I created this book cover by first selecting the appropriate page size and resolution to match the project's specifications.  I placed my images that i googled for under "large" into the photoshop project.  I transformed images by rotating them 180 degrees and holding shift then dragging to meet my desired size.  I applied layer styles for enhanced visual impact to my title, author name, and subtitle.  I extracted color from the images on the cover to establish some congruity.  I had to add a glow to the author name in order to allow the letters in front of the tree trunk to "pop."  I created a mask for the back cover dealing with the tireswing.  I renamed the layers as i went along to better organize the layout.  I chose NOT to add the repeating text because I felt it took away from the simplicity of the book cover design i was trying to create in order to match the book's theme of one's childhood (simpler times as a kid).  Although I knew at the beginning how i wanted my cover to turn out, it took me a while to execute as i am slowly adapting to this high technology of photoshop.