N.L. Holmes has had an extraordinary journey—spending over two decades as a nun before transitioning into archaeology, academia, and ultimately, historical fiction. With 13 novels to her name, including The Lord Hani Mysteries and The Empire at Twilight, she brings the past to life with remarkable authenticity.
Holmes’ expertise in ancient history fuels her storytelling, making her books more than just compelling narratives—they are windows into the past. Inspired by an assignment she gave her students about a 13th-century Ugaritic royal divorce, she realized how much historical reconstruction is, at its core, storytelling. This revelation set her on the path to writing immersive novels that blend real historical events with gripping fiction.
Having excavated in Greece and Israel, taught at universities, and now living in France with her husband and a small farm of animals, Holmes’ diverse experiences inform her work. Her novels have garnered multiple awards, including the 2023 Wishing Shelf Award, and she sees her work as the culmination of her life’s journey — full of surprises, yet as she had envisioned.
LEARN MORE:
> > www.nlholmes.com
> > https://www.linkedin.com/in/n-l-holmes
> > https://x.com/nlholmesbooks
> > https://www.facebook.com/nlholmesbooks
NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:
> > Listen to the bonus episode to learn what career path Holmes almost pursued before her decision to become a nun, educator and archeologist (https://members.nsls.org/audio/nl-holmes)
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