Michael Vito Tosto – Designer

Most self-published *feel* self-published before a single sentence is read. Typography is generic. Spacing is careless. The visual rhythm is absent.

I design interiors that remove that feeling, books built to read cleanly, carry atmosphere, and feel intentional as physical objects— not simply formatted files uploaded to a platform.

My work tends to appeal especially to writers creating serious, unconventional, literary, or genre-crossing projects slightly outside the mainstream.

I specialize exclusively in interiors. Every book is built from the ground up— no templates, no recycled systems, no AI. Typography, spacing, hierarchy, margins, lineation, and pacing are shaped around the manuscript itself.

The difference is subtle but immediate: the book reads easier, feels more immersive, and carries the visual confidence associated with professionally typeset work.

Margins, line length, leading, kerning, hierarchy, chapter rhythm, and white space are all handled intentionally to support the reading experience. Not merely on the appearance of the page.

I have designed 200+ books across memoir, nonfiction, poetry, literary fiction, and experimental work, delivering print-ready PDFs and EPUBs that have gone on to be published.

SERVICES:

STANDARD — clean, professional, highly readable interiors designed with strong typography and careful structure.

PREMIUM — fully custom, typography—driven interiors for authors seeking a more distinctive visual identity and deeper design attention throughout the reading experience.

Both include:

— Fully custom interior layout (no templates)

— Typography driven by the content

— Print-ready PDF + EPUB for *KDP*

— Files aligned to platform specifications

— Basic formatting revisions prior to final delivery

NOTE:

— Manuscripts should be *fully edited and finalized* before formatting begins. Mockups can be done on previous drafts

— Editorial revisions, rewriting, proofreading, and post-layout manuscript changes fall outside standard formatting scope

— Clients are responsible for ensuring they possess rights or licenses for all supplied text and images. Any third-party artwork or photography supplied for use in a commercial publication must be cleared for use by the client prior to final delivery.

All final files are tested and delivered publication-ready for KDP. My focus is the design and preparation of the book itself--account management, uploading, and publication oversight remain with the author.

PROCESS:

We begin by confirming trim size, platform, and the overall visual direction of the book. I then review the manuscript and provide 4 initial mockups.

Once a direction is selected, I complete the full interior and deliver publication-ready files optimized for print and ebook upload. Typical turnaround is approximately *three weeks* depending on manuscript length and complexity. Rush scheduling *may* be available.

HOW I WORK:

At my own pace. I communicate only via email to keep the process clear, organized, and documented. I respond consistently—typically within 12 hours, often sooner.

ABOUT ME:

I’m a writer, musician, artist inspired by history, classic cinema, poetry, philosophy, American storytelling, Baroque music, 1950s jazz, and the Grateful Dead. I care deeply about books and when I'm not designing them I write them.

I live with my cat in the St. Louis, MO area.