Q&A with Brittni Nelson, Author of The House on Hemlock Hill

The House on Hemlock Hill (forthcoming July 2026) is a middle-grade mystery about a girl who finds a secret diary in a one-hundred-year-old house. Author Brittni Nelson shares her inspiration for the story and characters, and her process for writing (and creating artwork!).

Why did you write your book? What inspired you to write it?

I wrote The House on Hemlock Hill because I’m passionate about children’s literacy. As a young person (and even today), I had my nose in a book everywhere I went. On the boat at the lake, in the car on a long ride, and in my room late into the night, I was always reading something. My own children are now at the age when I found a love for reading, but they’re not super excited about books. Many young people are more interested in gaming and screens, and I think books that are at a level kids can read and are interesting to them is so important. I hope The House on Hemlock Hill can help even a few kids find a love for reading.

What was your writing process?

The first thing I did was collect information about growing up on a farm in the 1950s. I talked to my mom, who lived in an old farmhouse as a child, and to my father-in-law and his family, who were dairy farmers. Once I had enough stories, I mapped out my storyline and characters on note pads, then typed an outline for the book. The hardest part was making sure I got the timeline right! Since part of the book is set in the 1950s and the rest is set today, I had to plan for characters that spanned multiple generations and decades.

After the book was selected by Fresh Water Press, I started creating illustrations for the diary entries and a painting for the cover. I’m an art teacher, so being invited to create artwork for the book was very meaningful. Many larger publishers would not give an author the freedom to incorporate their own artwork. I am so grateful to Fresh Water Press for trusting me not only with the writing, but also with illustrations.

How long did it take you to write your book?

From conception to a completed manuscript, the process has been about a year and a half. Honestly, I still don’t know how I pulled it off! Once I started, the words just found their way to the page.

What was your favorite part about writing your book?

I really enjoyed incorporating stories from my family and from the house I live in with my husband and children. The girl from the dairy writes about her grandmother’s Swedish pancakes—a tradition my mom has passed down to me and my children from her own grandmother. When my husband and I replaced the floor in our own one-hundred-year-old farmhouse, we found newspapers from the 1880s in near-perfect condition under a layer of linoleum! Alyssa (the modern-day character) learns about lucky stones from the diary. My closest friend introduced me to lucky stones, which can be found on the shores of Lake Winnebago. I was able to include personal touches like this and more in the story.

What inspired your characters?

I wanted a strong, independent, female main character because I think it’s important for young girls to have positive role models. Alyssa came to me as a girl who could use her curiosity to solve a mystery. The girl from the dairy is how I would imagine myself as a girl growing up on a farm. She is creative and empathetic, and values family. My daughter loves horses, so I made sure to give the diary girl a horse.

Do you have a favorite character, scene, or message in the book?

I’m in love with the ending of the book. I obviously cannot give it away, but I think it allows a bittersweet ending for a decades-old tragedy.