Fans of the Nun the Wiser Mysteries know Bernie’s bestie at The Abbey: Senior Living is Jan Kovitz, but before she returned to live there as a retiree, Bernie made another BFF. Sister Bernadette Ohlson and Sister Eleanor Field met almost half a century ago when they both got placed at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Eugene, Oregon. The two women developed a deep and lasting friendship since they were close in age and the youngest on staff.
Eleanor was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on her family’s farm and orchard and from day one, Eleanor loved nature and being outdoors. Teaching fourth grade science was her destiny. The petite scrappy nun with bobbed hair brought the outdoors into Room 203 for her students and with Bernie’s help led students outdoors on many field trips. Wearing a pocketed vest to carry every bit of gear from a compass to first aid kit, Eleanor tromped through the forests around Eugene, pointing out songbirds and insects, scat and tracks to Bernie and her students. Because of her expertise in camping, canoeing and fishing, she’s one of the few people Bernie ever willingly took directions from, mainly because Bernie didn’t want to get lost in the woods or stumble into a patch of poison oak!
Beloved by her students because of her boundless enthusiasm, many graduates of St. Al’s credit Sister Eleanor for sparking their interest in biology and outdoor activities. Teddy Rudie says she’s the reason he loves to go camping with his family every summer. Liz Kelly became a wildlife manager for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife thanks to those field trips.
The transition for an outdoorswoman from Michigan to Oregon was easy, especially with a kindred spirit like Bernie on staff. The women share a strong sense of social justice and curiosity as well as a stubborn streak. Bernie and Eleanor started traveling together during their summer vacations and since retiring they continue meeting up once a year for a trip. They head to all kinds of exotic locations, including Brazil and Laos. Wherever they go, they always cap off their evenings the same way: a hearty meal and some red wine topped off with a glass of bourbon. Bernie’s got hundreds of photos, but her favorites are of her and Eleanor with pink cheeks and glasses raised to toast another fine day exploring a new corner of the world. Over the years the two have grown more wrinkled, they’ve added eyeglasses and silver hair, and of course the backdrop changes with each new destination, but their sisterhood remains tight.
Their history of heading to exciting places makes Bernie wonder why Eleanor insists on meeting in Seattle, Washington this year. It’s true Eleanor had a little health scare a year ago, but is her oldest friend slowing down? Or did she choose this destination for a more nefarious reason? These questions turn out to be central in A Fatal Habit when Bernie arrives in Seattle to find Eleanor has gone missing…
About the Author
Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries. Her books blend her humor and appreciation for nerd culture while tackling serious themes and unpacking the puzzle of whodunnit (and how and why!). In her spare time, Melissa needs to be outside or near a window. Her passions include hiking, swimming, biking, reading, and fantasizing about her next vacation destination.
