Life's tempests often forge the most inspiring tales, and in this episode, I unfold the tender yet tumultuous journey of Mary, a "Doll" in my multi-award winning novel, Paper Dolls. The kidnapping narrative of Mary's fictional story, intertwines with the threads of my own past. My real-life testimony of survival and faith, showcasing God's redemptive power in the face of adversity, offering a beacon of hope to others navigating similar trials.
Would you like to support the Cheer UP! Podcast? You can do so by clicking here
Kara's website - click here.
Cheri's website- here.
Email - cheeruppodcast@gmail.com
Instagram - @kararhunt
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Life's tempests often forge the most inspiring tales, and in this episode, I unfold the tender yet tumultuous journey of Mary, a "Doll" in my multi-award winning novel, Paper Dolls. The kidnapping narrative of Mary's fictional story, intertwines with the threads of my own past. My real-life testimony of survival and faith, showcasing God's redemptive power in the face of adversity, offering a beacon of hope to others navigating similar trials.
Would you like to support the Cheer UP! Podcast? You can do so by clicking here
Kara's website - click here.
Cheri's website- here.
Email - cheeruppodcast@gmail.com
Instagram - @kararhunt
Leave reviews on - Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Google Podcasts,
Hi and welcome to the Cheer Up podcast. I am your host, kara R Hunt, and with me is the spectacular Sherry Swalwell. How are you doing today, sherry?
Speaker 2:I cannot believe that we're almost at the end of January. Already. My quiet, slow, recharging month is almost over. But it's exciting too, because then it gets us. I'm ready to and rare and ago for February, which ends up being the shortest month and the month of love, so I am actually doing fantastic today. How are you?
Speaker 1:I am doing fine, but you just said something interesting. Are we in a leap here?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I just remembered. February may actually have an extra day, so that will be something. I guess you can't call it a phenomenon, because it comes pretty regular every four years, but that has always been something that has intrigued me.
Speaker 2:You are right, you have great observation skills. I hadn't even gotten to February yet and, yes, it is a leap year this year.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, everyone gets that quote unquote extra day, right, and that has always just, I've always been kind of amazed at that, because you have people well, not people but babies, you know, baby people who are born on that day. And that's just so crazy, right, because it's like February 29th only comes around every so many years.
Speaker 2:Well, do you want to know a fun fact about road to freedom? Win was born on Leap Day and the reason why she was was because, once again, it was one other way that she was ignored in her family. She only got to celebrate her birthday on her birthday every four years.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness. Yes, see, and that is just one of those things that, for those of you actually who have a birthday on Leap Day, send us an email and let us know do you celebrate it every four years, or do you celebrate it every year? And is that what that be? February 28th to.
Speaker 2:March 1?
Speaker 1:So or yeah? So let us kind of let us know. And it's interesting that you just mentioned when, and your redemption of Green Pine series, because this month, for the month of January, we have been talking about our novel series. We have been talking about your book five, that's how, path to Grace, book five of the redemption of Green Pine series. We've been talking about my book, for you know, lydia the Haban, and that's what we've been talking about. Besides our anniversary episode last week, we are continuing to talking about that. So, wow, sherry, this week, you're right, five Wednesdays, but it's already almost coming to an end, the month of January, right?
Speaker 2:I know it makes me sad, although I mean I'm just my word, for the year is thankful, so I'm just thankful to be alive. Or as we say here at the Cheer Up Punk at BTBA blessed to be alive.
Speaker 1:Blessed to be alive and blessed to know all of our listeners. So, for everyone who joined us last week at our very first live Twitter space, thank you all so much, and we just, we hope to look forward to do it again, am I right?
Speaker 2:Sherry, oh yes, I had so much fun, so much.
Speaker 1:Yay, so much fun. So today we're going to continue talking about our book series in the month of January. So for those of us who, for those of us, for those of you who are not just podcast listeners but you're also readers, and if you're avid readers, then Sherry and I have just the books for you. Am I right, Sherry? Amen, and today we are going to be talking about my series, the Habakkuk series, or how have a cook right series, depending on how you pronounce it. So I'm excited about that. So far, I don't know, Sherri, what do you think?
Speaker 2:Well, first off, I want you to tell everybody, because your books are so amazing that they have won awards you have put two of your books out for awards, out in context, and both of them have won. And I'm hoping to hear today, as we're talking, that you are going to put Libya out for an award. I don't know if people understand how the award thing works I never did until I started writing and that is, you can only submit books for awards within the year of when you've written them. So Kara couldn't submit them for awards. She couldn't submit Libya before this year because Libya came out last year. So from the time that they've been published until the time that the contest starts, I think it has to be published within that year. So will you share with the readers, before we jump into specifics, about your books, the ones that you have submitted and the ones that won?
Speaker 1:Yes, so so far there are five books that are out or getting ready to be out regarding the seven book Habakkuk series. And not all books are contest. Awards are a result of a contest. They are. There are local Christian conferences, christian writers groups, christian speaker groups, like the Christian market awards, where it's not necessarily a contest. They are particular groups that look for the best in Christian fiction, not just Christian fiction. They also do, like the Christian market awards and the AWSA awards. They also look for the best in devotionals and children's literature, you know, and things like that. So and so they will send out. Hey, we have our. If you want your manuscript to be judged or your book to be judged, you know, then send it to us, and so a lot of them are. Handle it, you know that way. And the Blue Ridge writer, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian writers, is another one. They host the Say La awards and they are another one who they host a lot of awards that way in all different categories, including nonfiction categories, and you just submit them and then it goes through their, along with thousands of other submissions, and it goes through their the rigorous thing of the judging, and then first they probably announce the finals in each category and then sometimes they'll do semi-finals and then, like a month later, they'll say the final three and then you find out who actually won in your particular category, usually around the time of that particular conference. So sometimes that's how they work as well. Book one and two. So the Backick series will be a, when it's complete, will be a seven book series, books one and two. Book one is titled Paper Dolls by Kara R Hunt. Book two is titled Paper Dolls Kite by Kara R Hunt. Kite is a character that one of the dolls that was featured in book one and it is a continuation of her story. Both of those books were published in 2022. So, like Sherry mentioned before, with a lot of these conferences and writer groups guidelines, they have to be published in a particular year to win, so it's to be eligible I should say not to win, to be eligible and so for the 2023 award season, it was books that were published in 2022. So Paper Dolls and Paper Dolls Kite were both published in 2022. And I have received, they have finaled and several award categories for like the Ames Award and other categories, and then they have actually won. I both of those books that were released in 2022 were awarded in 2023. So I got so far, you know. So they have received three awards the Coveted SELOT Award, and then both books have received awards from AWSA Golden Scrolls. So both of them are also Golden Scrolls winners. So that has been amazing. That has just been all God considering that. So, yes, they are both award winners.
Speaker 1:And, like Sherry was also mentioning earlier, book 3, paper Dolls, priscilla, and Book 4, paper Dolls, lydia Again, both characters, or dolls as I like to call them, from Book 1, it's like the continuation of their stories and they were not published until 2023. So they will be eligible for the 2024 award season. So it's not like they haven't won awards, it just wasn't their time yet. So hopefully, this award season they will be able to join their Doll Sisters with accolades and awards and nominations that both of their sisters, so sister books, have gone. So, in Book 5, yeah, so that would be that Books 6 and 7 will be released in 2025. No, am I getting it wrong? Huh?
Speaker 2:24. That'll be released this year, right, yeah?
Speaker 1:yeah, in 2024. Book 7 will be released in 2025. So it's two books a year for me for right now. So there's two in. There were two in 2022. There were two published and released in 2023. Two will be released in 2024. And then that will be even Mary, even Paper Dolls Mary, and then in 2025 will be the book that wraps up the series. So it'll be a seven book series. So I can't think the readers enough who have just shared comments and left reviews and have enjoyed the book and have continued to purchase the books. I can't thank you guys enough. It has really, really been a journey that God has taken me on and I am just so glad that everyone that has read the books, that have purchased them and have supported me through this journey, thank you so much.
Speaker 2:I. So who's your favorite doll, kara? And then I'm going to tell you who mine is, even though, well, I'm not going to give a spoiler at all. But who's your favorite doll? Who is your favorite one to write and who is your favorite one that just kind of fell into your heart?
Speaker 1:Oh see, this kind of goes back to what we were talking about last week about it looks like someone asked you who's your favorite child? Right, if you have like triplets or something like that, it's very hard, but I think I don't know. Priscilla holds a special place in my heart. She really really does, because she made some bad decisions very on in life. You know as a young adult some very, very bad decisions. And to just see her she made bad decisions, knowing better, right, her parents were ministers and she knew better. So she decided to be rebellious, you know, and do things her own way. And just seeing her growth from her when she first introduced in book one to you know her where her story picks up in her own book and paperdolls Priscilla, just seeing their journey really really blessed my heart for Priscilla. So she was, she was really really fun to write the one as closest to my heart.
Speaker 1:Well, I can't say closest to my heart, but I think I've been asking the past where people say, well, which one is you Like? Which one would closely most resemble you? Which doll would closely resemble you? And well, none of them would per se resemble me exactly or to a T, but the one whose story line kind of minimally is like, is kind of like you know my life or was kind of inspired, you know my life was inspired. They kind of intertwined, let me put it that way would be Mary, and again she's been. Her doll is introduced.
Speaker 1:Her doll, the character I don't call them characters in paper dolls, they're like my, they're like dolls and she was introduced in book one, mary, and her story is not out yet, so she doesn't come out till later. But the reason her and for those of you who read book one, most of you are, you know, I think I'm just going to say this part but I'm trying to give away too many spoilers from either book but she was kidnapped at a young age. She was kidnapped from in front of her home at around the age of eight years old and abducted and she wasn't reunited with her family into like 40 years later, her biological family into 40 years later. That kind of my life kind of dwells into that a little bit, because I was not eight years old but I was kidnapped as a teenager by gunpoint and it was one of those situations.
Speaker 1:Thankfully it did not go as planned and I was reunited with my family that night, not 40 years later, but over the years, it kind of you always had that thought like, well, what would have happened if, if they'd had worked out that way, like what, I have been reunited with my family and what would that have looked like if I had been gone for so long? Right, so I think she holds a special place in my heart simply because those the kidnapping storyline is there. Between my life and her there's that little parallel. But the Mary story she was not reunited with her family right away, it took a couple of years. So I would say that she's probably the one that I guess will be closer to my heart because of that situation.
Speaker 2:I am so glad that you're well. First off, I'm so sorry that you got kidnapped, but I'm so glad that it was a happy ending, and a quick happy ending not too long like Mary was. I'm just so grateful. God is so, so good, so good.
Speaker 1:Amen, yes, and if anyone would ever like to hear that testimony, I actually did a radio interview about explaining that whole thing about. It's a three-part interview, radio, radio interview on Jennifer Jackson's radio station. And you know, if you guys, if someone sends me an email, sends an email to a chair podcast or whatnot, if I get maybe more than three, I'll probably post it on my blog excuse me, on my website the entire radio interview about that whole entire ordeal, how it started, how it ended, the aftermath of it, you know, and all of that. So, or you could just look up Jennifer Jackson, you know, and her radio station and I can't think of the name, I'm drawing a blank of it right now, but yeah, so, but I have all the recordings and everything else, so I could easily put those up on my website. But if I have enough interest, I can absolutely do that.
Speaker 1:So, you guys just let me know.
Speaker 2:Well, why don't you prayerfully consider it, kara? I don't want to put you on the spot, but maybe we can even do a series of it or turn it into a series on the podcast of how God like, miraculously, delivered you, saved you.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, you know, and that is something I've been thinking about. But so it's pretty much my testimony of that whole ordeal and how you know that came about, and now she's actually interviewing me about it, and so that's definitely something to consider and to put up there, because it's not like it's a secret. I've shared this testimony tons of times right, and obviously it's out there on the airway, so it's not like it's a secret, but I just didn't want to put it on my website. People were like oh, I came here to see your books.
Speaker 1:I don't want to hear about that you know, or to you know no more about you or whatnot. So that's why I've been kind of hesitant to put it up there. But you're right, you know, it's definitely the way God miraculously, everything that happened during that kidnapping, the assault, all of it, just how God was able to. It's just very reminiscent of the scripture what the enemy means been for big God can turn on use for his glory. So, yes, absolutely a podcast could be made out of that. So yeah, thanks for the suggestion, Sherry. I didn't think about that.
Speaker 2:Well, I know that I love finding out about the behind the scenes in and out of my favorite authors, so I pretty much guarantee you that your followers, both from the podcast and from reading your books, will be more than excited to hear about how God is working in your life, the different things that he's done in your life in the past and the things that he continues to do. So, yeah, I wouldn't hesitate to put it out there at all, because I'm reading a book right now that's talking about how God doesn't. Well, it's basically like. The theme in a nutshell is every experience that you had, god uses for your purpose, for your plan, for your destiny, and so this is part of your story and, like I said, I'm so sorry that it had to be. It makes me so sad to think that you had to go through that, but I'm so grateful that God turned it into I wouldn't really say turned it into a blessing, but that you're safe and that God kept you safe and you're here with us today.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, and it was a blessing and it was this definitely not one of those things you're like, oh god, take me through this. But the key word there is through right, how God brings you through all of that and just how amazing he is and just, and again, it's like it's not really what happens to you, to you in life, it's how you respond to it and and when you guys listen to the testimony, you'll see, initially I did not, you know, it affected me for some years afterwards, but it is all. It's just all amazing how God has just really used that to minister to other women and different things like that. So, yes, it's definitely been a blessing. The way that it has handled, you know, the way that God has handled it and how it has, you know, been a blessing to others.
Speaker 1:And even though my story parallels a little bit with Mary, the whole series is kind of based on that, though it's because the reason is called the Habakkuk series and Habakkuk, of course, is an Old Testament prophet, an Old Testament prophet, and he and I love the story of Habakkuk, right, and the whole series is based on Habakkuk 319 where it says the Lord, the sovereign Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. And if you know, the more you research into that scripture, you realize how. Oh, excuse me, that was the new King James version. And here's the King James version, my favorite part of it. It says the Lord, god, is my strength and he will make my feet like hind feet and he will make me to walk up on mine high places. And the one reason that I I love that particular scripture is, you know, when I was researching here one day it was talking about the high places that these hinds some people refer to as a goat or sheep or something like that. You know, hind feet, these particular animals feet were made to climb up these high mountains, these mountainous regions. Not just every animal could do it, it was their feet were just made to do that. And that's what the story of all the stories of the dolls are about in the Habakkuk series. It's like they are dealt with some crazy blows or having to deal with some difficult things in life, but through faith and through prayer and through God's presence in our lives and through that, you know, with the help of their friends as well. You know they're. They realize that the Christian journey may be rough, it may be rocky, like a lot of the mountainous reasons that's talked about Habakkuk 319, but that, as Christians, our feet were made for that. We are made to climb those mountains. It may look like we're gonna fall and they look like we're gonna stumble and crash, you know, headlong into the bottom without a helmet, but our feet were made for that and that's what I, that's what the Habakkuk series is about, and I was definitely inspired by the book of Habakkuk because he was a prophet and a lot of things are going bad around this time, in his today we will call it community, but you know, a lot of things are going back and because he was a man of God, the people will come to him and be like have you?
Speaker 1:Does God see what's going on? Does he see what's happening? Does he not know that the enemies upon us? Like your prophet, go, talk to God, let him know, you know, and Habakkuk would, he would go and he would seek God. But you know, a lot of times there was silence and he didn't really hear anything. But then, when God did speak, you know it wasn't exactly what Habakkuk had thought he wanted to hear, you know, and when God told him what exactly was going to happen and why it was going to happen and how it was going to end up, he wasn't initially okay with it. But then he realized, god, you had a plan all. When it was all said and done, he realizes, you know what, god, you had a plan all along, and that's the story of the Habakkuk series.
Speaker 1:Things may look bleak, things may look down at least the, the initial situations that they're dealing with, kind of look at that way. But we had. God sees the bigger picture and he sees how he is going to make all of that, you know, turn it all into his glory. He's just going to turn your test into a testimony and it's just going to be amazing. You know, as long as we don't faint, like the scripture talks about, and as long as we don't get weary, but as long as we we stay the course and keep the faith, we can see just how amazing our God is and to just continue to trust in him. So that's why it's called the Habakkuk series, the foundational scriptures, the book excuse me, habakkuk 319, but the entire series was really just based on the, the, the, the story of Habakkuk, the proper Habakkuk in the Old Testament.
Speaker 2:So I hope all of that made sense, sherry well, not only did it make sense, but you, you carry that out in that message so well throughout all of the books. Because when you talked about you know, we have to keep the faith and we have to stand strong.
Speaker 2:Well, god doesn't ask us or expect us to do it alone you, he gives us a community and he gives us the Holy Spirit and and that is shown through the book of Habakkuk, but it is shown through the Habakkuk series that you wrote the community element is so strong and so powerful. I think it's one of the things that draws me to it and keeps me reading each book, because the community is so the sisters, the dolls, all come together.
Speaker 2:So, wonderfully, um, and it's just, it's just a reminder that that's the way that God wanted us to, or wants us to, live life. So your books are encouraging, they're entertaining, they're suspenseful, they're romantic, they're they're sweet and I have to say, my favorite from reading the first book is me, and she's coming soon and I cannot wait to read her because she, she's the one that kind of captured my heart. Um, in the first book, in paper dolls, when everyone was introduced, and, um, I just can't wait to see how she grows and develops and, um, just what you do with her Cause she's, she's my favorite. I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but I have a favorite.
Speaker 1:Well, uh, actually, out of the five dolls that were introduced in book one, eve is the one I think I have got the most controversial feedback on, not because of her, uh, character per se, but because of the situation she's in and how and how it ended.
Speaker 1:Um, there were people like no, no, no, she should do that, she should do that, she should do this. And then others were like, oh, my goodness, okay, I'm glad you ended it that way. So she's definitely, you know, um one of those that, uh, you know the the, the way the situation ended with her and paper dolls. People were just kind of, uh, they were either mad or they were elated. Also, uh, again, I had none doing her characters, just kind of the way, um, the situation ended and um, so it's, it's um like, yeah, you're right, her, her story uh develop and I just want to want to know paper dolls book one um, it introduces all five dolls Kite Kite Tanner, priscilla Martin, lydia Dooley, eve Stanton, mary Verbin but it does not, uh, they do. Their stories do not end in cliffhangers. So you can, you know um they, they end, you know there's an ending to their stories is just that each their stories are picked up where they left off in book one, Um, and so that's why there's paper dolls Kite, paper dolls Priscilla, paper dolls Lydia, paper dolls Eve and paper dolls Mary, Um, and so, yeah, so it's like their stories, and and then you, if you want to know more about how their story continued, um, then you get.
Speaker 1:Then, um, it's, it's in their individual novels, and I have just had a blast just um revisiting these characters one on one, right Um, and bringing, continuing to bring their stories to life as individual dolls, um, instead of, you know, like in book one, where you know they're, they're all introduced and they're all together and they're all dealing with certain things, and um, in the city of Habakkuk. By the way, um, like I said, the book series was inspired by the old prophet Habakkuk, the book in the Bible, and so I also made it a fictional town in a fictional town. Habakkuk, missouri, is, uh, the town that they are in, and um, which I I hope was so appropriate because of everything that they're dealing with is kind of reminiscent of the story of Habakkuk, so I thought it would only be appropriate to put them in the city of Habakkuk. So, um, it's been a very, very fun journey. So, um, okay, and I just I can't thank you all enough for all your support and everything else and I'm just hoping that, uh, you guys, uh, just pick all the books up and just as they continue to come out, um, and uh, just just continuing to love on the dolls and, um, there were several baby dolls in the first book Paper Dolls that, um, I have been asked to continue my baby dolls I mean, they weren't one of the first the main five dolls in the book, the five doll characters, but they were either friends and or siblings or relatives of the uh, original dolls and um, so I've already, you know, people have already said, hey, what about so-and-so?
Speaker 1:Huh, you know, and I'm like, well, that's a baby doll, so maybe there'll be a baby doll series, you know. So, um, it's going to be very, very interesting. Um, and also, um, for you know, the fans of my books, um, and this one I'm I'm trying to tamp down and not get too excited about, but, um, just in a discussion with some men one day, they were feeling left out, so I was talking with them and I'm like, you know what? And this I'm excited about cause I really do think this may be the next series is they're going to be called action figures. Ooh, so it'll be paper dolls and action figures and probably a seven book series. Um, uh, that'll pick up on the stories of the guys who were in the paper doll series.
Speaker 2:I love it yeah.
Speaker 1:So it'll be paper dolls and action figures, you know, that's what I'm really kind of excited about.
Speaker 1:But uh, yeah, so that may be a year or two down a roll, since right now I'm like at two books a year. But uh, it'll be very, uh interesting. And I'm trying to tamp down my excitement on that one because part of me wants to get started right now, now when, right away. You know I can't do that, you know it's all in God's timing. So that's just a little sneak peek, you know, uh that, of what may be coming soon. I absolutely love it.
Speaker 2:And that is the perfect way to end today. Um, you've got me excited. I didn't even know about that, so that is fantastic. You guys are finding out at the same time. I am yeah.
Speaker 1:I can't.
Speaker 2:I can't think of a better, better way for you to continue the series. I think that is just absolutely awesome. So if you want to find out more about Cara our hunts um and the Habacca series, where to find them, where to buy them, where to purchase them, head over to her website, cara our huntcom Um. If you need prayer or encouragement or you have a comment or you want to see something to us, you can email us at cheer up podcast at emailcom. You can also head over to our community group on Facebook, cheer up podcast, and you can start a thread there for us as well. That way, other people can join in on the conversation. So we would love if you would head over to Facebook and tell us which of the paper doll series books you have read, which ones you still need to read and what you think of them, because there is nothing that we love more, as authors, than to hear your feedback about what you think, what meant the most to you, what frustrated you, which characters you love, which characters you hated.
Speaker 2:Trust me, you cannot hurt our feelings because we hate and love some of our characters just as much.
Speaker 1:So it's all part of the five, so um, John 1633 tells us these things.
Speaker 2:I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace in the world. You will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. It is so much easier in fiction to overcome the world because we get to um be a part of the planning of it, but the the essence and the peace the essence and the peace that comes, knowing that God is in control of everything and that we don't have to worry and we can simply trust him and live out and step into the adventure that he gives us is incredibly peaceful. So if you are struggling with any area of life and you need encouragement or prayer, again, please do reach out and email us. Um, we want to stand with you in prayer, we want to encourage you, we want to be there for you. We are so grateful that you're here with us every week and we want to, in turn, be there for you.
Speaker 2:Have a great rest of your week this week and come back next week. We're going to talk about book six, um, the last book in the redemption of green pine series, um that I wrote, and um just kind of give you um an idea of where I'm at with that, and then the following week will be the beginning of February and we will be starting the topic, or the series, of love versus lust, um, and the different problems that come up here when you get those mixed up. Absolutely, have a great rest of your week and we will talk to you soon.