PUZZLE BOOKS WORTH YOUR PENCIL

Some puzzles are meant to be shouted across a room. Others are meant for a kitchen table, a cup of coffee, and the particular quiet of a Saturday afternoon. Our puzzle books are the second kind. They are for the people whose ideal weekend includes a pencil with a good eraser and a clock that nobody is watching.

One theme,
one book,
no filler.

We publish themed puzzle books — crosswords first, with other puzzle types joining as we build out the catalog. Every book centers on a single theme, so fans of that topic get an entire book of clues they will genuinely enjoy solving.

No filler. No “what does this have to do with anything” entries padding the page count.

A full book of crosswords drawn from Catholic tradition, scripture, saints, liturgy, and everyday faith. Written to be smart, solvable, and genuinely rewarding — the kind of puzzle book that ends up on the kitchen counter, not at the bottom of the gift-closet pile.

HOLY
CROSS(WORDS)

Drawn from Catholic tradition, scripture, saints, liturgy, and everyday faith. Smart, solvable, and rewarding — written for people who actually do the puzzles, not just hand them out.

Great for:

  • Parishioners looking for a brainy devotional break

  • Gifts for priests, deacons, religious educators, and OCIA participants

  • That aunt who always wins the parish trivia

  • Quiet-time companions for Lent, retreats, and adoration

  • Parish gift shops and bookstores

An Anagram, As Promised

STRESSED is an anagram of DESSERTS

spelled backwards is

Footnote · A perfectly fine life philosophy

Puzzle books live in the same neighborhood as desserts.

There is a reason STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS. The two tend to trade places right around the weekend.

Saturday afternoon, a cup of coffee, a pencil with a good eraser. You set one down and pick the other one up. By suppertime, the stressed has become desserts — which is technically an anagram, and also a perfectly fine life philosophy.

FUTURE BOOKS, ON PURPOSe

Future books pick up other themes as they are written. The pace is sporadic on purpose — we would rather ship a great themed book than a stack of average ones. New titles get announced here first.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our puzzle books launch with themed crossword puzzles, built around one central topic from start to finish. Instead of mixing random clues together, each book gives solvers a focused experience based on a specific subject they already care about.

    For example, Holy Cross(words) is a full book of Catholic crossword puzzles inspired by scripture, saints, liturgy, Church tradition, Catholic vocabulary, and everyday faith. Each clue connects back to the theme, so the book feels cohesive, thoughtful, and rewarding to solve.

    As our catalog grows, we plan to add other puzzle styles alongside crosswords. The goal stays the same: create smart, theme-based puzzle books without filler clues or disconnected entries.

  • New puzzle books are released as each theme is fully developed and ready. We do not rush books just to publish more often. A good themed crossword book takes time because every clue needs to fit the topic, feel solvable, and give readers a satisfying puzzle experience.

    Our focus is quality over volume. Each book should feel intentional, enjoyable, and worth returning to.

    The best way to hear about new releases is to subscribe below. Subscribers will be the first to know when a new crossword puzzle book or themed puzzle collection becomes available.

  • Our puzzle books are for anyone who enjoys a smart, satisfying themed crossword puzzle. They are especially great for people who like puzzles tied to topics they already love, whether that is faith, history, literature, pop culture, hobbies, or niche interests.

    Our faith-based puzzle books, including Holy Cross(words), are especially popular for:

    • Catholic gift shops

    • Parish bookstores

    • Religious education programs

    • Confirmation sponsors

    • Bible study groups

    • Catholic school communities

    • Retreat gifts

    • Stocking stuffers

    • Gifts for priests, deacons, catechists, and Catholic friends or family members

    They are designed to be fun, meaningful, and actually used. Instead of giving another item that sits on a shelf, a themed crossword book gives someone a relaxing, screen-free activity connected to something they care about.

  • Yes. Parishes, Catholic gift shops, bookstores, schools, ministries, and organizations can reach out through the contact page to ask about bulk ordering options.

    Bulk orders are a good fit for parish events, religious education gifts, Confirmation programs, retreat materials, fundraiser items, Christmas gifts, Easter gifts, and shop inventory. If you are not sure how many books you need, reach out and we can walk you through the available options.

    Holy Cross(words) is especially well suited for Catholic communities looking for a unique, faith-based gift or retail item that is easy to understand, easy to display, and enjoyable for a wide range of ages.

  • We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.

  • Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.