Nik Nicholson's Blog, page 18

REGISTRATION IS OPEN 1st Annual Sankofa Sisterhood Writers Retreat ~

Originally posted on Alicia Anabel Santos:

We are thrilled to announce that registration is OPEN for the Sankofa Sisterhood Writers Retreat ~ Releasing the Selfless Woman: Becoming the Selfish Writer!

Retreat dates: Friday, May 22 ��� Monday, May 25th, 2015

Releasing the Selfless Woman��� is letting go of all those things that keep us from writing. Becoming the Selfish Writer is about connecting your writing to all that makes you a woman. You will access your creativity using all the senses, through writing workshops, meditation, writing circles, nature walks and body art. This retreat is for published and unpublished writers.

APPLICATION: In a word or pdf document please answer the following:

Name:

Address:

Address 2:

City, State, Zip Code

Tel/Cell:

Email:

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:

1. How do you identify (culturally ethnically, sexual orientation) ��� OPTIONAL

2. When did you know you were a writer? Why do you write?

3���

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This is a belated happy Birthday to Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde, I speak your name. ��For truths you carried in your womb and labored in love to share. You are still one of my favorite poets.

A Litany for Survival

For those of us who live at the shoreline

standing upon the constant edges of decision

crucial and alone

for those of us who cannot indulge

the passing dreams of choice

who love in doorways coming and going

in the hours between dawns

looking inward and outward

at once before and after

seeking a now that can breed

futures

like bread in our children’s mouths

so their dreams will not reflect

the death of ours:

For those of us

who were imprinted with fear

like a faint line in the center of our foreheads

learning to be afraid with our mother’s milk

for by this weapon

this illusion of some safety to be found

the heavy-footed hoped to silence us

For all of us

this instant and this triumph

We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid

it might not remain

when the sun sets we are afraid

it might not rise in the morning

when our stomachs are full we are afraid

of indigestion

when our stomachs are empty we are afraid

we may never eat again

when we are loved we are afraid

love will vanish

when we are alone we are afraid

love will never return

and when we speak we are afraid

our words will not be heard

nor welcomed

but when we are silent

we are still afraid

So it is better to speak

remembering

we were never meant to survive.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: audre lorde, black poem, feminist, Litany for Survival, poetry

Why Should People Read Descendants Of Hagar

My First Novel

“Descendants of Hagar is unique because of its creative process. I surveyed a variety of masculine women about their��experiences and thoughts on gender expression and gender roles. Then I used that research as the foundation for Linny, my main character. I didn’t want Linny to be a combination of all my assumptions about masculine women. I don���t know of any other book where such a process was used. It’s an important��novel that should be read because it explores all the complexities and contradictions of being a masculine-centered woman.

I interviewed more than sixty women who I presumed were lesbians because I���d posted requests for

interviews on lesbian sites, but surprisingly the majority were bisexual. This was a constant reminder that gender expression does not denote sexuality.

Additionally, the abundance of bisexual respondents highlighted the anti-bisexual bias in the lesbian

community and the need for open communication. One follow-up question I���d constantly ask bisexual,

masculine women was, ���How did the lesbians you were dating receive this information?��� Almost all of them��said they were never asked because of their gender presentation. Furthermore, they didn���t volunteer this��information because they are afraid of discrimination, or that it would undermine their gender role. A few of��them even said they actually asked the women they were dating if they dated men, because though they themselves dated men, they were not interested in dating other bisexual women. Even in these instances,��the feminine women they were dating never took that as an opportunity to pose the question back, if the��masculine woman was dating men.

Of the lesbian-identified, masculine women, who were in the minority of those surveyed, some discussed��dating men before coming out. They were competitive with males and jealous of the support males were��given, while they were discouraged regarding certain interests and behaviors. Some women said they had��straight relationships because they confused admiration with attraction. Noting, they believed the men they��dated also confused admiration with affection. These men often commented on them being stronger, lower��maintenance (more in touch with themselves, naturally beautiful) or just more relatable than other women. Ultimately, setting the stage for their first romantic relationship.

These are some of the life experiences that were considered when writing ���Descendants of Hagar.��� It

gives another perspective to the evolution of becoming a masculine woman.”

���Descendants of Hagar,��� may be purchased online anywhere books are sold. ���Descendants of Hagar,��� is sold in paperback, hardback and e-book. For cohesion, it is suggested that book clubs, classes��or other groups planning to read and/or study the novel purchase their E-books directly from the publisher��AuthorHouse. The price is the same, but each E-reader will have “real” page numbers, pages identical to both the paperback and hardcover book.

AuthorHouse E-reader note:��Use the Mobi file on all versions of the Kindle, and all versions of the Kindle app. Use the ePub file on these devices and readers: Sony�� eReader, Kobo eReader, NOOK���, iBooks (iPad/iPhone/iPod), Stanza, Bluefire (iOS & Android).��Use the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat on a personal computer.

Filed under: Research, self publishing, Self Reflection Tagged: african american history, aggressive, androgynous, artist nik, artistnik, black history, Black Women, butch, coming out, Descendants of Hagar, dom, early 1900's, fem, feminism, feminist, femme, gay, gender, gender expression, gender roles, great migration, historical fiction, lesbian, lgbt, masculine of center, masculine presenting, nik nicholson, novel, queer, race, Research, roles, stud, womanism, writing

About Original Sin

Child with the holy ghost.

Before I could address any issues I’d gained just by living in a country that is hostile against black people. Before I could address the defense mechanisms I built to survive as a female in a race that is hostile towards females. ��Before I could grow to appreciate my nappy hair, heavy body and dark skin in a world where beauty is defined as: long straight hair, anorexic thin bodies and white skin, I had to unearth all the lies I’d been told about God. ��I had to see how much of all of the above was rooted in my faith. ��Then I had to stop believing in a God that saw me as less because I am female.

Now I know, I don’t mean become atheist. ��For a while I did identify as atheist. ��God and I were atheist, I like to tell people. ��I am grateful God doesn’t allow what you think about who or what God is to change its spiritual connection to us. ��I am grateful God is so infinite, God isn’t challenged or undermined by rumors spread and printed by man. I am grateful God is patient and understanding while we figure out God is God and not who we’ve been told God is. ��That in itself is a miracle, grace, mercy and a lesson.

The truth is, I never actually didn’t believe in God, I can feel God. ��I exist in our connection. ��I just couldn’t accept or believe the murderous, racist, patriarchal, war mongering imperialism and slave supporting Bible was God’s word. ��It was horrifying to read about Lot offering his virgin daughters to all the men of Sodom. ��It was heart breaking to read the rules for selling daughters or beating slaves. ��Identifying as atheist felt right. ��Especially since I also hadn’t separated who God actually is from how I’d been taught to view or understand God.

It took awhile to acknowledge and see God without prejudices or perceptions I’d learned over a lifetime. �� Which meant unlearning. ��Which meant accepting actual truths. ��Like that Buddhist believe Buddha was also born of a virgin, walked on water and changed water to wine. ��More importantly, Buddha existed a thousand years before Jesus. ��On top of that, there were a lot of deities who shared similar traits and did miracles. ��All of the books most religions are based on now in writing were folk tales spread through word of mouth. ��Folks borrowed great feats from other gods, and said “Yeah, mine did that too.” ��Also, the text we are now relying on was written by men with all of their prejudices, fears and assumptions. ��Most of the rules are now arbitrary, because they were rooted in the time period and challenges people faced hundreds of years ago.

Accepting several truths and remaining open to learning and accepting wisdom wherever I find it, allows me to read the Bible without hostility and to see its beauty. ��The Bible like most collections of folk tales teach universal and timeless lessons. ��When put in its proper perspective it’s easy to marvel at how long the Bible has existed and how many generations have passed it down, without being angry or feeling the need to figure out which interpretation or translation is most valid. ��I am also free not to apply it literally.

Living a spiritual life does not mean, for me, God fearing. ��Living a spiritual life for me means not seeing myself as flawed, broken or needing salvation. ��Living a spiritual life means trusting God and feeling myself a divine representation of the creator; beautiful and perfect in all of my uniqueness. ��Imperfection is our divinity. ��There are no set rules for all of us to follow, we all have different purposes.

God is love. ��God wants the best for us. ��God leads us to our greatest good. ��God is not sitting somewhere waiting to punish us. ��In fact, when we follow God we are spared and rewarded or moved further down our path. ��Which feels rewarding, because we are spiritually fulfilled and soothed when we live in our life purpose.

Living a spiritual life means acknowledging and accepting that God is working through me to achieve my life’s purpose. ��It means knowing God trusts me to achieve this goal. ��It means knowing that because God is infinite, called by many names and is many different things to many different spirits who all have purposes there is no perfect. ��There is no one way. ��God can be all the Gods we know of. ��There are no real mistakes only lessons. ��Everything is about what is conducive to achieving our life goal. ��If praying works, pray. ��If meditation works, meditate. ��If Yoga works, stretch. LOL! ��A large part of getting there is following the spirit that tells us which way to go, we all hear it but we do not all heed it.

Religion teaches us not to trust ourselves. ��Religion teaches us to go outside of ourselves for approval and guidance. ��God calls us into ourselves. ��God speaks to each of us but we are challenged to listen because we want to read what dead men are saying. ��Religion is a huge hindrance to being who we are called and led to be.

My biggest struggle is being spiritually responsible, accountable and most important active… not reactive. ��My struggle is not to respond but to create. ��Not to challenge but to be a challenge. ��I am a catalyst for change. ��I am usually inspired or compelled to take steps before others are even aware it’s time to move. ��I am always fighting my calling. For that I am praying for courage as I move inspite of fear.

Love Love Love

Filed under: random, Research, Self Reflection, Spiritual/ Religious Tagged: affirming self, bible, faith, finding god, finding self, god, life purpose, Love, love journey, meditation, motivation, patience, questioning, religion, spiritual, Spiritual Journey, spirituality, writing

January 18, 2015 Random

Random beautiful woman. I think every blog should have a picture.

I haven’t blogged in over a month. ��I decided to blog today even though I don’t really have anything to talk about. ��I like to blog when I actually have something to say or share. ��My life is pretty mundane and peaceful.

I’ve been reading a lot because I’m on a project that requires me to read several books. ��The fact that I was even offered the project is a huge honor. ��Initially, I couldn’t believe I was chosen. ��I really just wanted to do a good job. ��In the midst of completing this task, I’ve realized it is a lot of work. ��A lot of work for free. ��I’m kind of burned out.

I’m frustrated that this project is taking up so much time. ��I want to finish writing and publish a well written follow up novel to Descendants of Hagar. ��I can’t give Daughter of Zion the kind of attention it requires because I’ve got reading goals I’ve set for myself so I can keep up with this project. ��I am also trying to finish a poetry book. I am also doing tons of research. I am also earning income writing and editing on other projects. ��I work full time. ��I’ve started painting. Lot going on, doesn’t feel like there are enough hours in a day.

On top of all that, I’ve got to market. ��Marketing is a way of life once you seek to make a living with your art. ��You always have to be on, telling people what you do, trying to see if there is anyway others can benefit from your gifts. My life has gotten very interesting in that respect. ��I’ve met some cool people. I’ve found some artist I can barter with…

I started writing grants last year to finance my projects. ��I haven’t actually ever gotten funding, but it’s been good practice. I am starting to get a calendar together for writing grants.

I’ve always seen art as actions fueled by passion and impulse. ��Considering how I will live off my work long term or how I will fund projects has taught me to create schedules. ��Like I’m not free to edit anything else until around June 2015 and then I don’t think I’m going to take on any outside projects because I want to get my own projects completed.

I guess I could write about how my dream is very different from waking up and accomplishing it in reality. ��Things are a lot more calculated. ��I am grateful I learned patience before I got to this point. I am grateful I don’t take rejection or not winning grants as set backs. ��Whether I get a grant or not, the next step is still the same, I go write. ��Sure I want to receive funding but I don’t write for money I write because it is my calling and gift. ��So, not being funded doesn’t actually stop my progress. It could expedite some research but it wouldn’t stop anything.

Now I’m praying the people in my life won’t focus on external accomplishments or numbers. ��I don’t want my work to become about statistics or comparisons to other writers. ��I can only be as good as I can be and I’m constantly striving to be my best self not just in writing, poetry, performing or art. ��I want to be the best human being I can be. ��Which means I’m always looking for opportunities to grow or trying to find the lesson in every challenge.

My goal has never been to be better than any other writer or about competition in general. ��My goal has always been to be the best writer I can be and tell the best story I can tell based on what I know and I’ve learned. ��I am not just researching the time period for my historical novel, but also how to write better. ��I do writing exercises to see what techniques work for me or speak to me. ��I practice writing poems. ��I’ve started reciting and rehearsing for when I return to the stage.

A few nights ago I went to see Saul Williams and��Suheir Hammad. ��It was a benefit reading for the legal costs of Ferguson protesters. ��It was a beautiful experience that reminded me of why I became a poet. ��For a moment I was at home again, within myself. It also reminded me that artists belong to the people and speak for the people. ��It motivated me to return to the poetry I first loved.

Being among poets reminded me that I needed to start seeking to be in poetry cyphers. ��For a long time, years ago I went to poetry readings more often than some people go to church. ��I hosted poetry readings. ��Poetry, good poetry was my religion. ��I don’t know how I’ve gone so long without being in someone’s cypher.

Maybe 2015 will be about me remembering who I am and being in that knowledge. ��I feel like I’ve been searching for home for years. ��I think, I am home.

Random beautiful black woman. This blog has two random pics. LOL!

I prayed the people in my life would start to value what I gave so much of my energy. ��On so many levels, people have changed their conversation with me and about me. ��No one is saying, well you could write at any time. ��Or trying to make me feel guilty because I am so busy. ��People actually ask me about how my writing is going and respect me as a writer. ��People are encouraging me instead of attempting to discourage me… It’s an amazing transition from just last year.

I am grateful I have some regular income from writing. ��I don’t make enough to live off of, yet. ��But I do receive regular income. ��Which is a huge step in accomplishing my dream. ��I often compare this time to others going to college. I pray it doesn’t take four years to get into a position anchored in art, or where I do some form of art to pay for my living. Still, I’m keeping my head down, doing the work and keep showing up to the page.

Recently, Facebook shifted. ��Some of the writing groups I’m a member of on the site started to show up in my feed. ��As a result, I began participating in several groups. Which by the way, if you are a writer it helps to network with other writers. ��I was reading and exchanging information more than I was writing. ��I am learning so much from the groups regarding publishing, web hosting, formatting and marketing. ��I don’t know how much time went by before I realized I wasn’t writing or researching.

I have a new phone. I had to send the one I got myself for Christmas back, I think before Christmas. ��This one works like a charm. ��Well, after a certain man in the hood worked his magic for a small fee. ��So I think I love it. I also like when I feel like I’ve got some little known information… I have a phone guy and a mechanic. ��Life is looking good. I might be becoming apart of this community.

Love Love Love

Filed under: Daughter of Zion, Editing, Poetry, publishing, random, Research, self publishing, Self Reflection Tagged: a writing life, art, artist, random

Praying Over Poems

After getting off work, grocery shopping and prepping food for the oven I went to the library.  My plan was to group poems I’d already edited and decide on section titles.  I also wanted to consider, review and edit some relative poems I found last night in a random folder.  As soon as I took over a large table, and started to spread the pages of the book out in piles I knew I wasn’t comfortable with the body of poems I’d chosen.

I have been meditating on whether there is room for fiction in my poetry.  I am also not sure of how to group the poems…  Should I group it by eras in my life?  Should I group them by years?  Should I group them by thoughts?  Should I group them by women or subjects?  I immediately don’t like the subject idea because then the poems become repetitive.  Should I group them by experience?  Or, group them in a fictional way… I mean, like… putting them in order to make an experience.  Like, one dating poem, then a poem about whether it goes somewhere or not, another poem about why it doesn’t go somewhere or a relationship poem and then a break up poem.

These poems are about seeking romantic love, dating, sex and knowing myself.  Some of it is finding myself too… So it would be fictional to put the poems in order to give total experiences if the poems (or people rather) and experiences are unrelated.  I didn’t write about every interaction I had with people I dated… some people never made it to the page, some amazing experiences never made it to the page even though I might have written about the person.  So to group them as sequential experiences feels dishonest, because many of them are unrelated?

As a poet who reads other poets I considered the best poetry collections I’ve read to determine a format…  I love different poetry books for different reasons… And each poet is an individual.  It isn’t fair to compare poets.  I also don’t think it’s a good idea to mimic another poets style or presentation.  So I ended up sorting through the poems I discovered last night, trying to make sense of them when I couldn’t order the poems I’d already chosen.

While reading the poems I just discovered, I found a poem about praying and acknowledging how God always answers my prayers…  So, I started to pray.  I wrote the prayer down.  A creative stream opened.  I felt connected, open, purposeful and creative.  Then I wrote the introduction to Seeking Sex Without Armor.  I also wrote a few poems.  God gave me a moment of clarity.

During the writing I was so open, I was again there in different situations: on dates… in love… breaking up… frustrated with myself… loving myself and finding God.  Or acknowledging God rather, God is never lost or absent.

I was so overwhelmed, I started to cry as I was writing.  I was crying so much I had to go get something to wipe my face and eyes.  When I entered the bathroom a teenager was charging her phone.  After I got some tissue from the stall, she ran and opened the door for me… Are you ok?  I promised her I was. She couldn’t  have been more than 12 years old… She was thoroughly concerned.  And I wished I’d thanked better and encouraged her caring and caring enough to ask…  I was even amused that she didn’t completely trust that I was fine…  At the time though, I was so consumed with writing and trying to get back to my stuff I’d left all over the table and stay in the head space I didn’t take that opportunity…

Now I am here, sharing this journey… I am here, blogging and thanking God for reminding me people care.  Especially after I’d immersed myself in some painful experiences to write.  Now I know, there isn’t any room in poetry for fiction or fear.

Filed under: Editing, formatting book, Poem, Poetry, publishing, random, Self Reflection, Spiritual/ Religious Tagged: a writing life, black woman, Black Women, finding balance, finding my voice, inspiration, meditation, nik nicholson, poetry, praying, seeking sex without armor, writing journey

Selecting Poems for Seeking Sex

I finally finished selecting poems for my first poetry book.  I’m currently editing, organizing and grouping them into sections.  It feels amazing to be moving forward in my work.

I am concerned about having poems from so many different eras of my life… That statement made me feel old.  I have grown a lot.  My thinking is different, currently I examine my choices more meticulously. I’m not even sure I examined my actions when I was younger… A lot of my life choices were impulsive and passionate.

Reading all my poems last night, I realized I write a lot of fictional poems.  I was reading them, thinking “Why did I write this?  I didn’t have this experience.”  I am going to be sitting with how I spend my energy.  I’m debating if I want to include poems that were inspired by a certain energy or thought, rather than an actual life experience.

I am definitely going to be more mindful of what I say about myself to myself.  To read all of the poems together last night… I had an opportunity to see what is running through my head.  I could be gentler with my spirit.  I could be more positive with my expectations… I carry a lot of hurt.  I can forgive everyone but myself.  I am hard on me…

Going forward I will acknowledge my light.  I will acknowledge my power.  I will have positive expectations.  I accept the past, which I cannot change.  I will trust myself, because I am making better choices every day I draw breath.

 

Filed under: Editing, formatting book, Poem, Poetry, publishing, self publishing, Self Reflection, Spiritual/ Religious Tagged: a writing life, african american poet, african american poetry, author, black poet, black poetry, black woman, Black Women, faith, fiction, focus, inspiration, Love, meditation, nik nicholson, poet, poetry, publishing, seeking sex without armor, Spiritual Journey, writing journey

65 Top Websites to Announce Your Book for FREE

Nik Nicholson:

I appreciate this blogger going through the trouble of doing this research and posting all these links. This blog is filled with tons of places to share you book for free. I plan to come back when I have more time to read. I just wanted to bookmark it on my blog and share it with all my writer friends.

Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:

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For your book to sell, you need to create the demand. You need an audience, a platform – which you will get when your book is showing up on many websites and forums, visible to readers. Make it a habit to submit your book to at least 2-3 websites a day.  Don’t forget to post links to them on Google+, Twitter, FB, Tumblr, StumpleUpon, LinkedIn, Chime.in, Pinterest … whatever social media you are signed up.  In one month you will have your book on all of these listed sites and you will see a difference in sales:

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1. Goodreads

Use your free membership to promote yourself and your books. Reviews are essential and reviews on Goodreads site help your book to really stand out to millions of visitors.

2. Wattpad
Wattpad has experienced explosive growth since its inception and has become the world’s most popular destination to publish…

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Remembering I Chose Writing

Today I decided to tell myself the truth about my writing career. I love writing whether it pays my bills or not.  I love the rush of creating something.  I love when a poem comes together just right.  I love applying  a new lesson from one of my writing books.  I love finding out I’m already doing something a pro says every “good” writer should do. :)  I like escaping from my life and becoming completely immersed in another world I’ve created. Now I can breathe and stop beating myself up and enjoy this journey.

I wanted to have a book done by September 2014.  That was impossible.  There is still, so much work to do for the book I released in July of 2013.  You have to market your work and if you haven’t begun… you must build an audience.  More importantly, I needed to have a rough draft done before 2013 ended to have another book out this year.  Editing takes time.  Writing a book is such a long process.  Again, I love the process.

Even though I love writing, I somehow started to try and force myself to write faster, or to be more productive.  I’m not against productivity, but I’m not sure how I picked the date for the publishing of my next book.  I mean, I picked the date of my next book before the first one had been released so I could include the release date in the book.  While the truth is, it was kind of unreasonable to determine how fast I could complete something I’d never completed.  Truth is, I have no idea when the first draft of my next book will be completed.

I’m still doing research.  I am still writing.  Often I don’t know what I need to know or don’t know depending on the writing session until I hit a wall.  Some writers just write their story and then plug in historical information.  I can’t use that method because some things are impossible in the time period.  Yes, it’s fiction and I can make anything I want happen.  But I can’t call it historical fiction if I disregard the actual historical part.  It’d be a fantasy novel if people started using the phone or the internet in the early 1900’s.  It’d be a fantasy novel if my characters started displaying behaviors that were unknown during their time.  We are literally limited by our thinking.  I have to know what’s going on in their time to recreate their thought process.

There are so many layers I want to cover.  On top of all that, I always want my next book to be better than the last one.  I always want to be growing as a writer and for it to reflect in my work.  I’ve learned so much since I released my last book.  I want to apply all of that  knowledge.

Speaking of learning from writing… I’m really glad I actually made all the editing changes after it was edited.  My editor would write questions in the margins and explain why I NEEDED to change something.  We had discussions about things I didn’t understand.  Turns out, you need someone to get in there and see if what you wrote is what you actually meant.  Also, how you perceive what you write is completely different from how it might actually read. Of course you understand some weird dialog, no one else who’ll read it will because you are immersed in the world you’ve created…

I’m looking forward to a really good first, second and third edit.  I am looking forward to reader feedback.  I’m looking forward to sitting down with a table of readers before the book is finally published.  Last time I had several different readers from different places, who came from different backgrounds and therefore looked for different things.  The book was mailed all over the place.  Everyone was on their own reading timeline.  This next group is a book group of several women.   There will be a set date for when it has to be done.

Currently, I’m in a coffee house… trying to write something towards finally finishing the first draft of my novel.   I did a lot of research.  Oh, and I’ve surrendered to researching more.  The last time I did research it was for the first book when I thought it would all be one book.   Honestly, I didn’t focus on this time period enough.  So I am sitting with how my character feels in every scene… I’m asking myself “what is she doing in the scene,” and “what actions are available?” I’ve accomplished a little writing but not what I wanted. I think I’m going to call it quits, go home, watch a little Netflix until I fall out. Plus it’s freezing in here.

Random: I read on another blog I’m following, how this man blogs daily at least 500 words about whatever.  I don’t know if my goal is to write a blog daily but I do need to set daily writing goals.  As much as I love writing, it doesn’t beg me to feed it the way my stomach does.  Writing doesn’t send me messages or mail to notify me that a bill is due. Writing doesn’t (well, sometimes my characters talk at the most inopportune times…) tell me it feels neglected the way a lover would.  I have to choose it.  I even have to choose to love it.

Filed under: Daughter of Zion, publishing, random, Research, self publishing, Self Reflection, Spiritual/ Religious Tagged: african american history, fiction, historical fiction, inspiration, nik nicholson, patience, Research, setting goals, setting writing goals, writer's block, writing, writing at a cafe, writing journey, writing life

Software to Make Your Own Book Cover

I’ve been looking into creating my own book cover. I am an artist, but I don’t really know anything about the graphics part of creating a cover. I found this information online and wanted to store it somewhere for myself… And decided to share it on my blog too. There are many applications that can do this. I have explained two options that you may consider: (1) Paid Applications: (from Adobe) a. Photoshop – Image manipulation b. Illustrator – Vector Graphics c. Indesign – Layout your cover page/book exactly for Print & Publishing (2) Free Applications: (Open Source) a. GIMP – Image manipulation b. Inkscape – Vector Graphics c. Scribus – Layout your cover page/book exactly for Print & Publishing A good cover/book design is an outcome of effective use of above three tools. Hope this helps you.

Filed under: ebook publishing, formatting book, publishing, self publishing Tagged: art, book, book cover, cover art, creating book cover, questions about bookcovers, writing, writing journey