Alan Eason

Alan Eason was born in Sydney in 1947. He studied accounting but, when he found words were more interesting than figures, he tried his hand at compiling cryptic crosswords and published his first, in the Sydney Morning Herald, in 1977. Soon after, he branched out into theme crosswords, becoming a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines of puzzles on a wide range of subjects, including cricket, as well as large general-knowledge crosswords.

Eason is the author of a book of themed crosswords and another on how to solve cryptics, and has contributed articles on crosswords to the Herald. In 1988 he started Australia's first national crossword club, and edited and produced a monthly magazine for members until 1991. Also a trivia buff, he wrote and edited multiple-choice trivia games for interactive television from 1994 to 1998, and still conducts 'live' trivia events for clubs and charities.

Away from the desk, Alan Eason is a keen tennis, squash, and soccer player, but was stumped in a backyard Test in 1968 by the realisation that his cricket career was effectively over before it had started.

Books