by Kathy Hilliard, Vice President, Marketing, Andrews McMeel Publishing
T
he New York Times calls puzzle Editor Will Shortz “the most powerful man in puzzles. His personal style, aesthetic, humor and sensibility set the standard for what makes a great crossword.” His creativity and expertise is evident in his latest enterprise: Will Shortz Games, a series of games, books and calendars in partnership with Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) and Nextoy sure to entertain and delight with a November 9th debut. The venture has already been recognized as exceptional, nominated for a TAGIE Award for “Most Innovative License of the Year.” And who better than trusted authority Shortz to develop a new line of games? In addition to being The New York Times puzzle editor, Shortz is founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (the oldest, largest, and most popular crossword puzzle competition in the world), and puzzle master for NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday.” The first three products in the lineup are: • Will Shortz Games: Down and Across, • Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords, and • Will Shortz Games: Brain Twisters 2022 Day-to-Day Calendar. Will Shortz Games: Down and Across will interest wordsmiths of all ages, and fans of Scrabble and Bananagrams, among other word games. Participants draw letter tiles, roll dice, and compete to be the first person to come up with a two-word crossword to fit the clues. Easy to learn and readily accessible, the portable game will undoubtedly become a family favorite on game night. It was developed with Gameblend Studios.
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Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords features 60 puzzles from the beloved American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Considered the “Super Bowl of Crosswords,” the tournament is widely recognized and acclaimed, thanks in part to the documentary “Wordplay,” in which it was prominently featured. In addition to dozens of engrossing puzzles, Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords is packed with fun facts, expert solving tips, photos and more, with challenging puzzles created by an all-star list of crossword creators. Finally, Will Shortz Games: Brain Twisters 2022 Day-to-Day Calendar engages fans with a daily challenge from hundreds of word-based puzzles, testing their skill and strengthening brain power. Clever and entertaining, it provides an opportunity for learning and successful solving every day of the year. “We are thrilled to partner with Will Shortz to introduce a stellar lineup of games, books and calendars,” said Kirsty Melville, publisher and president of AMP. “He is unquestionably the premier puzzle and word master, and as the burgeoning popularity of board games, brain games, and puzzles continues to grow, the timing is ideal. With Will Shortz Games, AMP expands our presence in the Games category, and I can’t imagine a better partner than Will Shortz in doing so.” “I’ve devoted my life to intelligent play,” said Shortz. “I’m so happy to partner with Andrews McMeel, one of the giants in publishing, to bring my puzzles and games to a wider audience.” The Will Shortz Games line will arrive just in time for holiday gift-giving and festive gatherings, stimulating brains and enriching experiences for friends and families.
amuniversal.com
11/17/21 10:32 AM
