Happy June! Here’s a little puzzle to snack on.
Tag: puzzle
Tough as Nails Themeless #88
Not much to say about this one — have at it!
Tough as Nails Themeless #87
Hi everyone! Please buy the book — it’s out at last! Even if you’ve been a Tough as Nails solver since the beginning, there are new puzzles in the book for you to love and hopefully have to do some battle with.

Tough as Nails Themeless #86
I used to keep a list of themeless seeds based on interesting words I wanted to build around. Lately, I’ve been keeping seeds for themelesses more like I do for cryptics: with a clue I want to use, whether or not that word is particularly “sparkly” in and of itself. In this case, that clue was 37A.
After some shipping delays, my book is now almost ready to ship! Please pre-order one if you haven’t already!
Oneth of the Month Mini Cryptic #13
It’s the return of mini cryptics! I decided to stop doing them because there were other outlets for them, but now The Browser has taken a pause on its Sevens puzzles and AVCX is also running them less frequently. At ACPT I was persuaded that we need more gateway drugs, so your dealer is back. This one is inspired by Eurovision!
And although this site is still called Tough as Nails, these minis are easy! If you’re scared of cryptics, minis are a great way to work yourself up to a full-sized puzzle.
Tough as Nails Themeless #85
25D was the seed here; believe it or not, I used to be able to [REDACTED] along to the phenomenon referred to in the clue.
Tough as Nails Themeless #84
Wow, what a weekend! It was great to reunite with old friends and meet so many Tough as Nails solvers for the first time at ACPT. It is, although the most fun weekend of my year, also the most stressful. Remember how Doug Hoylman used to be described as the Iceman? I am the opposite of the Iceman. I am the Constantly-About-to-Throw-Up Nervous Wreck.
I did manage to make a trip to the hardware store with my second fifth-place finish in a row and first place in NYC (the latter made easier since Andy Kravis was attending a wedding):

I had the most amazing time and I hope you enjoy this week’s themeless!
Tough as Nails Themeless #83
Here’s a themeless I hope you find savory. See some of you at ACPT next weekend!
Tough as Nails Themeless #82
I’m back in business! Here’s your themeless.
Thanks to all those who’ve preordered my book. Due to supply chain issues, the publication date will be in May, not this month as I had originally mentioned. Apologies and I hope it’s worth the wait!
Tough as Nails Themeless #81
I made this grid a couple of years ago and got around to cluing it only a couple of weeks ago. Have fun!