Possible Title:
Novel IdeaTheme: First words of random phrases yields TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
Good Ones:Author of {theme} LECARRE
Did something appealing? ASKED
Piece-keeping? ARMED
By the Way:BLUEBAYOU The Linda Ronstadt citation might better have been Roy Orbison as he wrote those words, recorded them, and had a hit with them ten years before Linda’s bigger (and better) hit.
Bookie’s venue, briefly OTB [Denotatively legal bookmakers work at OTB’s, but “bookies” connotes illegality, and I would not expect to see them at the competition’s venue.]
RATING:

Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun