Celebrating 100 Mothers Who Make!
Checking in with some familiar faces on Mother's Day 💛
I first started interviewing creative mothers during the pandemic, long before I had a Substack. Back then I was posting the interviews on my blog and calling the series Sidewalk Chalk Talks. I still like that name! It feels like it captures the bright, messy energy that so many of us are bringing to this work. But when I moved the series over to Substack in 2023, it felt like naming the series Mothers Who Make would make it easier to connect with the kind of women I wanted to talk with. I was already thinking a lot about how to blend creativity and motherhood and how they inform each other, but I wanted to know if other moms were having the same experiences that I was.
With my 100th interview, I hit a milestone!
I didn’t know most of the people I interviewed before I reached out and said “I like your work. Would you want to answer some questions?” Almost everyone said yes, and hearing from so many thoughtful, creative women has been inspiring on so many levels. Through this series, I’ve had the chance to talk with some of my creative heroes. And even though we don’t know each other in real life, I feel like I’m surrounded by creative mothers who understand why being creative matters to me, and we’re cheering each other on.
Today I’m reconnecting with some of the women I interviewed in the beginning and asking how reflecting on the connection between creativity and motherhood changed their work and what their creative lives look like now. The Mothers Who Make series is kind of like a virtual favorites party, so I’m including some favorites in here too! Scroll down for fresh inspiration and recommendations. And if you see someone who inspired you a while back, say hi in the comments! I know they would love to hear from you. One thing this series has taught me is that there truly is an invisible sisterhood of creative mothers. We may not know each other in real life or get to connect in real time, but we are building something real and it really matters.
Thank you so much for being here!
XO
Heidi
PS
I hope you’re reading this as you eat breakfast in bed, but if not, maybe open a tab and save this one for when you have time to bask in this round up. This is a long post, so if you’re reading it in email, be sure to click through to the browser so you don’t miss anything!
Sunita Theiss
“I’ve loved how beautifully every one of these women have shared their stories. The common threads (finding small pockets of time, career shifts, etc.) but also the differences (our specific crafts, family makeups, geography, ages, backgrounds) have been so rich and helped me be more thoughtful about my creative process.”
“Creativity and motherhood are embodied yet invisible practices that our lives are built on—it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s a lot of fun.”
“When we first connected I didn't share I was on the journey of confirming that I’m autistic and ADHD, and now this is so central to the work that I’m doing. I needed some time to process (and go through the process), but it’s been a really gentle and tender experience. I’ve been writing a lot about it—shifted the framing of my Substack, and doing some things to come alongside other parents in using creativity to process the complexity of neurodiverse families. I’ve also gotten so much better at honoring my capacity and being realistic about what I can accomplish.”
Read Sunita’s original interview here. Follow her Substack here.
Kaileen Elise Sues
“The Mothers Who Make interview series has been so inspiring to me, both as a reader and participant! As a mom of three young children, it’s become increasingly impossible to separate my journey in motherhood and as a creative. Your series (and all that you share) is a reminder of that fact!
My original interview was in 2021, so a lot’s happened since then. Most significantly, I had my third child—and I've found a lot of clarity in my work as a coach. To date, I've facilitated 223 (!!) individual sessions for clients, helping them access their intuitive wisdom within.”
Read Kaileen’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Claudia Wool
“It’s amazing to read interviews with other creative moms and realize we
have so much in common. Even though I don’t know them personally, I no
longer feel alone or misunderstood. I’m not so crazy after all, haha.
When we contacted each other for the interview a year ago, I didn’t know
that months later I would be diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and
autism. Living creatively and creating art, in addition to my beautiful
family, has kept me safe.”
Read Claudia’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Noha Beshir
“Participating in Mothers Who Make was a really big deal for me. I was just starting to dip my toes back into the creative space, and trying to find my community. Considering the questions and my answers to them gave me an opportunity to consciously examine what creativity does for me, and how it interacts with motherhood. Reading the other mothers’ responses was also reassuring, in that we are all in it! The internet has a way of only showing us the (often staged) glamour, but this series encouraged vulnerability and honesty that, in turn, helps me when I feel like I’m failing.
I've ridden so many highs and lows creatively since answering the questionnaire about a year and a half ago. I’ve had pieces that went Substack viral and pieces I adore that seem to drop with little fanfare. The realization that art, like life, is cyclical, is a valuable one. If you’re only here for the glory, you won’t last.”
You can read Noha’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Nancy Reddy
“It’s been so helpful for me to think about the connection between motherhood and creativity—especially because the labor of motherhood is often an obstacle to writing time, but the actual experience of mothering has been a huge boon to my creative life! In terms of what’s changed in my creative life since my interview—my newest book, The Good Mother Myth, was published in January, and since that time, I’ve had so many great conversations with mothers and writers and artists about how caregiving enriches our lives. And now that the book is really out, and I’m wrapping up the first round of events and thinking about summer, I’m also looking for ways to recover a sense of play and experimentation in my creative life.”
Read Nancy’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Erika Tovi
“I participated in the Mothers Who Make interview as a newer parent, and was surprised by how my own (and ever-evolving!) creative life benefitted from that reflection and writing process. Since my interview, I’ve dedicated time each week to write and I’m loving it—though to be truthful, there’s still lots of writing at school pick-ups, between appointments, or after bedtime routines. The work might be slow, but I’m finally moving towards my dreams and recently completed my first picture book manuscript!”
Read Erika’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Julie Vick
“I appreciated reading about how so many other mothers find ways to nurture their creativity in the posts. I think it can sometimes feel lonely when you are trying to find time to parent and work on creative projects, so I always welcome ways to find more community. I feel a particular kinship with mothers who are creatives and it was great to learn about others in the series. As for a follow-up for me, I have not received any TV writer room calls for middle-aged moms, but I'm still available for meetings!”
Read Julie’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Tanmeet Sethi
“This interview was one of my first collaborations in the wondrous Substack world so it holds a special place in my heart. Since then I have found so many kindred spirits on this platform, changed the publication's name two more times 😂 and grown my community by 5000+ (!!) members which I still can't believe. I am still loving the conversations in the world around my book, Joy Is My Justice, which frankly has only become more timely! And fortunately, other things have also not changed: I still love my clinical work, use creativity as a burnout prevention tool, and continue to hear those fictional characters in my head that I put aside years ago! I have fallen even more in love with writing as a way to both make sense of the complex world we live in as well as to connect with other humans and remind me that I am not alone. I look forward to what 2025 brings, on Substack and beyond!”
Read Tanmeet’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here.
Anna Rollins
“This series is honestly my favorite thing to read on Substack. I love that you include so many moms who are balancing creative practices and motherhood, but who also don't seem to be obsessed with hustle and burnout behaviors. When I read about the sustainable creative practices of other moms, it rejuvenates me and makes me feel like I can both make art and be present with my children and in my life. I'm so grateful to have been included in the series.
Motherhood fuels my creativity immensely. Playing outdoors, managing the tedious tasks of sustaining young lives, and being forced to be in my body -- all of these get me out of the judgmental, cerebral part of my head and into something more emotive and primal (which is always good for making art).
Since my interview, I’ve given birth to my third baby, and I resigned from my full-time teaching job to focus more on freelance projects and my book launch for Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up as a Good Girl (available for preorder now and out December 9, 2025). This has also given me more time with my children, more time for rest, and more time for my own creative writing. It has been a difficult but ultimately positive life change.”
Read Anna’s original interview here. Follow her on Substack here. Preorder Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up a Good Girl here.
The Favorites
Don’t you wish we could all get together, trade funny stories, and cry a little bit? Until then, here’s what these Mothers Who Make would bring to a favorites party…
would bring a copy of Aimee Nezhukhumuthatil's World of Wonders and a tiny elephant printed coin purse (one of my favorite animals, and seemed on brand with the book). I would also add a LiveTinted huestick (because these are a game changer). recommends Flewd bath salts to anyone who will listen. says, “One of my current favorite things is my coffee ritual in the morning. I have upleveled it quite a bit in terms of ceremony and intention and even becoming quite a coffee geek in the process! I feel like my entire pour over set up is like a tea ceremony in the way I approach it! This is quite something for someone who did not drink coffee until she was in her late 30’s!! For anyone who wants to nerd out about it with me, feel free to message me, I will talk your ears off about the health benefits and joy!” would bring “stout beer or water, nuts and a simple knit that doesn’t require a lot of concentration. Also a notebook and some pencils.” has been on book tour and says, “Since my kids are a bit older now (9 and 11) I’ve gotten out of the little kid habit of always having a bunch of snacks in my bag for emergencies—but I've had to relearn that trick a bit in the last couple of months, since I’ve been traveling so much! I’ve been trying to make sure I always have a protein bar or two (the Wegmans energy bar is fine, and I like the Kind breakfast protein bars) and some dried fruit in my bag. Though I don't know if I really buy the promise, I’ve also been stocking a couple packets of the Liquid I.V. immune support to trick myself into drinking more water, and I haven’t—knock on wood!—gotten sick this spring.” reports “I am currently addicted to NERDS gummy clusters for a quick treat—I think the crunch and gummy combo is what makes them appealing. I also love this planner which I use every day to help keep my writing goals and to-do list organized.” says, “I would bring a watercolor workbook, Native’s new Dunkin Donut Vanilla Sprinkle lotion, and this organic serum that I swear has done wonders for my skin.”Happy Mother’s Day, Friends!
I’m deep in it with you. Making art, caring for my little family, and figuring out how to be alive in this world. The work you’re doing is essential, and I hope someone is taking care of YOU the way you’re taking care of your family.💛
Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌
✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏
Truly beautiful and inspiring to the mothers who just started mothering and making (me)!
What an amazing group of mothers!