A Life Journey Reimagined (Feat. N.L. Holmes)
03/10/25 • 32 min
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)
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 20% Off at the NSLS Shop
Use code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.org
NSLS members! 📢 Explore exclusive mental health support with 50% off your first month with BetterHelp: https://thens.ls/Better
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)
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 20% Off at the NSLS Shop
Use code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.org
NSLS members! 📢 Explore exclusive mental health support with 50% off your first month with BetterHelp: https://thens.ls/Better
Previous Episode
Women’s History Month: Celebrating Excellence and Achievement (Feat. Amy Porterfield, Dr. Khama Ennis, Sandy Rosenthal, & Dr. Jenny Woo)
Four extraordinary women are breaking barriers and driving change! Dr. Jenny Woo unlocks emotional intelligence for personal growth, Dr. Khama Ennis advocates for healthcare equity, Amy Porterfield empowers women to build their dream careers, and Sandy Rosenthal exposes the truth behind Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, we honor the trailblazers who came before us and the leaders shaping our future. Their resilience, courage, and dedication continue to inspire generations to break barriers and create lasting change.
You’ll learn about the opportunities created through Affirmative Action Programs, the emotional pain brought forward through ancestral trauma, and what is meant by “emotional intelligence.”
LEARN MORE:
> > Amy Porterfield (http://www.nsls.org/blog/designing-your-dream-life)
> > Dr. Khama Ennis (https://www.nsls.org/blog/advocating-for-equity-in-healthcare)
> > Sandy Rosenthal (https://www.nsls.org/blog/unmasking-the-flood-a-crusade-for-justice)
> > Dr. Jenny Woo (http://www.nsls.org/blog/unlocking-emotional-intelligence)
NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:
> > Listen to the bonus episode to learn how remote working provides a win-win for both employees and their companies and a key valuable lesson Amy Porterfield learned early in her career (https://app.nsls.org/members/benefits/motivational-mondays/11430464)
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 20% Off at the NSLS Shop
Use code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.org
NSLS members! 📢 Explore exclusive mental health support with 50% off your first month with BetterHelp: https://thens.ls/Better
Next Episode
Finding Your Inner Confidence (Feat. Eliza VanCort)
Eliza VanCort, a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and executive coach, is redefining how we approach confidence-building. Known for her expertise in communication and self-empowerment, VanCort has appeared on major platforms like The Drew Barrymore Show, PBS, and Forbes. Her latest venture is designed to help individuals harness confidence through actionable strategies rather than abstract self-belief. As she explains, confidence is not something we are born with—it is something we cultivate through intentional behaviors.
VanCort’s work echoes the central message of her book, A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space, which encourages individuals to step into their power unapologetically. She emphasizes that confidence should not be about shrinking to accommodate others but about embracing one's unique strengths. Through her new course, she hopes to equip people with the tools they need to navigate a world that often pressures them to minimize their presence.
This week you’ll learn why Eliza thinks the way we’re taught to build confidence is backwards, how her daughter's honest criticism transformed her keynote talks, and how she aims to build stronger communication within corporations.
LEARN MORE:
> > Connect with Eliza VanCort on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/elizavancort)
> > Follow her on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@elizavancort)
> > Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizavancort)
> > Like her Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/ElizaVanCort)
NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:
> > Listen to the bonus episode to learn the valuable advice Eliza would give to her younger-self today (https://app.nsls.org/members/benefits/motivational-mondays/11444149)
Mentioned in this episode:
Get 20% Off at the NSLS Shop
Use code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.org
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