The Selestial Story

What started as late-night conversations and daydreams turned into something real.

We’ve been best friends for over a decade—two creatives, two moms, bonded by books, big ideas, and a belief in something a little more cosmic. Tarot, intuition, gut feelings… we’ve always followed the signs, even when the path wasn’t fully clear.

In 2021, we started tossing around names for a future we hadn’t quite built yet. Something “celestial,” something magical—but spelled in a way that made it ours. Selestial.

When one of us took the leap into self-publishing, everything shifted. We fell in love with the indie author world, especially the magic of romance and fantasy. The passion. The community. The power of stories that feel like home.

And from that love, The Selestial Nook was born.

It’s more than just a name. It’s a soft place to land for readers, writers, and dreamers alike. It’s our way of giving back to the Youngstown area and surrounding communities—starting with our bookmobile project, and eventually growing into book fairs, author events, and a brick-and-mortar space where imagination can thrive.

We want to help indie authors find their people. We want to make room for stories that deserve to be seen. And we want to do it all with open hearts, good vibes, and maybe a few moon cards pulled along the way.

An older man with gray hair and a mustache sitting at a dining table, smiling at the camera. The table has a Scrabble game, a notebook, a pen, a coffee mug, and a small bottle on it. In the background, there is a wooden display cabinet with plates and other decorative items.

Martin E. Berger

1942 - 2025

A Note From E

Sam and I have always been creatives—whether through music, art, writing... you name it. We’ve always shared a dream of building something that let us connect with like-minded people, where creativity and community could grow side by side.

When I self-published my first book in the middle of losing my grandfather this April 2025—one of my fiercest supporters—I realized just how much I loved the entire process. I only wish I’d started sooner. My Aunt Barb, who passed in 2024, was always in my corner too. She believed in me long before I believed in myself.

I’ve carried pieces of them into my stories—little things tucked between the lines, so they’ll always be with me. This space, this Nook, is another way of carrying them forward.

I wouldn’t be here without them.
And now, Sam and I hope to help others fall in love with stories too—whether they’re reading them, writing them, or just discovering what’s possible when books bring people together.

A woman with glasses and a hoodie is smiling and clapping her hands in a kitchen with an array of eggs on baking sheets and parchment paper on a stove. There are kitchen cabinets and a microwave in the background.

Barbara E. Berger

1977 - 2024