Acrostic for September

 https://www.dropbox.com/home/Acrostics?preview=acrostic12.pdf

Solution to the August acrostic

« Someone moved swiftly across the beach and began talking to the little girl. One minute she was there, barefoot and absorbed, spade in hand; seconds later she was taken off the sands at the village of Chapel St. Leonards, apparently without anybody noticing at all. Thus was my mother kidnapped. »

Laura Cumming, Five Days Gone

A. Lakenheath
B. Arbeit Macht Frei
C. Unhealthy obsession
D. Rattlesnake food
E. Attended
F. Cowbells
G. Unhand me
H. Manchester ship canal
I. Mottled
J. Idlewild
K. Neebish Island
L. Gothy
M. Fatwahs
N. If in doubt
O. VAFB
P. Epoka
Q. Dyatlov Pass
R. At the post
S. Yawning
T. Sloane Ranger
U. Ghostys
V. Ordem e Progreso
W. Not wanted
X. Etta Place

Acrostic for August

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtkblh4f89fnnrx/acrostic30.pdf?dl=0

A bit of a beach theme here, appropriate for August.

Full solution to the July acrostic

"You will stumble on secrets. Hidden all over the restaurant, Mexican oregano, as heady as pot. Large tins of Chef's private anchovies from Catalonia hidden behind the bulk olive oil. Quarts of grassy sencha. Ziplock bags of masa, bottles of sriracha. Bars of chocolate slipped between books in the manager's office."

Stephanie Danler, "Sweetbitter"

A. Storyboard
B. Trachoma
C. Essokinesis
D. Pectus excavatum
E. Ham hocks
F. Anton Diffring
G. Nickel Odeon
H. Isobath
I. Efavirenz
J. Doghouse
K. Assassins
L. Nobleman
M. Lefortovo
N. Egg fight
O. Refinable
P. Sternoclavicular
Q. Wolf whistle
R. Ectrodactyly
S. Effortless
T. Torquemadan
U. Breeches bible
V. In bad shape
W. Teashop
X. The Palio
Y. Echolalia
Z. Rapa

I didn't know until I checked word X that it happens in many Italian cities, and not necessarily a horse race. I was used to the Siena version, celebrated twice a year, in which the 17 Contradas of the ancient city compete, ten at a time. The jockeys do not necessarily live in the Contrada they represent.

Partial solution to the July acrostic

These are the really nasty words from the word list:

B. Trachoma
C. Essokinesis
D. Pectus excavatum
I. Efavirenz
P. Sternoclavicular
R. Ectrodactyly

Unfamiliar words in the diagram are:

Sencha
Masa
Sriracha

Acrostic for July: GRAND CHALLENGE

This month's puzzle is exceptionally difficult, with unfamiliar words both in the diagram and the word list. In a few days I'll publish a partial solution, giving away the most unfamiliar words.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/05irv9hbhsuy2l0/acrostic67.pdf?dl=0

Solution to the June acrostic

[I wrote that this was vaguely topical because of Behnken & Hurley's ride to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9. Public interest in astronautics briefly revived.]

« Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin closed the Gemini program in November. There was a problem with the radar that was supposed to track the distance to the waiting Agena, but Aldrin wasnt fazed. He had written a major thesis on orbital rendezvous to qualify as an astronaut. With pencil and paper, he worked out what thrusters to fire. »

Piers Bizony, [The] Man Who Ran The Moon

A. Puddle Dock
B. Invigilated
C. Equation
D. Rephrased
E. Saddleworth
F. Baffin snow monsters
G. Imprint
H. Zipcar
I. Ogham
J. New wave
K. Yak butter tea
L. Montparnasse
M. Albert Pujols
N. Nevermore
O. Without a trace
P. Hip bath
Q. On the other hand
R. Raja
S. Austerltz
T. Now is the winter of...
U. Tizi 'n Test
V. Hogwarts
W. Ed Barth
X. Manga
Y. Old as the hills
Z. Outward ace
a. Naturalized