Most people think publishing a book takes weeks of writing, editing, formatting, and design. That might be true for novels. But if you’re working with puzzle books on Amazon KDP, the game is completely different.
You can go from a rough idea to a live, income-generating book in under an hour. That’s not an exaggeration. Once you’ve done it a few times, the entire process becomes fast, repeatable, and low stress. The key is to simplify. Stop overthinking it. Focus on one clear audience, one type of puzzle, and one clean execution.
Here’s exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Pick a Niche That’s Already Selling (10 minutes)
Don’t guess. Open Amazon and type in “puzzle book.” Start looking at the autofill suggestions—those are terms real buyers are typing. Then click into a few listings that rank high and look at the titles, categories, and reviews.
You’re not trying to find something no one else is doing. You’re trying to find something people are buying and figure out how you can slightly reposition or improve it.
Example: You see “Large Print Word Search for Dog Lovers.” That’s your niche. You don’t need to invent a new one. If it’s selling, there’s space for another version.
You can also use a keyword research tool to find super low-competitive keywords.
Step 2: Generate the Puzzles (10–15 minutes)
Use a tool like BookBolt’s PuzzleWiz. It lets you choose from puzzle types like word search, sudoku, mazes, cryptograms, and more. Since you’re moving fast, stick with word searches or mazes. They’re quicker to generate and easier to theme.
Choose how many puzzles you want – 20 to 30 is enough for a short book. Upload a word list if needed (you can find free ones online related to your niche). BookBolt will generate a PDF interior, sized perfectly for Amazon (like 8.5” x 11” or 6” x 9”).
Download that file. That’s your interior done.
Step 3: Create a Simple Cover (10–15 minutes)
Open the BookBolt Cover Designer. Choose the same size as your interior and select your page count. That way the spine gets sized correctly.
Now build the cover. Keep it simple:
- Use one background color or image that fits your niche (a dog pattern, paw prints, or a photo of a golden retriever).
- Add a big, bold title like “Word Search for Dog Lovers” or “Fun Puzzles for Pet Fans.”
- Use clean, easy-to-read fonts.
- Don’t overcrowd the layout.
Once done, export the cover as a PDF. Make sure it includes front, back, and spine.
Step 4: Upload to Amazon KDP (15–20 minutes)
Log into your KDP account. Click “Create Paperback.” This is where the book goes live.
Fill in the details:
- Title: Keep it keyword-rich and clear. “Word Search for Dog Lovers: Large Print Puzzle Book with 30 Pet-Themed Games.”
- Subtitle: Optional, but you can use it to squeeze in more keywords. “Perfect for Adults, Seniors, and Kids Who Love Dogs.”
- Author: Use your real name or a pen name.
- Description: A few short lines about the book’s contents and audience. Keep it readable.
- Keywords: Use the best phrases you found earlier on Amazon.
- Categories: Choose “Games & Activities > Puzzles” and a second one related to pets or animals if allowed.
- Interior & Cover: Upload the PDF interior and the full cover PDF.
Choose a price. $6.99 to $8.99 works well for short puzzle books.
Click publish. That’s it. Your book is now in review. In 24–72 hours, it’ll be live and available to buy.
Step 5: Track Results & Repeat
Once the book is live, check your KDP dashboard every few days. If you start to see clicks and sales – then you’re onto a winning niche. If it’s working, create a second version in the same niche. Maybe change the cover color or increase the difficulty level. If not, then may need to do a little keyword research.
The goal here isn’t to make one perfect book. It’s to build a small, focused catalogue that sells over time. And once you have the system down, you can publish multiple books each week without burnout.
This process doesn’t need to be fancy. The first book won’t be perfect – and that’s fine. You’re not building a masterpiece. You’re building momentum.
Most people never make their first sale because they never publish their first book. Don’t be that person. You’ve got tools that remove all the technical work. The only thing left is action.
Start the clock. You’ve got an hour.
