My Weird Little Dream that Came True

When I was writing The Roof Over Our Heads, a young adult novel that takes place at a fictionalized version of the James J. Hill House, a Gilded Age mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, I visited it scores of times. If you read “Roof” and visit the Hill House, you will feel like you are walking through Finn’s home.

Hello, both real and fictional fancy staircase.

When the book came out, I admitted to a few friends, “I would love it if some day I got to lead a tour through the Hill House for people who have read Roof.” I’d be able to say things like, “This is the coat closet under the stairs where Finn and Jade meet up. And see? Here is the sideboard where Finn serves tacos the first night of rehearsal. And here’s the gatehouse where Finn and Magnus and Noah stay. And look! Remember how Jade shows Alexa the lion behind the fireplace in the art gallery and Finn misses his line? There it is! And here is Finn’s kitchen! And here is where Finn and Jade get trapped in the attic! And here is where the fire truck shows up when they’re afraid the whole thing might burn down!”

I figured “Roof” readers and me on a Hill House tour was a pipe dream, however.

Until my former student Brooke emailed me.

I gasped. What kind of small miracle was this? A former student of mine was having her students read my book? Be still my heart! Additionally, Brooke was asking if I was willing to Zoom with her students to answer questions. Of course I was.

But me being me, I also invited myself on the field trip. Luckily, she was delighted to have me join in the fun.

“Now, Nicole,” I told myself, “this is very exciting, but you need to play it cool. They’re learning about the Gilded Age. Your book is a fun, but minor part of the field trip experience.”

Because apparently I’ve never met myself, I was convinced I could keep my promise.

The day arrived. First, we all had lunch together at Cosettas. Brooke’s beautiful students asked me extremely smart questions. I almost cried a half dozen times, especially when one kid said, “Ms. Kronzer, I haven’t finished a book since I was a super little kid. But I LOVED this book. LOVED it. I finished the whole thing.”

(Side note, Brooke’s mom Barb came as a chaperone! In addition to having Brooke as a student, I had both of her siblings, and had connected with Brooke’s mother many times over a parent teacher conference. What a joy to see her again!)

Brooke: wonderful teacher, human being, writer, source of goodness in the world...

When we arrived at the house, I recommitted my promise to myself to play it cool. “The docent is leading the tour, Nicole. You are a visitor. A visitor.”

What I didn’t count on, however, having the perfect docent for our group.

“Hey, everyone,” Charlotte said. “What brings you here?”

Everyone pointed at me.

“I wrote a book,” I said in my best whatever, I’m chill voice.

“You have it in your gift shop,” Brooke added.

It’s true!

“Really!” Charlotte the docent said. “Well, here we go then!”

Charlotte wove together the perfect amount of “James J. Hill and Mary Hill finished this house in 1891,” with welcomed space for me to insert, “And here are the dragon sconces that Magnus loves!” and kids to say, “Wait, there’s a real pipe organ in this house like in the book? You didn’t make that part up?”

Was I cool? No. Am I ever? Also no.

Thank goodness for that.