Puzzle Notes

Dear friends,

This week the Inkubator is delighted to provide you with "Mutual Funds" straight from the coffers of ingenious collaborators Wendy L. Brandes and Martha Jones. We think you'll find it moderately challenging!

If you solve in Across-Lite, you may want to read the Note (by clicking the small yellow notepad icon to the right of the byline). The PDF version of the grid has shaded squares as well as circled squares, which some solvers may find helpful.

Wendy and Martha have published puzzles in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times. They have worked together for the past few years and are relatively new to the crossword universe. Wendy, a lawyer by trade, is also a teacher at SUNY Old Westbury and the author of seven children's books. As a huge Yankees fan, Wendy aspires to be the first to use AARON JUDGE (10) as a theme answer in a puzzle! Martha, a former high school mathematics teacher and social worker, enjoys travel, gardening, and spending as much time as possible listening to live music. Find Wendy on Twitter at @wendybrandes1, and find Martha on Twitter at @msjpatricof.

When you're done solving, check out Diary of a Crossword Fiend for a write-up and discussion, every Friday after an Inkubator puzzle is published. For general updates, follow us on twitter at @InkubatorXWords, and visit our website. Thanks to all of our subscribers for your continuing support, feedback, and kindness!

Coming up next, on April 11: a very challenging offering from Mary Lou Guizzo.

Live long and prosper!
Laura and Tracy