God said he was taking my child. Seven years later, he did.
THE VOICE I COULDN’T IGNOREJohanna Frank
Publisher: Marrow Publishing
Pages: 279
Genre: Christian Nonfiction/Memoir
Format: Paperback, Kindle
The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore—a work of creative nonfiction, a story when God forewarned, held and healed.
In a vision, God told Hanna he was taking her child. Seven years later, he did.
This story leads the reader through an ancestral prophecy, profound visions, and a mother’s journey through symbolisms in the Holy Land. It shares how she guided her teenage daughter through a devastating diagnosis while wrestling with God, and reveals her spiritual rebuilding of an unshakable house of faith in the aftermath of loss.
Read sample. – The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt
Descendant Hanna, Canada, 1982“A heavy blade, it comes straight at me.”
I might as well have been naked. Afraid of judgment. All this explaining felt like a confession. But the air in my chest lightened up somewhat, so I urged myself to continue.
“Slices the air like it’s on some kind of mission. With some kind of wild purpose. Always a direct aim at my line of sight. The swoosh, I can’t hear it. The whole business… all silent and invisible.”
Imagined, all in my head? I could only wish.
“I duck and bury my face.” No reason to mention how badly my hands would shake or how my shoulders could jerk about to recover from the attack. “Then nothing. There’s like—nobody—just air.”
“And just how often does this ax-head attack you?” The counselor leaned his forehead my way.
Finally, someone believed me.
But when he arched bushy brows and hovered his pen atop a page full of doodles in the thick notebook balanced on his lap, I wasn’t so sure.
“Often enough. Sporadic,” I answered anyway. “Three or four times a week. Then a month will go by, nothing.” I shrugged and ogled the exit. This was a mistake.
“And just where do these plaguing manifestations happen?” He tucked his chin into his neck and fingered an ear.
Plaguing manifestations? Nope.
I gripped the armrests, squeezed their width as though they were stress balls. He thought I was making this up. He was getting paid, so shouldn’t he at least indulge me?
The counselor crossed his legs, displaying shoes only loser-like, middle-aged men should wear. “Er, occurrences,” he rectified.
All right, I’d play. But I had to think.
“Mostly when I’m just walking. Several times, I guess, when I’m on the bus coming home. And, once, when I was driving my mom’s car. Nearly went off the road.”
It was a good question, and the answer enlightened my curiosity. Kinda odd that I was always leaving one place and heading to another. The ghostly ax-head struck only when I was in transition. Did that mean anything? Why hadn’t I realized that before?
He nodded, his note scribbling and foot wiggling in sync. “In other words, might your mind have been free to wander when walking, busing it, driving, perhaps?”
“I suppose.” Good call. Point for him. Though the jury was still out. Was someone finally taking me seriously?
“Do you believe these are attacks to harm you?”
His gaze remained on his scrawling penmanship, ignorant of his probe’s unfitting casualness.
Of course, they are. Duh! Why else would someone swing an ax at my head?
I shifted, the oversized chair feeling more like a prison. Claustrophobia was setting in. And a burn spread from where I’d rubbed my palms on the armrests. I scooted back to compose with a deep breath. “Yes, I believe they are.” He’d catch on to my monotone voice. Still, he didn’t look up.
Ah, crap. He didn’t believe me. I could barely afford this appointment. If I called it quits now, would I get billed for less time?
“Are you disappointed in yourself, Hanna?” He paused and seemingly decided on a more direct line of inquiry. “Have you ever wanted to self-harm?”
Now he peered above his glasses? Self-harm! Nope again. He wasn’t getting it—at all. An invisible force of some kind, a someone I couldn’t see, was whacking me so hard I physically jolted. I was here because of these so-called occurrences—or whatever they were. My throat tightened and responded to a hard swallow. How to reply?
A deep stomach sigh. A few scratches at the back of my neck. Then I again eyed my coat hanging on the peg. My stocking feet planted themselves with an unmistakable firmness as I pushed away from ribbed corduroy material designed to relax its occupants.
“It’s not like that,” I snipped. Beads of sweat formed, thanks to the internal warmth now climbing clear to my forehead. Despite the man’s kind promptings to please sit down and stay until his billing hour was up, it was no use.
He didn’t get me. So much for this guy.
Excerpted from The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore by Johanna Frank, Marrow Publishing, 2025. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
is a Canadian author based in Southern Ontario, where she lives with her husband, and delights in time with her children and grandchildren.
Her award-winning A Lifeline Fantasy Series includes The Gatekeeper’s Descendants (Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Medalist), Jophiel’s Secret (Winner of the 2023 General Market Suspense Fiction Award and the Christian Speculative Fiction Award), and Here Lyeth (finalist for The Word Guild’s 2025 Christian Speculative Award).
In addition, Johanna has introduced a creative memoir, a deeply personal work that explores God’s abundant mystery and healing.
Known for her lyrical, imaginative style rich in symbolism and spiritual depth, she invites readers into otherworldly adventures and real-life reflections that illuminate belonging, faith, and the unseen.
“Frank, one of Canada’s emerging authors in spiritual fantasy, walks a fine line between general fantasy
and faith-based fiction. Her work aims to innovate and transcend traditional boundaries, catering to a hungry market of curious readers who don’t want to be preached to but are open to exploring spiritual themes through fantasy.”
~ Sheri Hoyte, Reader Views
Her latest book is the powerful Christian nonfiction, The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore.
Connect with Johanna at Facebook, Goodreads,Instagram and BookBub.
Interview with Johanna Frank
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Born in a small town to European immigrants, I was raised with deep-rooted principles of hard work and traditional values. As the middle child of three—and the only girl—I quickly learned the importance of flexibility and often escaped into a world of imagination. Growing up surrounded by a large extended family, adaptability became a form of survival. That same imagination later evolved into crafting meaningful supernatural novels, rich with family drama and a spirit of adventure.
Can you tell me about your latest book, The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore?
Thank you for this question. I included a Letter to Readers at the beginning of the novel to share more about its origins. In short, it took me well over a decade to piece together the unusual events that have shaped my life—many of which, I believe, reflect God’s abundant sense of mystery. Should you choose to read the book (and I hope you do), the prologue draws on inherited knowledge of an ancestor’s trauma, while the main narrative—told in first person—reveals personal experiences of haunting visions, profound dreams, and deep loss. Ultimately, the story leads to an enduring sense of peace and an unwavering faith in life everlasting.
Is The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore your only book?
Actually, The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore is my fourth book. Though it’s the story that had been on my mind all throughout my prior writings. My first three novels fall broadly within the fiction–fantasy genre, blending family drama and adventure in an allegorical setting that bridges heaven and earth. The characters in the ‘Kingdom Above the Earth’ setting are unseen and everlasting, watching over those who walk below—especially when they stray from the path destined for them. Those other three novels are: Here Lyeth, The Gatekeeper’s Descendants, and Jophiel’s Secret. (And I am thrilled to say they have each won awards, either finalist or winner, for the writing).
Can you tell us a little about your daughter?
Would love too! I refer to my girl lovingly as Sadie in the novel, though that was not her real name. Though a true story, names and some timelines were adjusted, hence the ‘creative nonfiction’ label. Sadie was my third child and since birth had me wrapped around her finger. She loved to joke around and laugh – a lot. She loved her family and friends, always concerned for everyone’s comfort of ‘fitting in’ and well being with encouragement on their horizon. She was a shopper rather than a sporty-girl and had no trouble juggling a couple part time jobs while in high school (her choice, she saw her jobs as social opportunities). A diagnosis at the age of 17 seemed to blow in suddenly, out of the blue. Her faith in God was naturally built in and hadn’t needed any coaxing. She trusted him to get her through, and so did I.
Grief is perhaps the hardest emotion for us to handle. What or who gave you emotional support?
Good question. Normally, I admit, I would have done the usual, turned inward. But I couldn’t in this case, I was broken—smashed to bits, so to speak—on the inside. My battle and refuge fell flatly on my traditional upbringing with God. Rather than seeking a counsellor’s support, I took theology courses in an attempt to figure things out. I knew God was real, but what I believed about him needed some correction. I went on a journey for truth. (And, I certainly found enough that eventually granted me a safe place to stand and build faith again).
Where did you start in your journey to heal?
Funny – I don’t even know where I started, there was so much in my head that scrambled my thoughts. Like a tight messy ball of twisted up wires. I knew I had to be gentle and pull out any wires as they loosened up. One by one, no particular order. Like low-hanging fruit, when something presented itself as ripe for the picking, I plucked it out.
What gets you through the day?
It’s been sixteen years now, so that initial swelling of grief has long subsided. Yet within the past two years, my family faced another heartbreaking loss—a second daughter, my stepdaughter, also to cancer. Writing The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore then became a deeply personal priority. I hold a steadfast belief in the unseen world Scripture speaks of—the invisible realm that surrounds us. Our time here is brief, and joy, though sometimes difficult to recognize through pain, is a divine gift meant for us to receive. Sometimes we just need a little encouragement to reach for it.
Thank you so much for this interview, Johanna. What’s next for you?
As an Indie Author, there is always so much to do! Having published four novels in five years, I plan to take the next few months to focus on doing a better job with branding, social media, reaching out to find and connect with readers (would love reviews!) …and cleaning my house, particularly my office. Then—I plan to work on book #5.
Where to purchase the book?
Amazon (Various countries and formats of course) / Barnes and Noble / Indigo/Chapters and Kobo
Or, simply ask your librarian to order it in! That is very helpful for Indie Authors.
Where to find Johanna Frank:
Thank you so much for the interview!
