Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story

by Elizabeth Upton

Secrets of a Nun is an uncompromisingly honest and deeply moving look into one woman's soul. At the age of fifteen, Elizabeth, a talented athlete, gives up her dreams of competing in the Olympics to become a nun. Separating from her mother and twin sister, she leaves her friends and her familiar world behind in order to pursue a saintly life. But she finds herself unprepared for what lies ahead. While her cloistered life commences as a profound spiritual and emotional journey, personal disenchantment takes root, and slowly grows over the next twenty years. Elizabeth recoils against the restrictive atmosphere of convent life. She struggles with conflicting emotions, until a forbidden love affair forces her to come to grips with her needs as a woman.Over the course of striving to find her real self, she ultimately feels compelled to leave the Order.This fascinating account of courage and passion is inspired by a true story. It will at once shock you and bring a smile to your face as you follow the course of a young woman's obsession to become a spiritual seeker-an obsession that, over time, transforms into a deeply felt desire for personal liberation.

Genres: Religion, Memoir

241 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2003

About the author

Elizabeth Upton is a best-selling author and influential writer of gripping romantic thrillers and inspiring self-help nonfiction books.

Her best-selling books, 'Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story,' 'The Silver Woman of Fire,' and 'The Healing Swords of Love and Innocence,' helped firmly place her on the literary map.

With many novels to her credit, like her newest fiction book, released in June 2022, titled 'Lovers' Secrets and Revenge,' a gripping romantic thriller, and her nonfiction release in Feb. 2024, titled 'You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace: Embrace Your Journey.'

The Author's favorite book she enjoyed writing was 'The Shaman and The Mafia,' as she shares,

"The creation of this story has been an exciting journey. I would love to meet all of the characters in this book in real life. Elizabeth's nonfiction books and novels are available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle and are featured on fine literary book sites and magazines.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA., until the age of sixteen, when she entered a New York State Convent and became a nun for twenty years, but she yearned for a more authentic spiritual life. Elizabeth left the convent and chose to attend Syracuse University to earn her B.A.

Returning to her native state of California, she attended and received her M.A. in psychology from Chapman University. The Author began working for over thirty years in family counseling as a social worker and probation officer, working with troubled teens and abused children. She is a speaker, spiritual mentor, and advisor.

Elizabeth is happily married and enjoys writing books for her readers and fans worldwide. When the Author is not writing, she works out with a personal trainer to stay fit and healthy; she loves long walks on the beach with her husband and dog.

She enjoys reading good books by her favorite authors, such as Geraldine Brooks, Jerry Archer, Joseph Murphy, and Michael Connelly. Elizabeth and her husband reside outside Santa Barbara, California.

"EACH DAY, LIVE FROM LOVE, JOY, FORGIVENESS, AND GRATEFULNESS."
~Elizabeth

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimate Reading Challenge 2016. A culture you are unfamiliar with (religious sisters).

This is the story of a California female who entered a convent at age 15 (prior to Vatican II). Unfortunately, she is someone who should never have been permitted to begin her journey and she certainly should not have been permitted to continue. Of her three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience, she clearly knows nothing about obedience and little about remaining chaste. Furthermore, once she has made the decision to leave the order, she should have at the very least respected the sisters enough to maintain decorum until she was officially released. She did not. The book tells us very little about her time as a novice or postulant and concentrates primarily on her fights with her superiors and her thoughts about men, boys, and sex. IF you want to know more about the religious life, this is not the book to choose.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story tells of Elizabeth Upton who, at the age of fifteen, gave up her Olympic dreams to become a nun, leaving her family in the pursuit of a spiritual life.

What seemed like a clear choice actually was more challenging than she had imagined: her spiritual journey and psychological development didn't sync, and Elizabeth spent the next twenty years struggling with the restrictions of convent life. It was a forbidden love affair that eventually forced her to not just leave the Order, but experience true spiritual change.

Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story offers a vivid, first-person account of convent life, interactions between nuns, and the challenges that come with living in such an order. Anyone who wants a vividly personal saga embracing psychology, religion and social perspectives will find this a riveting read.