A repeatable visual system
Toby establishes the character, setting, mood, palette, and finishing rules that carry one approved direction across the whole book.
About MyBookIllustrator
Meet Toby Mikle.
MyBookIllustrator is the book studio of Toby Mikle. For more than 20 years, Toby has helped authors turn ideas, manuscripts, artwork, and unfinished files into coordinated books ready to print, publish, and share.
Work directly with Toby: the person discussing the manuscript is also directing the visuals, page design, revisions, cover, and final production files.
20+years in illustration and book production
1experienced person guiding the complete book
$200complete standard custom-book package
Experience that reaches beyond the artwork
A finished book needs many decisions to work together.
Strong individual pictures are only one part of the job. The story also needs pacing, recurring-character consistency, readable typography, a coordinated cover, correct print dimensions, and files that meet the chosen publishing format.
Pages that read clearly
Text, art, page turns, spreads, trim, bleed, and margins are planned as one publication—not assembled as unrelated images.
Files built for publishing
The cover and interior are prepared for the agreed paperback format, with practical KDP support for correctable production-file issues.
A modern workflow, explained honestly
Tools help with production. Toby remains responsible for the book.
The standard $200 package uses an artist-directed AI-assisted visual treatment to keep a complete custom book affordable. Toby selects, directs, edits, coordinates, and quality-checks the work against the approved concept and manuscript.
AI-assisted work is disclosed accurately, including KDP disclosure when required. A fully traditional or non-AI illustration route is available by separate quote because its labor, schedule, and rights structure are different.
Read about AI and publishing rightsClear scope before payment
Begin with the manuscript, not a surprise invoice.
Toby reviews the project before confirming fit, illustration coverage, page plan, and scope. The standard package is $200 total: a $100 deposit after those expectations are confirmed, then $100 at final approval before the production files are released.
Longer, multilingual, unusually art-intensive, traditional, or additional-edition projects receive a separate written quote.
Review the complete packagePublic experience you can verify
Toby's work has a record beyond this website.
These independent pages document a long-running illustration practice and published book credits.
Painter interview
Painter's feature discusses Toby's illustration practice, creative process, and work with self-publishing authors.
Read the interview →Oscar's Renegades
Archway Publishing names Toby Mikle as the illustrator of this published children's adventure.
View the publisher page →The Incredible Little Happy
Barnes & Noble lists Toby on this published children's title.
View the bookseller listing →Start with the story you already have.
Share the manuscript and see one possible direction.
No payment is required to request a free exploratory sample direction.