Kay Ray

Senior Book Designer, Typesetter & Desktop Publisher

Upwork • Freelance

Dec 2023 - Present • 2 yrs 5 mos

As a Senior Book Designer, Typesetter & Desktop Publisher, I specialize in transforming manuscripts into professionally published books optimized for both print and digital platforms. My work combines typography-first editorial design with technical publishing precision to create polished, market-ready books for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, and other global distributors. I have been helpi authors, publishers, and businesses with everything from print-ready paperback formatting to Kindle eBook production and fixing rejected KDP files. Each oproject is designed to meet strict publishing standards while maintaining a clean, reader-focused experience. WHAT I COMPLETED: -Custom Print-Ready Interiors: Professional formatting and typesetting for Non-fiction, Memoirs, Journals, Workbooks, Cookbooks, Photobooks, Children’s Books, and eBooks. -Kindle eBook Development -Fix Rejected Books & Covers -Advanced Editorial Layouts -Cover & Spine Corrections -Preparing upload-ready files for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Kobo, and Apple Books. Skills & Deliverables: -Book Design & High-End Typography -Professional Typesetting & Editorial Layout -Print-Ready Paperback & Hardcover Formatting -Kindle eBook Formatting (Reflowable & Fixed Layout) -Desktop Publishing (Adobe InDesign/Word/Affinity Publisher) -EPUB Validation & Error Fixing -Book Cover & Spine Formatting -Self-Publishing Consultation Key Skills: Amazon KDP formatting, Book formatting, Kindle formatting, eBook formatting, Print-ready PDF, Typesetting, EPUB conversion, Fixed-layout EPUB, Reflowable EPUB, Desktop publishing, KDP error fixing, IngramSpark formatting, Layout design, Self-publishing

Book Designer & Publisher at Ioncure

Amazon • Part-time

Nov 2022 - Nov 2023 • 1 yr

As a Book Designer & Publisher at Ioncure, I specialize in high-end editorial layouts for authors and self-publishers, transforming complex manuscripts into market-leading titles for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and global distributors. My focus is on a Typography-First approach, ensuring that every page serves the reader’s experience while maintaining technical perfection for print and digital platforms. WHAT I COMPLETED: -Custom Print-Ready Interiors: Expert formatting for diverse genres including children's books, Complex Non-fiction, Workbooks, Journals, Cookbooks, Photobooks and eBooks. -Self-Publishing Consultation: Guided authors through the full publishing lifecycle, from resolving technical "Print Previewer" errors to optimizing account settings for global distribution. -Multi-Platform eBook Development: Crafting both Fixed-Layout EPUBs for image-heavy content and Reflowable EPUBs for standard prose, validated via Sigil and Calibre. -Strategic Metadata & SEO: In-depth Kindle niche research and category optimization to maximize organic discoverability on Amazon and IngramSpark. -End-to-End Publishing Systems: Setting up digital delivery pipelines via Payhip and Lemon Squeezy for "simplicity-first" author storefronts. Skills and deliverables: -Book Design & High-End Typography -Professional Editorial Layout (Adobe InDesign/Word/Affinity Publisher) -Self-Publishing Consultation -Reflowable ePUB Formatting -Fixed-Layout & Print-Replica Formatting -Keyword & Category Optimization Key Skills: Amazon KDP formatting, Book formatting, Layout design, Kindle formatting, eBook formatting, Print-ready PDF, Typesetting, EPUB, Self-publishing