Sutherland Studios

Speciality Puzzles

Puzzle Links

The Blackline Masters page includes free sample pages for you to download!

Denise Sutherland has been creating original puzzles for many years. Her speciality lies in writing themed puzzles. Whether you're after a crossword about the attractions of your local area, a science find-a-word for Year 7 students, or a ladybug maze for Year 3 students, she can make it for you.

Latest News

August 2007 - there's a new free Find-a-Word for you to enjoy - this one is all about Italian foods and dishes. Buon divertimento!

In other puzzling news, The Canberra Puzzle Book is in its third printing!

July 2007 - Denise has written a big Harry Potter word search for The Sunday Age, which was published on page 5 of the 22 July 07 edition.

January 2007 - Denise has written puzzles for the new web site, Write Better English, put together by the bright boys over at Research One. It's a wonderful place to visit if you want to improve your English, and there is a nice collection of challenging puzzles to try out too!

Syndication! - Auspac Media, the oldest privately-owned syndication company in Australia, now represents Denise.

To include her Quick Break (5/week), Secret Shape Word Search (weekly), Connoisseur Crossword (weekly), or Gourmet Crossword (weekly) in your publication, please contact Margret Pfeiffer on phone 07 5553 3200 (international +61 7 553 3200), or email auspac@auspacmedia.com.au.

Along the way Denise has written, illustrated and published five puzzle books so far. The Amazing Animals Puzzle Book was written for the RSPCA in 2002 - all the puzzles are about animals and the activities of the RSPCA. The Fantastic Flying Doctors' Puzzle Book was written for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2003, and was reprinted in October 2006. The Alice Springs School of the Air Puzzle Book was written for the school in 2004, in collaboration with its students and teachers.

In 2004 Sutherland Studios won an ACT Heritage Grant which enabled Denise to research, write and publish The Canberra Puzzle Book in 2005. As part of the grant, a free copy of the book was given to every Year 6 student in ACT government schools. In 2006 Sutherland Studios published its companion volume, The Junior Canberra Puzzle Book, for younger 'puzzle historians'. Both books continue to sell well, to the schools market and in national attractions in Canberra.

National Library best-seller
Australian Bookseller & Publisher, July 2005, page 40
Listed at #6 on the Bestsellers List at the National Library Shop!

"This book is a delight. Innovative, inspired, engaging - and right on target in the way it communicates complex topics with clarity and with fun.

"Heritage is about learning to read the rich library of our surroundings so that we better understand our past, and our own responsibilities to the future. It's a tall order as heritage professionals will agree. Yet here Denise Sutherland has produced the essential primer for this process, conveying accurate information in the most enjoyable and arresting format, a puzzle book that includes crosswords, mazes, codes, 'what's missing' pictures, and my favourite - the silly story.

"This is a book for kids - but it is really for us all, I don't think there is anyone who could resist trying at least some of these."

Dr Lenore Coltheart, National Archives of Australia/Australian National University

National Trust review
Heritage in Trust Winter 2005, page 17

Where to find your own Canberra Puzzle Books

Last Modified:   28 April 2008