Need suggestions for Graphics editor & Desktop Publishing apps
 

I'm looking for something a little easier to use than Gimp for a graphics editing program, and I need a good Desktop Publishing Program... any suggestions?

For desktop publishing, I think Scribus is the cream of the crop. You may be able to find an easier frontend to use with Gimp, but it's really the best. You could try Krita or mtPaint. Inkscape is a good vector graphics program.