A Q&A WITH HAYLEY GOLD

Lettersto Margaret, Hayley Gold’s new graphic novel, is both a rom-com and culture war commentary revolving around crosswords. Maggie and Derry are two Columbia University students immersed in the “crossworld,” the subculture of slightly obsessed crossword constructors, solvers, and bloggers. The book, designed to be “flipped over,” has two parts, which tell the same story from the two main characters’ different points of view. It also includes 11 solvable crossword puzzles constructed by Andy Kravis and Mike Selinker.

Letters to Margaret is a clever, fresh take on crossword puzzles and the “crossworld.” How did the project come about?

I was inspired by the general culture war going on right now, about how people are stuck in their own camps not listening to each