We recently connected with Elizabeth Blake-Thomas and have shared our conversation below.

Elizabeth, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have loved every project I’ve worked on. All of my creative endeavors carry meaning and purpose, which is why I do them. Whether it’s making a statement about something happening in the world, raising awareness for a cause, or simply bringing some good into people’s lives, each project matters to me.

My latest project has impacted my life in a lasting way. I’ve created a legacy rooted in something I care deeply about, children and how they see and understand the world. Recently, I’ve realized there were many things I wasn’t taught or shown growing up. I often wish I had had a “me.” Through my creativity and writing, I’ve become that person, not just for myself but for others.

I set out to achieve something I called “50 by 50,” writing 50 children’s books by the age of 50. I will actually complete them all by 48. These books are for children, but also for the inner child in adults. My mission is to share the universal language of storytelling through both images and words, encouraging children to put down their technology and rediscover the joy of reading.

They are also written with neurodivergence in mind. After being recently diagnosed with autism, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how my mind works. Sharing that perspective through my stories has become the most meaningful work I’ve done so far.

This legacy draws from every part of my life, my experience as a homeschooling mother, theatre director, drama teacher, creativity coach, artist, and film director. It is also shaped by my personal experiences, including the greatest loss I’ve faced. All of it has come together to create something that feels truly lasting and important.

Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was a drama teacher for children before I was even a teenager. I loved children and the arts, so it made sense to take note of what I taught and how I did it. I could see children loving what I shared with them, growing in confidence and opening themselves up to different experiences. I was teaching in a time when technology didn’t really exist. Pen and paper, dressing up, and playing pretend were how we spent our time.

I then became a mummy to my incredible daughter, and I recognised her skills and realised homeschooling suited her. I used all the skills I had been practising in the decade before through my teaching. I wrote my first story at age 19 and saw the impact it had, so I continued to create characters and worlds with my daughter.

I initially wrote and self-published my children’s books, followed by a couple of fictional books. This led to me writing articles for magazines and speaking on podcasts.

So why me? Why do I feel qualified to write these books? Because I live it and have lived all of these things.

I have created something new and impactful that can leave a lasting positive impression on people of all ages. I recognised what was missing from some children’s and adults’ lives.

I will begin by explaining a list of things I wanted to teach young children, while also creating opportunities for the adults in their lives to connect and to give those adults a moment to listen to their own inner child.

For children to learn:
Kindness, gratitude, the environment, veganism and animal welfare, that being different is okay, slow living, love, loss, calm, peace, serenity, a simple life, physical health, mental health, and what success actually is.
Patience, reflection, attention, self-confidence, determination, happiness, curiosity, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
Taking on challenges and standing up for yourself.

Taking children away from technology and focusing on reading provides significant benefits for brain development, cognitive function, and emotional health. Excessive screen time, especially before age five, can impair cognitive development, reduce attention spans, and interfere with language acquisition. In contrast, regular, print-based reading builds stronger language networks in the brain and fosters better emotional regulation in both home and social environments.

My aim is to encourage all of this through the stories I’ve created. They touch on these elements through stories that are sometimes fun and sometimes emotional.

My methodology is called “medicine with words.” This encompasses my words in books, stories, articles, and podcasts. Every word has an impact on us. Understanding the words we tell ourselves, what is told to us, and what we hear can have a lasting effect. I want to encourage people to stop, pause, and think about their words.

My books are available in my Etsy shop, and alongside them are story canvases, journals, and mugs with vision boards. I love creating and I won’t ever stop.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

There are many things I want to achieve with my 50by50 mission. I want to inspire other adult creatives to see that even as you get older, anything is possible. If you have an idea and you believe in it, make it, create it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old or have no experience. As a creativity coach, I aim to inspire others to see that they can achieve anything.

I also want people to understand that it takes work and experience to reach your goals. Sometimes it can happen overnight, but most of the time it takes dedication and time. It is important to understand that you do not need to push yourself too hard. Taking time out for yourself and looking after your mental health is just as important as achieving your dream.

I also want to encourage a different understanding of adult women with autism who were not diagnosed until later in life. My books and stories are my inner soul expressed through words and images. If this helps even one person understand neurodivergence more, then that is another meaningful step in my creative journey.

Lastly, it is about connection. I want children to connect with their parents. I want the world to slow down. I want us to return to sitting, talking, and truly connecting, allowing children the time to be present and stay in the moment. I want them to feel safe to talk about their feelings and share who they are. If they recognise themselves in one of my stories, or learn about a feeling they may be experiencing, it can open the door for honest conversations between adults and children.

I also want adults to remember their inner child, to have fun, and to reconnect with themselves through the power of words and images.

If I can have this impact on people of all ages around the world, I would feel truly fulfilled.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There are many things that I think people wouldn’t understand about my journey. We are often taught to follow a set path. You have a job, that job leads to earning money, that money supports a lifestyle, and then you live in a house, have children, earn more money, spend it, and continue this cycle without really deviating from the plan until it is time to retire. Then maybe you take up an activity you always wanted to do but never had the time for.

My life is the polar opposite of this and continues to be different. Even now, I am sometimes surprised by the road I take. It is a completely new way of living. I live my life fully dedicated to what feels right, listening to my instincts and recognising what makes my heart soar and keeps me in my flow.

I went to a traditional school and, even though I was always creative, I stayed within certain expectations of what was expected of me as a girl in the UK.

Breaking away from this began when I homeschooled my daughter, when she became an actress at ages four and five, and when I travelled around the world with her. It continued when I moved 6000 miles away from home, knowing no one and leaving my family and friends behind. I became a film director with no experience in film. I began a new life in Los Angeles. I bought and lived on a boat. I went through a divorce. I made 20 feature films. I bought a vintage VW bus. I wrote and had three books published. I chose to pursue my autism diagnosis. I wrote 50 children’s books in nine months and created my own Etsy shop to sell them. Finally, I spiritually retired at age 48.

I rewrote my ideas of the world I wanted to live in. Success, to me, is waking up and being able to speak to and see my daughter. It is picnicking in the sunshine, walking three miles every day, leaving messages or speaking to my friends, and writing, painting, and creating daily. I am a vegan, an advocate for slow living, and a minimalist. I have learned that you are never too old to create a life that truly fits you.

I do not consider myself brave. I simply recognise that, in order to feel fulfilled and in flow, I need to use creativity to share who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elizabethblakethomas.com
• Instagram: @elizabeth_b_t @medicinewithwords
• Linkedin: @elizabethblakethomas
• Other: https://medicinewithwords.etsy.com

Image Credits

Isabella Blake Thomas