Ann Schreiber Finds Truth in Fiction

by Taylor Hamilton | May 2025

Photos: Ann Schreiber

Woodbury author is launching a summer book tour in support of her recently released first novel, Emily’s Next Chapter.

Like many writers, Ann Schreiber began at an early age, writing in notebooks or on the family computer when it was available. Now, she’s a published author with a memoir, a guidebook for copyeditors and a fresh-off-the-press novel.

Emily’s Next Chapter is a romance novel about second chances, blended families and finding love later in life. But although the romance genre is a pivot from her first two nonfiction books—the memoir Perseverance. Reinvention.: Losing It All to Gain What Truly Matters and the guidebook The Top 10 Mistakes I Made My First Year as a Copywriter—Schreiber identifies a thematic through line throughout her writing.

“One common thread in all of my books so far, whether memoir, guidebook, or now fiction, is the theme of hope and perseverance,” says Schreiber. “Life throws curveballs, but I truly believe we can make it through the hard times if we’re open to seeing life differently than we did before.”

We caught up with Schreiber to learn more about her books and her upcoming book tour for Emily’s Next Chapter.

How has writing a novel differed from writing nonfiction?

With Perseverance. Reinvention., I was really laying it all out there. That book came from a place of personal trauma. Real things I had experienced and lived through. It was about being put in a position where I had to start over. And while I could say, “I didn’t have a choice,” the truth is, starting over is always a choice. A deliberate one. I chose to open my heart again, and I wanted others to know they could too.

My second book, The Top 10 Mistakes I Made My First Year as a Copywriter, shifted gears completely. That one was all about sharing what I’d learned in launching my business—some hard lessons, some humorous ones and helping other freelancers avoid a few bumps in the road. (Ironically, I do touch on that journey at the end of Perseverance. Reinvention.)

But to get to the heart of your question, the biggest difference between fiction and nonfiction is where you draw from. Nonfiction relies on fact. Fiction allows you to lean into your heart and imagination. Writing Emily’s Next Chapter gave me the freedom to go where the story wanted to go, and it surprised me. I didn’t expect it to turn into the love story it became. But I’m so glad it did.

What inspired you to write your first novel?

After publishing my first two nonfiction books, both of which were pretty niche and rooted in personal experience, I found myself craving a return to storytelling for the sake of storytelling. Growing up, I used to write short stories just for fun. I loved using my imagination to bring characters to life and explore what could be, not just what had been.

That same creative spark led me to Emily’s Next Chapter. While the story has threads of reality within, especially around blended families and later-in-life relationships, it really took on a life of its own once I started writing. I wanted to build something honest, hopeful and just fictional enough to let readers escape while still feeling understood.

What inspired you to write a later-in-life romance?

This is probably where my own reality plays the biggest role. I remarried in February 2023, a few years after the end of my first marriage, which lasted 23 years. Through this new relationship, I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to fall in love and build something meaningful in your late 40s.

It’s not the same as falling in love right out of high school or college—when you grow up together and figure life out side by side. This time around, we each brought years of history, established routines, personal interests and even a few emotional scars. Life also presents different kinds of hurdles at this age.

But despite all that, or maybe because of it, we’ve created something really special. That complexity and hopefulness was exactly what I wanted to explore in Emily’s Next Chapter.

Author Ann Schreiber with new Novel Emily's Next Chapter

Blended families and second chances drive Emily’s Next Chapter. Why did those themes feel important to explore?

If you had asked me six years ago whether I’d ever be part of a blended family, I would have confidently said no. But life took an unexpected turn and gave me a chance to start over, which is something I wrote about in my first book, Perseverance. Reinvention. When I met my now-husband, I began to understand that relationships in our 40s and 50s are different. Love can grow from new roots, and it doesn’t have to mirror the way it looked in our younger years.

When I first started writing Emily’s Next Chapter, I actually thought the story would focus on the relationship between a stepmother and her stepchild. But as the characters evolved, it became clear that the heart of the story was about two people finding love again after loss. The themes of blended families and second chances naturally followed—it’s a story I know personally, and one I felt called to tell.

Are you planning to write another book?

Yes! While writing Emily’s Next Chapter, I realized I had unintentionally laid the groundwork for a possible trilogy with each book exploring different characters and their unique journeys of starting over. So I’m already working on the next installment in the series.

It follows one of the supporting characters from Emily’s Next Chapter as she navigates her own path through change, love and reinvention. I won’t spoil who it is just yet, though. You’ll have to attend one of my book signings or author events to find out! My goal is to release book two in the spring of 2026.

Emily's Next Chapter Book Cover

What does your summer book tour schedule look like? Where can readers and fans expect to see you?

I’ve been so grateful, and honestly blown away, by the support I’ve received from booksellers across the Midwest …I’ve had the chance to connect with so many passionate booksellers who are excited about Emily’s Next Chapter. I even have my eye on a few possible future stops outside the region. Florida and the Upper East Coast are definitely on my wish list, so we’ll see what happens!

Here’s what’s on the Minnesota calendar so far: