Puzzle

Puzzle Notes

Dear friends,

We're delighted to be publishing this flight of fancy by birds-of-a-feather Carly Schuna and Jess Shulman. We think you'll find it moderately challenging!

Jess and Carly met in early 2021 through the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory Facebook group when they started test-solving one another's puzzles. They quickly became crossword buddies and started cheering each other on in their quests for publication (not to mention sharing pics of their doggos). Collaboration was the obvious next step -- and they're thrilled to make their collab debut in the Inkubator!

Carly Schuna is a circus performer/coach and word lover based in Madison, WI. She began regularly solving crosswords more than 10 years ago and occasionally moonlights as a test solver for various puzzle and game books. In addition to the Inkubator, she has had puzzles accepted with Crosswords Club, L.A. Times, Universal, and the NYT. When not working with words, Carly is probably German wheeling, doing some kind of trapeze, juggling, or snuggling with her three dogs. You can follow her on Instagram at @headoverwheelscircus.

Jess is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario. Like many others her interest in constructing was sparked during the pandemic and, with encouragement from an editor friend (cryptic maven Sara Goodchild), she dove in. She's had puzzles accepted by the New York Times, Universal Crosswords, Crosswords Club, and -- yay! -- the Inkubator. Jess also sings in a (very casual) band, plays guitar and mandolin, and loves reading and hiking. She has two busy teenage kids, an even busier dog, and a sleepy cat. Find Jess on Twitter at @JessShulman.

Need some puzzles to solve on your end-of-summer vacation? Buy our book! Inkubator Crosswords: 100 Audacious Puzzles by Women and Nonbinary Creators includes 75 puzzles from the first two years of the Inkubator, plus 25 all-new, never-before-published originals. Order your copy now!


Coming up next, on August 18: a debut themeless from Nova Qi.

All best,