Since 1985, Joanne Shwed at BACKSPACE INK has provided a wide range of services for self-publishing authors. 

The tabs at the top of this page will lead you to the Services, Portfolio, and Testimonials sections. 

If you need our services, please contact us today for your complimentary estimate.

In addition to providing services for self-publishing authors, here are a few of our own published books (select the Products tab for our complete collection).

Carpet Creatures: Tales from the Deep Pile

$8 (paperback)
Order on Amazon or e-mail joski@backspaceink.com.

It all started with a carpet and a sketchpad. Based on portraits by illustrator Thomas A. Ekkens, who was inspired by the play of light and shadow in carpets, Joanne spins her yarns cleverly with a twist at the ends.

You can read these and other stories in the My Writing section of this website.

For more information about the Carpet Creatures project, visit the Carpet Creatures section of the TAE Gallery website.

Click on a cover design below, or select the Portfolio tab to see our complete cover and interior design samples.

Backpocket Crosswords: Handmade Puzzles 

$8 (paperback) 
Order on Amazon or e-mail joski@backspaceink.com.

$12 (spiral-bound)
E-mail joski@backspaceink.com to order.

The idea to publish a puzzle book began at an outdoor festival where Joanne enjoyed the music and worked on one of her favorite hobbies: creating crossword puzzles. Before long, a crowd gathered around her and she noticed how much interest her hobby created. Many years later, while Joanne and her husband Tom Ekkens waited for his radiation treatments, they (and others in the waiting room) worked on the clues for the first crossword puzzle book, which seemed to calm their nerves, raise their spirits, and even get a couple of laughs.

For your reading enjoyment, Joanne has written a (very) short story about her puzzle demonstration experience at Jigsaw Java, In a Word: Backpocket Crosswords.

Backpocket Crosswords (Volume 2): Handmade Puzzles

$12 (spiral-bound)
E-mail joski@backspaceink.com to order.

The impetus for making the second crossword puzzle book came from a fellow editor who told Joanne how much she and her husband enjoyed doing Joanne's first volume of crossword puzzles and wondered if a second puzzle book was in the works. She fanned the fire within Joanne and ultimately helped create many of the clues.

For your reading enjoyment, Joanne has written a (very) short story about her puzzle demonstration experience at Jigsaw Java, In a Word: Backpocket Crosswords.

Collected Poetry of Thomas A. Ekkens—Early Works

$12 (hardcover)
E-mail joski@backspaceink.com to order.

This one-of-a-kind art, music, and poetry book includes 46 original poems, a custom-designed typeface, artwork, and music.