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Puzzling Connie Willis

by James Patrick Kelly

I don’t know how I let myself get talked into this again. This is the fourth time I’ve written a GoH piece for Connie. Four times! I don’t know what to say anymore. I’ve told the world that I think that Connie is one of the best writers of my generation, that I learn something new about the craft of writing every time I read her. Of course, she doesn’t need encomiums from me; she’s got enough silver rocket ships to start her own Space Patrol.

So I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to tell the chocolate story again or what really happened that night with Jerry Pournelle. You want highlights of her operation video? Too bad! I’m turning the tables on you—and her. This time around you folks are going to have to do some of the work.

The puzzle before you is the result of years of personal research. Some clues are easy, others only a few of us know. So that means you’re going to have to do some research. But, see, that’s a good thing. Now you’ve got a perfectly good reason to walk up to Connie and ask her about her secret relationship with Harrison Ford.

As an incentive for working the puzzle, I’m offering a prize to the first ten people to present me with a complete solution. Over the years I’ve been able to take a number of compromising pictures of Connie. You want one? Start digging!

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Across

1 When is the next book coming?

6 Let’s say nothing of it.

7 How many children? How many husbands?

8 Relationship of Daisy to sun.

9 Even she is a Cyclist.

12 One of her other names.

13 Her least healthy book.

Down

2 She got one for killing all those dogs.

3 Look in the mirror.

4 What they gave to the Clearys.

5 Bartholomew watched for it.

6 Lincoln had a few.

10 Exactly how many times she has kissed Harrison Ford.

11 Bellwether obsession.