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Stellar Communications Houston

Stellar Communications Houston is a certified nonfiction book publishing and marketing strategy team Every author and book is a privilege and joy!

Welcome to Stellar Communications Houston, a certified nonfiction book publishing and marketing strategy team. We help self-published authors, business leaders, global corporations, families, and nonprofits who value hands-on guidance and personal attention. We've helped clients publish:

● Memoir
● Corporate history
● Bible study
● Essay collection
● Newspaper column collection
● Training program

● Self-help
● Research report and study
● Poetry collection

Here's a look at our 6-step process:

● Materials development
● Digital and print graphic design
● On-demand/offset printing
● Global distribution
● Digital and print marketing consultations
● Lifetime account support

Visit the website at www.stellarwriter.com to schedule consultations, book speaking engagements, or subscribe to nonfiction book marketing and publishing tips. If you're a nonfiction writer, editor, or graphic designer, contact me to find out how we can collaborate. My team has been called "one of the best if not THE best in Houston" and "tremendous, earning the utmost trust and respect." Happy publishing!

04/10/2025

“The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready. It goes on because it’s 11:30.”

That's a legendary quote by Lorne Michaels, the television writer and producer behind 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦.

It opens 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, a film that captures the frenzied ninety minutes before the debut episode on October 11, 1975. It’s a tangled, urgent look at the making of the live sketch comedy show with improvised sets, network pressure, and young comedians before they became stars.

I enjoyed the film. Not because I'm a cult fan of 𝘚𝘕𝘓, but because I’m fascinated by Lorne’s ruthless focus on his deadline. There are few deadlines as uncompromising as a live national broadcast.

Equally fascinating was how every actor and stagehand delivered just in time to pull off the premiere. Not because they were ready, but because it was 11:30.

I talk a lot about delivering a quality message to impact readers through books. But like 𝘚𝘕𝘓, ruthless focus on a deadline is sometimes necessary for your goals.

Especially when publishing a book. Of the 97% of people who begin a book, statistics say only 30 of every 1,000 will finish it. And only 6 of those 30 will actually get it published.

A hard deadline in publishing ensures you’ll get published. Deadlines help you prioritize, avoid perfectionism, and keep your promise.

I don’t know an organization that embraces deadlines as effectively as Convergint. When the global systems integrator wanted to publish a 20th anniversary book in 2021, I cautioned that it would require the tightest publishing deadline we’d ever set. But publish it in time they did, with the collaboration of their rockstar marketing department.

So I was only mildly surprised when Convergint wanted another book this year with an even 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 deadline – and with a title that made me smile. I knew if anyone could pull it off, Convergint could. And they did.

How can you harness the same focus for your book? Stay tuned for five strategies to stop stalling and get published this year. Thanks for contributing to this series: Mike Kowis, Jennifer Rizzo, Wintress Odom, Karen Frankian Aroian, Annette Roy Davis, and Micah Carlson.

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

04/08/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 6 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff:

A better business book author is just as systematic about marketing as writing.

Josh spends as much time in his book debunking marketing myths as I do with my authors. And for good reason. Book marketing can be overwhelming, and authors are vulnerable in this area.

Here’s a quick list of dos and don’ts in book marketing.

❌ Don’t assume your book will fly off the shelves. Outside of your friends, family, and colleagues, you’ll need a strategy for sales.

✅ Do anticipate that book promotion is hard work and a long game. The marketing landscape has lots of aspects, and there are no shortcuts.

❌ Don’t assume a traditional publisher will promote your book well. In a poll, Josh found that nearly every traditionally-published author was disappointed with the marketing and publicity efforts for their books. Whether you’re self-publishing or traditionally publishing, marketing is primarily your responsibility.

✅ Do consider the three most popular book marketing tactics: book cover endorsements, online reviews, and speaking engagements.

❌ Don’t jump for bestseller programs without understanding what’s involved. They’re companies with hefty price tags that place bulk orders at many retailers to create the illusion that your book is in demand. You might manipulate your way onto the 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 list, but the tactic is expensive, risky, and unsustainable.

✅ Do identify your strengths. Pick a few things you’re good at and leverage your resources to maximize your time and budget.

❌ Don’t feel forced into a tactic you don’t enjoy. If you hate public speaking, don’t do it.

✅ Do give away your best information. It feels counterintuitive, but better business books offer generous insights. The point is to compel people to hire whoever created that goldmine of information. Ask yourself if you’re giving 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 away.

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

04/03/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 5 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff:

A better business book features a compelling cover.

A good book cover is deceptively simple. It takes thoughtful collaboration, market research, and creative trust to create a compelling design.

Here are some of the aspects my team and I explore with each author for a book cover:

•Who is the author?
•What is the purpose?
•Who is the audience?
•What are the book specifications?
•What sets apart this author and idea?
•What tone does the author want to convey?
•What emotions should readers feel?
•What colors and elements does the author like and dislike?
•What covers are trending in this industry?
•What covers does the author admire?
•What are other inspirational points of reference?

All of these aspects are included in a cover design brief that equips book designers to develop the best possible covers.

Stay tuned for my last takeaway!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

04/01/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 4 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff.

A better business book relies on tools and systems.

Authors have at their fingertips many tools and systems to manage the monumental task of writing a book.

I like the simplicity and file control of Microsoft Word. You can use Styles and formatting features to communicate the hierarchy of your text to your book designer.

I also like the ease of sharing and the version history of Google Docs. The ability to restore former versions of my work has saved me a couple of times.

Scrivener lets you quickly see the areas of your book that are underdeveloped.

Evernote lets you and your team collect bits of research over time in one place. You can tag content with keywords for easy sorting.

Notion coordinates teams and processes.

Excel can hold spreadsheets of your chapter outline and word counts.

Pictured is the spreadsheet Helena Bouchez developed for 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘦 𝘋𝘰?, the home services sales business book she co-wrote with Joe Crisara.

Use whatever tools and systems work best for you!

Stay tuned for two more takeaways!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

03/27/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 2 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff.

A better business book involves serious fact-checking.

Josh says, “When I tell people I’m a writer, they often ask if I write fiction. I reply, ‘Not on purpose.'"

It’s funny but true. Fair or not, one unsupported fact can undermine your entire argument in a business book. Unfortunately, worthy authors and ideas have been dismissed due to sloppy research.

It’s important to check your citations meticulously. Your material needs to hold up to scrutiny.

Here are five ways to check your data:

• Contact people who provided quotes.

•Check that websites are still current.

•Ensure all citations align with a style book, such as The Chicago Manual of Style.

•If you have many citations, consider chapter endnotes to support ideas without disrupting your readers.

•Hire a fact checker. (Ask your proofreader if this task is included in his/her role.)

Authors are understandably exhausted by the time they finish their manuscripts. But don’t give in to the temptation to skip this step. As John points out in his book, what’s another nine hours of checking citations when you’ve already invested hundreds of hours in your manuscript?

Pictured is a page from Bill Herrington’s book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘭, which contains more than 300 citations supporting his research on U.S. energy policy.

Stay tuned for three more takeaways!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

03/25/2025

Set the foundation of your nonfiction book launch

Listen in as I share a few ways to set your foundation in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

03/20/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 2 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff.

A better business book tells stories.

Business books are stories.

Humans love stories. Stories engage readers and fuel ideas that matter.

People need your facts, data, reasoning, and advice to be convinced. But they also need stories threading throughout your book like they need connective tissue. Stories help them relate, remember, and step into action.

Here are some sources of inspiration for your stories:

•Your experiences
•Client experiences
•Vendor case studies
•Online stories
•Other business books
•Networking
•Trusted colleagues
•Social network
•Hypotheticals

Taking the time to develop stories in your business book will set you apart.

Pictured is the dramatic opening story in Roger Igo's business book, 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘖𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨. It details the lowest point in his career and sets the stage for his big comeback.

Stay tuned for four more takeaways!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

03/18/2025

I love our book clients! ❤️

03/13/2025

Want to build a better business book?

Tip 1 of 6 from 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 by Josh Bernoff.

A better business book solves a problem.

A business book is a big story about how to solve a problem. Define the problem and your unique solution that sets you apart. Prompt yourself: “This will be the first book that . . .”

Write chapter objectives to focus your writing. Every chapter should answer a question. Consider for your readers: “After reading this chapter, you will be able to . . .”

Then create modular parts and sections containing five elements:

•Ideas and frameworks

•Stories, case studies, and examples

•Argumentation and reasoning

•Proof points

•Advice and how-tos

A methodical approach ensures that your business book progresses efficiently from defining a problem to presenting and supporting your unique solution.

Stay tuned for five more takeaways!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction self-publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

03/11/2025

Why set the foundation of your nonfiction book launch?

Listen in as I introduce the first step in a book launch in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

03/06/2025

Business book ghostwriters, authors, and editors: Have you watched the survival reality series 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦?

In it, ten people self-record their attempt to survive alone in the wilderness for as long as possible. Except for visits by a medical team, the participants are completely isolated from other humans.

I’ve been glued to the show every evening after work over a bubbling pot of dinner, a glass of wine, and the sounds of family life mingling together in the background. I wouldn’t last a night out there.

The thing is, while the participants in 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 experience isolation, they’re very much connected by a shared goal. Each hopes to outlast the others and win the $500,000 grand prize.

They endure alone, without knowing how the others are doing. One by one, they tap out after three days, or three weeks, or three months, until two participants remain. Finally, a single competitor is crowned the winner. (To date, the record is 100 days.)

While publishing isn’t nearly this harsh, there’s a parallel between business book authors and 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 contestants. Authors may build their books solo – or with the help of a ghostwriter – but they aren’t really working in isolation.

They’re connected to other authors out there who are working hard toward the same goals. Most business authors want to share their knowledge, boost their reputation, and win the attention of readers.

So it’s not enough to write a book.

You need to build a better book to stand out and impact people.

That’s why I’ve been reading Josh Bernoff’s 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬. Josh was once the senior vice president of Idea Development at Forrester Research. Today he’s a business book ghostwriter who shares his process and organizational approach in his latest release.

Stay tuned each week as I share six takeaways from Josh’s book.

(A link to Josh’s book is in the comments.)

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

03/04/2025

Want to boost your book publishing, marketing, and PR with monthly tips?

I love subscriber feedback! ❤️

Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

02/27/2025

Want to pick "the one" ghostwriter or editor who is right for your nonfiction book?

Tip 5 of 5:

Trust the most important thing

After reviewing past projects and credentials, rely on your instincts.

My author skipped the 700-word proposals in favor of conversations with prospective editors. And he found “the one”!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

02/25/2025

What are the 6 steps of a nonfiction book launch?

Listen in as I introduce the steps to authors in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

02/20/2025

Want to pick "the one" ghostwriter or editor who is right for your nonfiction book?

Tip 4 of 5:

Discuss the process

Ask about their ghostwriting or editing approach.

• Do they work in Google Docs or Microsoft Word?

• Do they make line edits, comments, or both?

• Will they email edits after each chapter or after completing the entire manuscript?

• Do they limit their rounds of revisions?

Ghostwriters and editors, what else would you add?

Stay tuned for one more tip to find the right fit!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

02/18/2025

I love my fellow book industry pros! ❤️

02/12/2025

What does the nonfiction book publishing journey look like?

Watch as I introduce the journey to authors in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

02/06/2025

Want to pick "the one" ghostwriter or editor who is right for your nonfiction book?

Tip 3 of 5:

Present project specifics.

Discuss your timeline, budget, and any deadlines you have in mind. Confirm that the editor’s cost and availability align with your expectations.

Stay tuned for more tips to find the right fit!

👋 Hi, I’m Ella, your missing piece in premium end-to-end nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR.

👉 Editors, ghostwriters, and consultants: Ready to publish or promote a client’s nonfiction book with a trusted partner? Schedule a call to collaborate.

👉 Authors, want monthly nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR tips like this? Subscribe to the blog link in my profile.

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Videos

Set the foundation of your nonfiction book launch Listen in as I share a few ways to set your foundation in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

Why set the foundation of your nonfiction book launch? Listen in as I introduce the first step in a book launch in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

What are the 6 steps of a nonfiction book launch? Listen in as I introduce the steps to authors in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

What does the nonfiction book publishing journey look like? Watch as I introduce the journey to authors in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

What are the 5 steps of nonfiction book publishing? Listen in as I introduce the steps to authors in Judy Lane Boyer’s course, How to Write a Book.

Authors, don't lose sight of this in nonfiction book marketing.

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: Does your client have all 6 steps of a nonfiction book marketing and PR campaign? Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: What makes your client’s nonfiction book marketable? Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: Is your client’s business book missing this? Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: How long is a nonfiction book marketing campaign for your client? Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: Want to help a client write a nonfiction book? Here’s where to start. Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!

Ghostwriters, editors, business consultants: Fuzzy mission for your client’s nonfiction book? Listen to this nugget from my interview with the Florida Writers Podcast with story strategist Author Alison Nissen. Thank you for the interview on nonfiction book publishing, marketing, and PR, Alison!