Sam

@Francis I've been told my puzzles tend towards the easy side, but this mostly comes from very experienced solvers. I'd much rather create a puzzle that is enjoyable by many (and perhaps the crossing point into harder ones), than one that is only solveable by a select few. Like any comment section, this one is not representative of the general population. That doesn't mean it's not informative, but it needs to be taken with a large grain of salt.

@Barry Ancona I'm glad you enjoyed it. My puzzles tend towards the easy, even when I try to be a little tricky. Both my upcoming puzzles are designated for Thursdays, though, so hopefully you'll get a bit of a challenge from them.

@Michael B. Funny you should mention that. I originally avoided that entry because of its scientific inaccuracy and cultural misuse. After some changes to the grid, there weren't many options for that spot, so I reluctantly went ahead with it. I'm glad you pointed it out!

@Red Carpet I can't claim credit for that one, which makes it a good opportunity to thank Christina Iverson and the editing team for their wonderful work getting this puzzle to publication.

@Vaer so glad you liked it. It was one of my favorites, too, and I fought to keep it intact through editing.

@John That's a lovely story, and I'm glad my puzzle brought it to mind.

@David - this was one of the clues the editors changed from my original, and when I got the proofs to review, I also got stuck on it for a while!

@Lewis Thank you! It's a great feeling when others enjoy your work.

@Marshall Walthew You described exactly the experience I try for in a tricky puzzle - a bit of frustration to start, and then it clicks into place when you "get" the theme. It's a tricky target to hit, so I'm really glad to hear it worked for you.

@Lewis Thank you, Lewis! I'm so glad you enjoyed it (and the other two). Anagrams (and other types of word deconstructing) are definitely my forte, so the MADE MAN -> MAN MADE observation is right up my alley. Phrases like that are great idea for a theme, and I believe there was a puzzle just like that a while back.

@Eric Hougland Well said! I second that.

@RP Thank you!

@SP I hear you. Who doesn't love a really unique and clever puzzle idea? I definitely wouldn't consider this puzzle to be ground-breaking - people have done missing letter puzzles before - though I did try to give it a twist by swapping the roles of clues and answers. The thing is, outstanding puzzles are by definition rare. So between those sparklers, it's nice to have fun, solid puzzles with hopefully a few clever clues and the occasional "aha" moment. Also, I think I'd get really tired of pun themes every week :)

@Lewis I'm glad you enjoyed it! The credit for the [Untold] clue goes to the editors. I also found it tricky when I reviewed the proofs. It's very disconcerting to get stuck on your own puzzle!

@Nancy Thanks for the lovely comment! There's nothing quite as uplifting as hearing that people enjoyed something you've made.

@Matt that's great to hear!

@Coriander - that is a good alternative! I didn't even think of it.

@Red Carpet Yay! Glad you enjoyed it.

@john ezra If you take a look at the constructor notes, you'll find a few more to add to your list of tongue twisters.

@Wade H That's a clever take on the theme, and different enough to stand on it's own. You're definitely on the right track towards constructing!