantor, Sheldon Polonsky, Susan Gelfand, Taylor Johnson, Tracy Gray, Will Nediger, Zachary David Levy, Zaineb Akbar | 3 Comments

The 2020 Orca Awards

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Sam Donaldson

Welcome to the 10th Annual Orca Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing from puzzles published in 2020! Winners in ten different categories will be announced after the jump. Anagram fans are quick to point out that Orcas … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Adam Aaronson, Adam Vincent, Alan Massengill, Alex Eaton-Salners, Amanda Rafkin, Amy Schecter, Andrew Esten, Andrew J. Ries, Andrew Kingsley, Andy Kravis, Anne Marie Crinnion, Ben Tausig, Brian Kulman, Byron Walden, Caitlin Reid, Christina Iverson, Claire Rimkus, Damon Gulczynski, David Steinberg, Debbie Ellerin, Ella Dershowitz, Enrique Henestroza Anguiano, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Greg Johnson, Jeff Chen, Jesse Lansner, Joanne M Sullivan, Joe Deeney, John Lieb, Joon Pahk, Juliana Tringali Golden, Kate Hawkins, Laura Braunstein, Laura Taylor Kinnel, Lewis Dean Hyatt, Matt Gaffney, Mike Shenk, Nam Jin Yoon, Nancy Stark, Pam Amick Klawitter, Pao Roy, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Pete Muller, Peter Gordon, Rich Norris, Rich Proulx, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Sid Sivakumar, Stella Zawistowski, Tom Pepper, Tracy Bennett, Trip Payne, Will Nediger, Will Shortz, Wyna Liu, Zhouqin Burnikel | 15 Comments

The 2019 Orca Awards

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Sam Donaldson

Welcome to the 2019 Orca Awards, the ninth(!) annual celebration of outstanding achievement in crossword puzzle construction and editing! As in past years there will be Orcas for each of ten categories, including Best Crossword, Best Clue, and Constructor of … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Amanda Rafkin, Andrea Carla Michaels, Andrew J. Ries, Andy Kravis, Anne Larsen, Brad Wilber, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Byron Walden, Caitlin Reid, Daniel Larsen, Daniel Mauer, David Steinberg, Doug Peterson, Emily Carroll, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Evan Kalish, Evan Mahnken, Francis Heaney, Gary Larson, Howard Barkin, Jack Reuter, Jeff Chen, Jim Horne, Joanne Sullivan, Joel Fagliano, Joon Pahk, Julie Bérubé, Kevin Adamick, Laura Braunstein, Leslie Rogers, Lynn Lempel, Maddie Gillespie, Mark Diehl, Matt Gaffney, Milo Beckman, Natan Last, Neil Padrick Wilson, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Patti Varol, Pete Muller, Queena Mewers, Rachel Fabi, Rebecca Falcon, Rich Norris, Robyn Weintraub, Ross Trudeau, Sam Trabucco, Sara Nies, Stanley Newman, Tracy Bennett, Tracy Gray, Trent H. Evans, Victor Barocas, Will Nediger, Will Shortz, Wyna Liu, Zhouqin Burnikel | 5 Comments

The 2018 Orca Awards

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Sam Donaldson

Welcome to the 2018 Orca Awards! If you’re new, the Orcas is our annual celebration of outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing. Awards include Best Crossword of 2018, 2018 Constructor of the Year, and Best Gimmick Crossword of 2018. … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Amy Reynaldo, Andrew J. Ries, Andy Kravis, Anna Gundlach, Benjamin Kramer, Byron Walden, Daniel Mauer, Ed Sessa, Elizabeth A. Long, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Finn Vigeland, Francis Heaney, Freddie Cheng, Grant Thackray, Greg Johnson, Herre Schouwerwou, Jeff Chen, Jennifer Nutt, Joe DiPietro, Joe Krozel, Joon Pahk, Kathy Bloomer, Kevin G. Der, Lena Webb, Matt Gaffney, Michael Hawkins, Mike Shenk, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Patti Varol, Pete Muller, Peter Gordon, Peter Wentz, Rachel Maddow, Rich Norris, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Tony Orbach, Tracy Bennett, Will Nediger, Will Shortz, Yacob Yonas, Zhouqin Burnikel | 8 Comments

Countdown to the 2018 Orca Awards!

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Sam Donaldson

The 2018 Orca Awards will drop on Friday, March 1. As in the past, we will recognize outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing with several awards, including Best Crossword, Constructor of the Year, Best Sunday-Sized Puzzle, Best Freestyle Puzzle, … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Amy Reynaldo, Andrew J. Ries, Byron Walden, Erik Agard, Greg Johnson, Neville Fogarty, Patrick Berry, Patti Varol, Peter Gordon, Rich Norris, Robyn Weintraub, Tracy Bennett, Will Shortz | 1 Comment

The 2017 Orca Awards

Posted on March 4, 2018 by Sam Donaldson

Welcome, everyone, to the 2017 Orca Awards! It’s the seventh annual celebration of outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing from puzzles published in 2017. Below the fold you’ll read about some amazing crosswords as we discuss the nominees and … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Andrew Linzer, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Dan Addams IV, David Steinberg, Doug Peterson, Elizabeth C. Gorski, Eric Berlin, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Greg Poulos, Jeff Chen, John Lampkin, Joon Pahk, Josh Knapp, Julie Bérubé, Kathy Wienberg, Laura Braunstein, Marie Kelly, Matt Gaffney, Michael Hawkins, Michael Shteyman, Mike Shenk, Neville Fogarty, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Pete Muller, Peter Broda, Peter Gordon, Randall J. Hartman, Roger Wienberg, Ross Trudeau, Sam Ezersky, Will Shortz, Zhouqin Burnikel | 12 Comments

Get Ready for the 2017 Orca Awards with This Puzzle Featuring Clue of the Year Nominees!

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Sam Donaldson

The 2017 Orca Awards will arrive here on Sunday, March 4. That’s just three weeks away! Squee! For the seventh straight year we will honor outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing as we look back on many of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Doug Peterson, Erik Agard, Joon Pahk, Marie Kelly, Mike Shenk, Neville Fogarty, Paolo Pasco, Patrick Berry, Peter Gordon, Randall J. Hartman, Ross Trudeau, Will Shortz | 6 Comments

The 2016 Orca Awards

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Sam Donaldson

Everyone’s favorite 8,000-word post is back! It’s time for the (now sixth!) annual Orca Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in crossword construction and editing throughout several categories in 2016. For the past two years the Orcas have been spread out over … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Alex Eaton-Salners, Andrew J. Ries, Ben Tausig, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Bruce Haight, Byron Walden, C.C. Burnikel, Dan Schoenholz, David Phillips, David Steinberg, Erik Agard, Evan Birnholz, Francis Heaney, Frank Longo, Jeff Chen, Jeremy Newton, Joon Pahk, Josh Knapp, Kathy Wienberg, Matt Gaffney, Mike Shenk, Patrick Berry, Paul Coulter, Pete Muller, Peter A. Collins, Peter Gordon, Robyn Weintraub, Sam Trabucco, Will Shortz, Zhouqin Burnikel | 5 Comments

The Orcas are Coming … Can You Solve this Puzzle Containing the Best Clue Nominees?

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Sam Donaldson

We’re just two weeks away from the 2016 Orca Awards, our annual tribute to some of the year’s most outstanding crosswords. In addition to Best Crossword, there will be awards in several categories, including Best Easy Crossword, Best Freestyle Crossword, … Continue reading →

Posted in Orca Awards | Tagged Samuel A. Donaldson | 4 Comments

Category Archives: Orca Awards

2024 ORCA Awards

2022 Orca Awards

The 2020 Orca Awards

The 2019 Orca Awards

The 2018 Orca Awards

Countdown to the 2018 Orca Awards!

The 2017 Orca Awards

Get Ready for the 2017 Orca Awards with This Puzzle Featuring Clue of the Year Nominees!

The 2016 Orca Awards

The Orcas are Coming … Can You Solve this Puzzle Containing the Best Clue Nominees?

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