Books Writing Sample - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Transformation of Beatrix or, Beryl Walks into a Room... 

...and the place is immediately fresh and bright.  We turn to see a slight, alluring woman dressed in understated elegance.  There is a flurry of reverence amongst the crowd of Beryl devotees as talk turns to whisper.   

Beryl Singleton Bissell graciously greets a few people she knows offering handshakes, hugs and smiles as a tall, handsome man and his young son wait their turn to greet the gifted author.  The little boy bears a wide-eyed smile, and his healthy tan sets off his bright orange t-shirt and matching cap.  Beryl catches the man's eye and is visibly moved.  Tears threaten the corners of her smiling eyes as she exclaims, "John!" and, "Oh!"   She reaches out for the little boy and bestows upon him the tender, lingering hug that only grandmothers can.  The boy beams.  Beryl gratefully hugs the boy's father, thanking him profusely for his unexpected but deeply appreciated presence.  She proudly introduces them several times. 

As the hush dies down, Mary, a former colleague of Beryl's now working at The Loft Literary Center where Beryl is about to speak, introduces her dear friend.  I have been waiting in the front row for an hour with my mother and sister to hear Beryl, and I am not disappointed.  She steps up to the podium with grace and as she reads passage after passage from her beautiful book, The Scent of God, a pleasant glow settles over the room. 

She reads about being a little girl who fears the saints and desires holiness above all else.  She tells of her ambivalence over whether to temporarily leave the monastery to care for her ailing father.  She reads about the moment she met the man with whom she would fall deeply in love, and talks about her inner struggle with this love.  The crowd is captivated.   

 Wisely leaving us in suspense, Beryl then solicits questions from the audience which range from "How did you adjust to life outside the monastery?" to "How did you come up with the title, The Scent of God?"

 Beryl explains the chasm between life inside and outside the cloister of Poor Clares.  As a nun, all of your decisions and plans are made for you.  Life is sometimes difficult as the women dare to earn sainthood through simplicity.  Away from the shelter of her Catholic sisters and tenets of the monastery, Beryl experiences a kind of culture shock in several ways.  Yet there is a freedom she enjoys and learns that it, too, can be God's plan.

 Regarding the title of her book, Beryl relays a wonderful story about The Transformation of Beatrix, which was her working title for the manuscript.  Beatrix was the name given to Beryl when she first arrived at the monastery and hers as she struggled with her choice to leave it.  When a friend suggested The Scent of God as an alternative title she knew - it was right.

 We then had the pleasure of meeting Beryl individually as she amiably signed books, had her photo taken and answered more personal questions.  I felt as if I already knew her well as Beryl signed my books and thanked me for coming.  An unassuming person, she stood up when I introduced her to my husband, as if he were the celebrity instead of her.  It's impossible to accurately describe a woman like Beryl, as I'm sure those of you who have met her know.  Her inner peace radiates a quiet calm and her mellifluous voice instills faith all around her.  In some inexplicable way, you know that something is reaching out for you when Beryl walks into a room. 

Wednesday, 24 May 2006, Beryl Singleton Bissell at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota