Sanserofin Studio

I’m a book design pro who helps indie authors and non-profits by crafting impactful memoirs, business, and history books.

Book Design + Formatting

Hangar 18 Creative Group Inc.

After leaving commercial printing behind, I worked at this studio for a few months. The work included design implementation, formatting, typesetting and print production on menus, packaging, brochures, catalogues, programs, and newsletters. I prefer the solitude of working in my home studio.

Production Designer

RR Donnelley

When I worked here it was a family-owned business called Benwell-Atkins. I was a part of commercial printing history in Vancouver. B-A was the first commercial printer in Vancouver to embrace “desktop publishing” and digital print technology. The Vancouver RRD Donnelley printing plant closed some years ago.

Print Production Artist, Preflight Operator

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲

I’ve loved books my entire life and am drawn to all types of stories and information. I love how words and visuals can transport, educate, and connect us. 

Over a 40-year career, I’ve honed my craft in printing, design, and book production, helping authors and organizations transform their ideas into beautifully designed books. 

It’s not just about design for me. It’s about empowering independent authors because I know firsthand how daunting the self-publishing journey can feel. 

That’s why I strive to be more than a designer — I’m your partner. 

I walk alongside you, combining my technical expertise and creative vision to ensure your book not only reflects your hard work but resonates with your readers. 

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵

Business Book Authors: You’ve written to inspire and educate; let’s create a design that enhances your authority and impact.

Memoirists: Your personal story is meaningful. I’ll help you frame it with a design that honours your journey. 

Non-Profits & Historical Societies: The story of your community matters. Together, we’ll create books that beautifully preserve these legacies.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽

From the first pencil sketch to the final proof, I’m here to bring your vision to life. 

𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

Custom Book Covers: A standout design that captures the essence of your work. 

Interior Layout & Typesetting: Clean, engaging layouts that elevate the reading experience.

Marketing Materials: Bookmarks and launch graphics that ensure your book gets noticed.


𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸. 

That’s why I take pride in delivering designs that reflect your story and make your book an experience readers will treasure.

Are you ready to bring your vision to life? Let’s create a book your readers will love.

📅 Book a free 20-minute Author Chat: https://calendly.com/sanserofin/20-min-free-consult

I cleared out the apartment in six days.


Most of my mother’s belongings went on FB Marketplace.
The rest, I donated.

She’s still with us — just not going back to the home she lived in for the last four years.

It’s sad to realize my mother never really settled into her assisted living community.

And even though I’d already downsized her from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment, last week was still emotionally brutal.

I had to decide what to do with every item, from cutlery to face cream.

My brother took the items he could use, and I brought home what little I could fit in my suitcase.
By the end of the week, what Mom still owned was packed into three suitcases.

The realization that almost everything was gone nearly broke me.

Until I found her old cookbook with the sauce-splattered recipe for barbecue ribs — a lifetime of family dinners in one stained page.

I wish I’d brought it back with me, but at the time, it hurt too much to consider.

Helping Mom close this chapter reminded me that our lives are made up of both hard and beautiful moments, and the artifacts attached to them.

Even when everything is changing too fast, we have our memories.

Have a beautiful weekend, friends.


📸 The Purity Cook Book was a staple in Canadian kitchens in the 1950s-1970s. I even have my own copy!

Toni Serofin

Book Designer | Helping Niche Indie Authors Craft Impactful Memoirs, Business, and Personal Development Books | 18 Years of Creating Professional Covers and Interior Layouts

There was no money in it for me.


Because he planned to format the book himself.

So why did I give him 40 minutes and a pile of free advice?

Because the project was fantastic — and because I’ve been helped countless times by people who didn’t owe me a thing.

Generosity in this industry isn’t a financial loss.

It’s how we keep good books and their authors moving forward.

Happy Friday!
:
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👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books. 

👟 Follow me for bookish content and the occasional brain dump.

The self-serve pumps at the gas station weren’t working. 
So I had to go inside.

Which I didn’t mind at all…
Because there was an actual person behind the counter.

We made eye contact and exchanged a few words while I paid.
It took about 20 seconds longer than paying at the pump.

That day, I was reminded how much I enjoy interacting with other humans.

It’s one of my favourite parts of being a book designer.

Client conversations unrelated to the project.
The getting-to-know-you chats.
Sharing that I’ll be late with a proof because I need to attend to something for my mother, sparking the client to share something about their mom.

The connections I make with authors are the whipped cream on my book design pie. 🥧 

What’s your favourite thing that you’ve ever learned about one of your clients?

PS. If you’re the kind of author who values collaboration, conversation, and a real working relationship, my door is always open.


👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books.

👟 Follow me for book design wisdom and personal anecdotes.

Consistency isn’t glamorous. 


Every post‑menopausal woman who’s embraced a renewed approach to eating and exercise for her health and confidence understands this. ✋ 

The same can be said for being consistent with posting and commenting on LinkedIn. 

Especially for freelancers…

Using this platform requires you to do the work. 

I know you have it in you—or you wouldn’t have chosen to freelance.
:
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👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books.

👟 Follow me for freelancing wisdom and book design tips. 

📸 This sweet almost-blind dog belongs to a friend. I like that she’s about the same age as me in dog-years.

Users of a popular graphic design app often complain about the price.
We chalk it up to the price of doing business.


The company is having a Cyber Monday sale for new subscribers.

Even though I’m a current user, I gave it a shot.
Naturally, I was told I didn’t qualify.

I don’t like to take *no* for an answer when dealing with mega-rich corporations.

So I pushed back, stating that I’ve been using CC apps for 30+ years and asked the agent if they could do something for a long-time customer.

It worked. I was given a substantial discount on my monthly fee. 🎉 

Never be afraid to ask for what you want. 😁 

What corporate dragon have you gone toe-to-toe with lately and came out a winner? 🐉

Worried about the cost of your book design? 
That’s normal.

But you’re focusing on the wrong thing.


Price 𝘪𝘴 important, but it shouldn’t be the main concern. 
What really matters is finding a designer who can bring your vision to life, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 someone you’ll enjoy working with.

Here’s how to make your decision easier:

✔️ Ask people you trust—published authors, editors, and book coaches.

✔️ Review portfolios carefully. Look at finished books, not just mock-ups.

✔️ Have a few short calls to get a feel for their communication style.

✔️ Know your rough budget. This helps designers give realistic guidance.
 
✔️ Thank all the candidates once you’ve made your choice.

Choosing someone just because they’re the cheapest is how authors end up with regrets or books that don’t look like the ones they admire.

So, tell me…

How did you find a book designer who was the right fit—or, if you’re still searching, what’s been the hardest part of the process?


👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books.

🤔 Ready to start your book design? Let’s schedule a call.

How to check a sample book layout from your book designer


First — don’t print the whole file.
Unless you enjoy burning through pricy ink cartridges. 

Instead:

1. Ask the designer for a PDF with the pages framed in a thin black border or with crop marks. Most designers do this, but ask anyway.

2. Choose 4–6 pages that show a range of elements — body text, graphics, pull-quotes, and chapter starts. Print at 100%.

3. Look for these things, specifically:
    - Font size/legibility for body text and heads/subheads.
    - How the white space feels — are margins spacious or cramped?
    - Line breaks, widows/orphans, and awkward hyphenation.
    - Does the chapter-start feel inviting?

4. Give your designer feedback on those pages. They’ll use it to finish the rest of the layout.

5. After your book is fully formatted and before you publish: Order an 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧. Go through it with a fine-tooth comb—the big fixes should have already been done, but tiny things hide on screens.

What to look for while reviewing:
- Does the table of contents list the chapters on the correct pages? 
- Are headers and page numbers consistent, or are any missing? 
- Did any text get left orphaned or widowed*?

What’s the first thing your eye goes to in a printed page? 🤔
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:

👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books.

👟 Follow me for book design wisdom and tips.

*Definition: Widows and orphans are single lines of text from a paragraph that dangle at either the beginning or end of a block of text, or form a very short final line at the end of a paragraph.

Most experts wait too long to write their business book.


They think they need more experience.
More clarity.
More time.

In reality, the book is often what creates the next level of authority.

If a business book is part of your 2026 growth vision, it can:

→ Set you apart in a crowded field
→ Open doors to audiences you haven’t reached yet
→ Turn your lived experience into lasting professional leverage
→ Be a legitimate business expense when done properly

A business book is not a personal passion project.
The authors who succeed treat it like a strategic asset.

Planning to scale in 2026?
Start thinking like an author now.

Have you ever thought about what kind of business book you might write?


👋 Hello, I’m Toni. I help niche indie authors craft impactful memoirs, business, and personal growth books.

🤔 Ready to start thinking about your book design? Let’s schedule a call.

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