Holmes was born in Edmonton and went to high school in Toronto. She then attended the University of Calgary where she received her MA in English. ABCBookWorld

She has published four collections of poetry and many short stories. Her poetry and fiction have been published in A Room of One's Own, Lichen, The Malahat Review, Matrix, Prairie Fire, Grain, The Harpweaver, and The Antigonish Review. Holmes is an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Nancy Holmes