Burned Toast (Gems of Strength)
June 24, 2016
Burned Toast, by Elizabeth Horton-Newton, is one of 18 awesome stories you’ll find in Gems of Strength, an anthology by The Sisterhood.Recently, we talked with Elizabeth about her short story, Burned Toast. When we asked what inspired her story, this is what she had to say: “I was in an abusive relationship for twelve years. I dated my ex for two years before we were married when I was eighteen. After three children I realized the abuse was escalating. Thanks to the help of a good friend I was able to escape. I was tracked and pursued from New York to Los Angeles and back. I finally moved to Tennessee to be near relatives who I knew could protect me. My story is about a young woman who thinks she has successfully gotten away from her violent ex. Much to her horror she finds herself trapped by him. As she desperately tries to think of a way to escape certain abuse she worries for those who helped her hide. The story builds to a dramatic conclusion.”
Elizabeth’s situation is one that might be frighteningly real to some of our readers, and I wish the story gives a glimmer of hope to any woman who might be in an abusive relationship.
When asked who is the strongest woman she knows, Elizabeth told us, “I know too many strong women to select only one. Some are strong because they have overcome poverty to rise up and successfully transition to positions where they earn enough to support their families. Others have overcome devastating illnesses. Some have escaped abusive situations, either as children growing up abused or as women in bad relationships. There are women who have overcome addictions and maintain families. What makes a woman strong? The ability to accept life on life’s terms; to make lemonade out of life’s lemons, to courageously stride (or sometimes crawl) forward in spite of whatever obstacles are in her path.” Surely truer words have never been spoken.
For an element of fun, we asked Elizabeth, author of Burned Toast, if she could be any female superhero, who would it be and why? This is her response, “No question about it, Wonder Woman. First off she has been around a long time. She fights for Justice, Gender Equality, and Peace; all things I value. I love her strength and courage as well as her femininity. She remains all woman while showing her strength and courage. Of course her Golden Lasso of Truth and those great indestructible bracelets appeal to my love of accessories.”
Elizabeth is also very active with domestic violence groups, the YWCA’s Enough! Group and her local Family Justice Center’s Voices group. Women (and men) in abuse situations are often made to feel isolated and helpless. Organizations that reach out into their communities to offer encouragement and support are vital. We can no longer stand by and watch women being abused and say nothing, do nothing. The long term and wide reaching effects of spousal or intimate partner abuse are more disastrous than many realize. Children from these situations carry the weight of their experiences and may themselves become victims or abusers. Please encourage survivors and thrivers to share their stories and give hope and motivation to those standing on the edge. Burned Toast is intended to give inspiration to those in abusive relationships.
Art by Elizabeth Horton-Newton
© 2016
Reprinted from Metamorph Publishing
June 24, 2016
Burned Toast, by Elizabeth Horton-Newton, is one of 18 awesome stories you’ll find in Gems of Strength, an anthology by The Sisterhood.Recently, we talked with Elizabeth about her short story, Burned Toast. When we asked what inspired her story, this is what she had to say: “I was in an abusive relationship for twelve years. I dated my ex for two years before we were married when I was eighteen. After three children I realized the abuse was escalating. Thanks to the help of a good friend I was able to escape. I was tracked and pursued from New York to Los Angeles and back. I finally moved to Tennessee to be near relatives who I knew could protect me. My story is about a young woman who thinks she has successfully gotten away from her violent ex. Much to her horror she finds herself trapped by him. As she desperately tries to think of a way to escape certain abuse she worries for those who helped her hide. The story builds to a dramatic conclusion.”
Elizabeth’s situation is one that might be frighteningly real to some of our readers, and I wish the story gives a glimmer of hope to any woman who might be in an abusive relationship.
When asked who is the strongest woman she knows, Elizabeth told us, “I know too many strong women to select only one. Some are strong because they have overcome poverty to rise up and successfully transition to positions where they earn enough to support their families. Others have overcome devastating illnesses. Some have escaped abusive situations, either as children growing up abused or as women in bad relationships. There are women who have overcome addictions and maintain families. What makes a woman strong? The ability to accept life on life’s terms; to make lemonade out of life’s lemons, to courageously stride (or sometimes crawl) forward in spite of whatever obstacles are in her path.” Surely truer words have never been spoken.
For an element of fun, we asked Elizabeth, author of Burned Toast, if she could be any female superhero, who would it be and why? This is her response, “No question about it, Wonder Woman. First off she has been around a long time. She fights for Justice, Gender Equality, and Peace; all things I value. I love her strength and courage as well as her femininity. She remains all woman while showing her strength and courage. Of course her Golden Lasso of Truth and those great indestructible bracelets appeal to my love of accessories.”
Elizabeth is also very active with domestic violence groups, the YWCA’s Enough! Group and her local Family Justice Center’s Voices group. Women (and men) in abuse situations are often made to feel isolated and helpless. Organizations that reach out into their communities to offer encouragement and support are vital. We can no longer stand by and watch women being abused and say nothing, do nothing. The long term and wide reaching effects of spousal or intimate partner abuse are more disastrous than many realize. Children from these situations carry the weight of their experiences and may themselves become victims or abusers. Please encourage survivors and thrivers to share their stories and give hope and motivation to those standing on the edge. Burned Toast is intended to give inspiration to those in abusive relationships.
Art by Elizabeth Horton-Newton
© 2016
Reprinted from Metamorph Publishing
