Elizabeth Newton
I was born into your average middle-class Adelaidian family: Mum, Dad, Brother, Me. Very ordinary, very normal …But I was created for wonderful adventures with the Most High. I suppose it was ordained for me to become a school-teacher and a writer, because as a little girl, I was either writing stories about my teddies, princesses and exciting alien encounters; or lining up my dolls and teddies in my bedroom teaching them how to spell and do sums. I’m a church-going, youth-group-leading, piano-and-drum-playing, singing, dancing, reading, school-teaching, story-writing, so beautifully not-perfect, child of God. If I’ve done or achieved anything good and worthwhile in my life, it’s because He daily gives me strength, courage, motivation, comfort, inspiration and encouragement. And if I get any acknowledgement and praise at all for the stories I’ve written, then glory be to God, the true Author of creation, time, the universe, and my life.
“I don't know if you've ever been covered head to toe in prickle bush, but let me tell you, it's not a pleasant experience, as I'm sure you can imagine.”
“Normal people have rock collections, shell collections, key ring collections and stamp collections. (The Captain had even known somebody with a letterbox collection.) But a people collection? That had to be the most bizarre one he'd come across. Not to mention the most unethical.”
“Reading relaxes me.”
“Sometimes, the only way to solve your problems in life, the only way to conquer your fears, is if you face them. If you face your problems, they just flee. But if you flee instead, run away from them, they only get bigger, and they can totally destroy you.”
“Sometime we don't always get what we want!" shouted Evie, not knowing herself. "That's life!"... The Captain, still looking at her, raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was proud of her for being brave enough to shout at (the villain), but he said softly to her, "Usually men with knives at your friend's neck get what they want, Evelyn.”
“Oh you're one of those people are you? The people who ask God for something and when they get it, they tell God to forget about answering that particular prayer because it's just happened. That's one of my pet hates, I'm sorry.”
“You can't show me the Earth from space and fly right past the moon, entice me into this magical machine and invite me to come with you, and then ask me to stay behind!”