About Daniel J. Middleton
I started in editing professionally in 2002, hired to proofread a novel for a Brooklyn-based press — work that predates Scribe Freelance itself by three years. Design came later: I started book design in March 2007, doing interior layout for a small-press title, with cover design following once I'd gotten the interior work down. Scribe Freelance the company launched in September 2005, sitting right between those two starting points.
Most of what I do starts from a raw manuscript — an author or publisher brings me their next project, and I build the interior layout, cover, and formatting from the ground up. The rest of the work is diagnostic: figuring out why a third-party ebook cover is getting rejected, why an EPUB formatted by someone else is throwing errors in IngramSpark, or why an interior file built by another designer keeps bouncing back. Indie authors and small presses come to Scribe Freelance for both — new work built right the first time, and existing files that need a second, more experienced look.
I work across KDP, IngramSpark, and Lightning Source, handling editing, interior design, cover design, and ebook formatting, and I keep track of how each platform's specs and quirks shift over time, since none of them stay still for long. If you want to see the kind of problems I write about regularly, the Learning Zone is where that shows up in practice.
From the Book Itself
“. . . to Daniel J. Middleton, the designer of the interior and exterior layout of this book, for his superb editing of the manuscript . . .”
— From the Acknowledgments, Dinner at the Woke Street Café, Martin H. Levinson
What My Clients Say
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I'm a private detective and a writer. In 2011, I turned away from mainstream publishing and found Scribe Freelance. Prosecco is the Answer is our eighth book together. I always know that I can trust the process. Meticulous attention is paid to my every thought and preference, to every detail. This last book was difficult.
We hit snags. I say “we,” because I felt that Daniel was with me all the way. He cared just as much as I did about the book being perfect. Typos were pointed out. I was astounded, horrified they'd been missed. I'm convinced the typos were secretly finding each other, mating, and reproducing.
Daniel caught them. Certainly not part of the job, but I am so grateful. The emails flew between Sicily and the states. A change requested? “Absolutely.” From Palermo across the Atlantic, another change. I cringed as I asked, but the response was always, “Okay, sure thing.” Daniel has the patience of a saint.
Maybe I appreciate most of all his creativity, the fresh ideas. A writer lives with a book cover for the rest of their life, so you should be delighted every time you look at it. I look at those eight covers and feel a fizz of happiness. It's exhilarating to write a book, to actually finish it, and it is a splendid feeling for me to place that manuscript in the hands of a professional.
Author of Prosecco is the Answer
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That process was an absolute pleasure. He captured the vision for the cover of the book on the first try. His beautiful design, incredible patience, and prompt response to my many questions made this experience truly enjoyable. I'm beyond impressed and grateful to have collaborated with Daniel. Thank you, Daniel.
Project Coordinator on Memory Makes Us
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It was wonderful and delightful to work with Daniel on my first book, a book of poetry called Memory Makes Us. I am so delighted by the way the book turned out.
Thank you, Daniel, for your very fine and diligent work to make it happen. It's been so easy and pleasant to work with you, and all of your expertise and guidance is deeply appreciated. Thank you for the creative partnership and collaboration throughout.
Poet, nonfiction author, and social entrepreneur — author of Memory Makes Us
Get in touch if you're working through a formatting problem or starting a new project.