Eloise Laws is a woman of many talents, her creativity is captured through different mediums of art. Laws embedded her energy into music, acting and writing for over 30 years. She developed an eye for talent and looks to nourish the gifts of others. Through recent projects, Laws encouraged those who look to exercise their passion for expression, to penetrate the world of storytelling. In collaborative efforts with ingenious visionary Melba Johnson, they produced the new visual depiction, “Through My Mothers Eyes,” a book that serves as a window into the human soul and the manifestation of a dream.
The first flicker of development in the realm of writing developed in 2013. Laws reflected on her book, “The Healing Shower,” focusing on her triumphant recovery from cancer. The occasion known as a healing shower is similar to any celebration or milestone; family gather in unity to focus their energy to uplift a special moment.
Emphasizing the significance of healing, loved ones congregate with the intent to provide a service to the one who needs it. Noting an exert about the book found on Amazon, “A Healing Shower” is similar to how we celebrate life’s milestones: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and baby showers. The difference is that instead of wedding gifts, birthday presents and so on, guests arrive prepared to help the loved one with a deed(s) … ” The book was published by Knowledge Power Books, headed by one of Laws’ mentor, Willa Robinson.
Laws recounted her expedition to the finish product. She grew enamored with the metamorphosis of her thoughts coming to life on paper; knowing there is a gem on each page crafted for someone else to find. During the pressure of birthing a story about healing, Laws was inspired to create her own publishing company.
Empowered by the ingenuity and tenacity, first-time author, Melba Johnson, connected with Laws to produce a one-of-a-kind story about the range in beauty that funnels through human synergy. Johnson has practiced mindful connection through yoga for over 40 years. As an instructor of the sacred practice, she looked for ways to inspire her students. Holding herself accountable to be a light within her classroom, Johnson often would journey outside herself to find resources to bring back to her yoga students. One of those excursions lead to the manifestation of her writing career.
Johnson shared her life, and started with her being the middle child of seven. She elaborated on the connection she had with her parents, Johnson said, “Every child has a unique relationship with their mother.” She went on to explain that she fell ill often when she was growing up, resulting in needing more attention from her nurturing mother.
Johnson went through the different stages of age, bringing her to the recent part of her life that carried her to the significance of a vivid dream that she remembers. She recalled from the lucid moment, she envisioned herself writing a book entitled, “Through My Mother’s Eyes.”
“I saw every page of the book, and I woke up and said, ‘I am going to write a book.’” Johnson declared. Confused by the late night murad, Johnson’s husband reacted inquisitively. She capitalized on her message from the great beyond, her mental download included the layout of each page. Johnson said, “I knew that I wanted pictures of people you know, people you don’t know and people you need to know.”
The age range of the faces one would see in the book are between 7-100 years old. Johnson confessed she had no idea who those people were going to be, but she pushed forward, making sure not to diminish the glimpse into the future that was revealed in her dream. Johnson explained that each face that looks up from the pages in “Through My Mother’s Eyes” has a unique story behind their existence within the series.
Johnson reminisced on the connection she had with Laws, “Eloise Laws, singer/songwriter, who I’ve known for years now—she was always polite, beautiful, and wise.” They connected over the yoga sessions Johnson would have with Laws and discussed the idea of the book. From there, Laws worked her multiple channels to get the book produced. Doing what is best for creation, the book is published under Knowledge Power Books. Johnson and Laws shared the journey through each page together alongside artistic director, Chadwick Williams.
Johnson stated, “As a first-time author, I had no set limitations or rules on how this book was going to be published, only one friend that I know of has personally published a book. Fortunately, it was all a part of the journey to figure it out along the way. I was determined, no matter what, from start to finish that it would manifest on its own. As long as I did the work.”
Laws cherished the act of polishing gems that surfaced during the making of a physical copy of the book. She recounted the strength needed throughout her 50-year career of performing for others that proven to aid her publishing skills, “I have learned patience. Patience has taught me to listen, and digest what the other person is feeling and saying, at that very moment. I also learned how to persevere knowing that there is a starting and ending point, and staying focused on what I set out to accomplish. Moreover, I also learned to be more open minded and use my critical mindset without judgement, which allows my acceptance of what the other individual wants to achieve.”
Laws is always working on propelling forward; she leaves the audience clamoring for more. She shared in the near future, there will be a memoir of her years as a recording artist, Broadway, and theatrical actress. She stated, “ … It is a work in progress, that has taken more than two years of collecting material from the beginning of my career that began in 1967. When you have to go as far back as I do, it takes some time to put this all together. I look to release this book sometime in 2021.”
“Through My Mother’s Eyes,” will also have an eight-part filmed series in the future. Johnson explained, “Along with the Book, ‘Through My Mother’s Eyes’ I simultaneously filmed a docuseries in eight parts; in the making of ‘Through my Mother’s Eyes,’ over 80 plus people interviewed ages, 7-100 years old, I sat with each one for at least 30 minutes and some of their stories were so awesome, that it just had to be created and shared …”
Johnson had a closing statement that captures the book’s mission, “I’ve learned that my vision is my vision. Don’t look for every other person to validate what you see and feel. Also, the greatest stories are the ones inspired by experiences. I can’t tell you how many people share their similar experiences and felt heard when they saw my book and asked, ‘ If I thought they could be an author.’ My response, ‘I did not look for permission and neither should they.’ The ability to make a dream come true was success within itself.” One can find this photography-based depiction online, and buy it for the creative soul in their life, for the holidays.
