insider BOOKSHELF
Launching a New Superhero
LOCAL 24-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR TO SELF-PUBLISH FIRST BOOK, TWISTED FATE. BY MADELEINE LEROUX · PHOTO BY L.G. PATTERSON
N
icole Schroeder is not shy
The entire experience has changed how
accept the fact that I finished the book
about describing herself as
Schroeder approaches things in life, she
because I fully planned it out.”
a bookworm.
says. “I think I unintentionally at first, but
Her day job helped too. Schroeder
Surrounded by books
intentionally later on, worked that into
is the editor-in-chief of Indie Author
since she could read, it’s no surprise the
a lot of the realizations and growth that
Magazine, where she is able to work with
24-year-old Columbia native has never had
Playback was going through in the story,”
many talented independent authors who
any doubt about the career she would one
Schroeder says.
have successfully self-published. For her
day pursue. “I don’t even remember when
While the novel is classified as young
job, Schroeder writes and edits articles
it was I first decided I wanted to be an
adult, Schroeder says that refers more to
of interest to the new author, which
author,” she says.
the clean nature of the storytelling. She
conveniently tackles topics she herself
Now, Schroeder’s dream is coming to
would consider the book appropriate for
needs to know about. “I am that new
fruition as she prepares to self-publish her
all, and hopes it can be something that
author,” she says with a laugh, noting
first novel, Twisted Fate. The novel tells
mothers and daughters can enjoy together.
that it’s been a wonderful resource for her
the origin story of superhero Playback,
“Your kids can read this, but I also want
creative writing and to learn about self-
a young woman who discovers she has
adults to read it too,” Schroeder says.
publishing. “It’s an entire community of
the ability to change the last decision
Twisted Fate isn’t Schroeder’s first foray
authors who have turned this into the way
she made. “Twisted Fate is a pretty classic
into fiction writing. She says she’s tried to
they publish their books and made a living
superhero origin story,” Schroeder says.
write several books in the past and has a
doing it.”
The hero is a freshman in college who is
few manuscripts in varying stages shoved
When self-publishing, the author is
“still figuring out her place in the world.
in a drawer. “I think middle school was
responsible for so much more than the
Whenever she discovers these powers,
when I first started trying to write a book,”
writing itself. You also have to edit, find a
she’s very excited at first,” Schroeder says.
she says.
cover artist, take on marketing and more,
“She starts to slowly realize that there’s more to being a superhero.”
With Twisted Fate, Schroeder first started in November 2021 as part of
Schroeder says. “I am the person in charge of everything,” she says.
While Playback’s superpower is
National Novel Writing Month, an annual
Schroeder is already planning the next
one many wouldn’t mind trying out,
challenge meant to motivate and inspire
steps with her character Playback. In fact,
Schroeder says her superhero has to learn
creative writers. One of the differences
Schroeder has an entire series in mind,
a tough lesson — that she can’t always
between Twisted Fate and the unfinished
with seven books already semi-mapped
help everyone the way she wants to.
manuscripts of Schroeder’s past was the
out, at least mentally. Other than being
That particular lesson is a close one for
extent of planning done on the story itself.
available through online sources once
Schroeder, who was writing much of the
“This was actually the first book that I did
published, which Schroeder plans for
book in the midst of the pandemic. Her
fully plan out,” she says as she shows the
sometime in March, she says she hopes
brother is immunocompromised, she
notebook where she keeps her meticulous
to be able to get it stocked at a few local
says, and her family has done whatever
notes, complete with Post-its filled with
bookstores, such as Yellow Dog and
possible to keep him safe and healthy.
rewrites and changes. “I think I’ve got to
Skylark, as well as in local libraries.
INSIDE COLUMBIA MARCH/APRIL 2023
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