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PictureDominique "Nik" Petersen
You've heard the old saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover." But that is exactly how people buy books!

The front cover needs to stand out so that the potential buyer is attracted to your book and picks it up. Then she flips it over to read the back cover. If that sparks an interest, she opens the cover to read the endorsements and then flips through the book on the way to the cashier.


Design Services


Here is an overview of the Design process and the services included.

While your manuscript is being edited, we will work on your cover design. The photo or graphic for the front cover is included, unless you have something specific that you want to use. We will instruct you on what is needed on the back cover. We will help you write the blurb and give you instructions on obtaining your ISBN number. A bar code will be created and added to the back cover. You will receive two designs for review and input.

We will instruct you on how to get endorsements for your book. You will need one for the back cover and several for the first page(s).

When the manuscript has been edited, it will be formatted into the book. You will first receive a formatting sample for approval. When the book is finished, you will receive a copy to go over with your editor before the high-resolution Press files are created. At that time, we will recommend a selling price.

The Press files will be sent to the Book Printer to use to print your copies, along with the job specs. The Printer will contact you with price quotes and will send you a Proof of the book and cover before printing.

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A special offer for New Author Publishing Services authors: the professional design of three marketing items to promote your book. Choose from
  • Business Cards
  • Bookmarks
  • Postcards
  • Book Review Sheet
  • ​About the Author Sheet
  • Publishing Company Logo
Specially designed to match your book, and ready to print.
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References

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Dominique's ability to capture the essence of the book on the cover is amazing. She is precise, detailed, and creative with the fastest turn around time. I would recommend Dominique for all your publishing requirements—furthermore, she is very knowledgeable in managing publishing projects from beginning to end.


Neerja Arora Bhatia

Founder of Rhythm of Success
Author, Coach & Inspirational Speaker
www.rhythmofsuccess.com


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Nik and I have been colleagues for a number of years, and she works wonders with suggestions and ideas. We work mostly via email and sometimes get together, but we’ve built a healthy rapport so I know her style and commitment. She and I work together as a team, and she makes magic out of what I send her. She gives me confidence to be my own creative genius. She believes in me. I am a poet and a doodle artist, and she has put both together in formats that I can send by email and snail mail. She has formatted books for me. When I am stuck, she digs in and finds a solution, as was the case when I couldn’t separate information into chapters.

She is very versed in the mechanics of her tasks. She gets the job done quickly and effectively and makes things easy. She is an excellent proofreader. By doing the things she is good at, it allows me to do what I am passionate about, for example, she willingly took on the copious task of typing poems when I was getting sick of reading my own stuff. It is nice to know that you can depend on Nik to “take over” and give you the best possible service and creativity that she can from designing work to using other tools like stock images. Having her husband as an editor makes them a unique couple to do business with.

Gail McNaughton
Author, The Angelic Heart; Blowing Kisses; An Agricultural Safari in Brazil and Argentina; Garden Memories in the Web of Life; To Have a Cup of Tea with a Cat and Other Cat Tails; Angel Witness; and The Red Canoe Trilogy
Co-Owner, Dog & Pony Productions
Poet, Photographer, and Doodle Artist
www.GailMcNaughton.com


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I have worked in the past with Nik on a design for our local women's networking group and have found her ideas to be very creative. Nik is an outside-of-the-box thinker, and I've enjoyed the time spent creating with her. I highly recommend Nik's Graphic Designs.


Mary Pfeffer
Empowerment Coach
Helping women who struggle with feeling like a doormat
and want to be happy again.

www.marypfeffer.com


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Nik and I have worked together extensively for years, co-creating in helping first-time and/or self-publishing authors get their "works of heart" into print. She has been not only a wonderful colleague, as a masterful book designer and formatter, but she has been my confidante and "go-to" expert for all publishing related topics. Nik’s knowledge base in the often confusing world of self-publishing is extensive and steeped in experience. Many times, in the turbulent seas and early years of starting up a publishing company, she was my firm and steady hand at the rudder, offering wisdom, advice, strategies, suggestions and, most importantly, support and encouragement. Not only that, but as a graphic designer, she has brought many a book to life for my clients, working patiently with them to ensure they realized that perfect fit with cover design and format.

If you have a "work of heart" you want published, your journey begins here, in the competent care of Nik Petersen!


Anna Mae Fipke
Owner and Writer/Editor
Spirit Seekers Publishing, Inc.
www.SpiritSeekersPublishing.com


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​Dominique is a skilled designer who consistently creates appealing and beautiful books. I have witnessed her skills in not only design, but also in publishing project management, and I would trust her with my own book any day. She is articulate, knowledgeable, and very dedicated.

Past Manager, Book Division, Blitzprint Inc.  

Trish Romanchuk

Manager, Marketing
Chinook Credit Union Ltd.
Strathmore Admin Office
www.chinookcu.com


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Dominique Petersen is a mastermind at graphic design. She captured the very essence of my book and made the whole process very easy. I am very pleased and proud with how my story all turned out in the end.

Stacy Wilderman
Author, Matthew's Journey
s.wilderman@telus.net


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It is largely due to the conscientious, precise guidance and help provided by Nik that I was able to receive over one thousand printed, self-published copies of my book, My Life Among the Paniyas of the Nilgiri Hills, at my home on December 7, 2007, less than six months after Nik first contacted me. The books arrived in time for the pre-launch at a Christmas Open House at our home on December 21st.

After attending a mini-workshop on self-publishing by Kathleen Mailer on April 14th at Chapters here in Lethbridge, I signed up two days later, and Nik was introduced as my support coach by Kathleen. Over the following months, Nik developed the cover design, using my photos, and provided me with step-by-step procedures, including obtaining ISBN numbers (for my paperback and eBook versions), bar code, copyright procedures, professional layout, contact with a Printer, all manner of formatting steps, including sizing the 40 photos to be used. Nik’s help was not just essential for me, but a completely satisfying, delightful experience!
Thanks, Nik!

Henning Mündel


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Self-publishing A Life Well Spent-For My Daughter was a smooth and painless process with Dominique on board. Dominique has a vast and intricate knowledge of formatting, layout and cover design, with clear steps to guide you along the way.

I would recommend Dominique to anyone looking for expert help on any self-publishing project.

Karen Baudais
Author, A Life Well Spent—For My Daughter
ALifeWellSpent@live.ca


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Wow, what a journey this has been! I can’t say thank you enough for taking my vision and turning it into a beautiful book! Your advice with this process has proven to be so valuable. Your artistic touch and kind words have brought this project to fruition and I am so grateful to have had you beside me on this journey. It was a pleasure working with you and I can't wait to have you design my next project.

Amanda Morash-Parsons
Author, Deserving of Love--A Woman's Journey in Search of Happiness
www.deservingoflove.simplesite.com


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They say you never get a second chance at a first impression. The first impression potential readers of your book will get is visual. Before the first word is read, you need to draw them into your world—and that’s were Dominique comes in.

She patiently guided me through the entire process of creating a book cover that hits potential readers' senses head on. From cover to cover, she creates books that are visually appealing and easy to read.

As a huge added bonus, Dominique shares with you her years of experience in all aspects of book design, layout, and marketing. She tamed the fears and broke down the processes of creating a great, and marketable, book into manageable, bite-sized pieces.

Thanks, Dominique.


Eugene Gamble
Author, The Man I Never Knew
www.EugeneGamble.com


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As a first-time author, the logistics of producing a book can be overwhelming. I got connected with Dominique and Jens Petersen who, together, helped to make my book a reality. They both did an outstanding job!  

Jens with his patience, vast experience, and gentle ways made the editing process a pleasure. Dominique took my ideas for the cover and book design then transpired them into an easy creative process.

I highly recommend them to anyone who is serious about getting their book(s) out to the world in an affordable and professional manner. 


Shelley Repka-Willard


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I have written a few books and have had the pleasure of working directly with Nik and Jens Petersen to develop the manuscripts and design for each.

Nik and Jens are professionals in their work. They were supportive in offering suggestions and always worked with me to create a finished product that truly represented who I was and the messages I wanted to share. It was a blessing to have found these wonderful and professional people to help me get my books out there. I would recommend them for anyone who is looking for quality work and quality people.

Sue Kruszewski, B.Ed. 
Author, Raising Well-Behaved Kids
www.elementsyoga.ca
yogasue@shaw.ca


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I would highly recommend working with both Jens and Dominique. Both are very thorough and skilled at what they do. I had never written a book before, and they patiently worked with me and brought me through all of the steps to complete a work that I am so proud of. I couldn't have done it without their guidance, advice, and expertise!

Alison Nolan
Author, Getting Organized: A Practical Guide for Busy Moms
www.gettingorganizedmom.com


Biography

Dominique "Nik" Petersen is a published author, graphic designer, and part-time food photographer.

She was employed as Proofreader and an ad designer at a local newspaper for six years. She also worked for two years at a local Mail Boxes Etc., as their designer. For eight and a half years, Nik provided her book design and administrative services to Aurora Publishing, working her way up to Vice-President, Production & Design. When Aurora started Today's Businesswoman magazine, she became the Production Manager.

As well as working with independent authors, Nik continues to provide book design to Spirit Seekers Publishing's authors and authors referred to her by Blitzprint, the book printing company.

Read more about her books and photos at the website www.NikDesignsGraphics.com.
Visit and "Like" her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NiksBooks
​or www.Facebook.com/NiksPikks.

Contact Information

For further design information and a free, no-obligation quote, please email:
Dominique Petersen at NikDesignsGraphics@yahoo.ca.

Please visit and "Like" the Facebook Page at
www.Facebook.com/AuthorConsultants
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