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
Johanna's latest book is the powerful Christian nonfiction, The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore. Connect with her at Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram and BookBub.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
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.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
Great question given I struggled with this considerably once I finished the manuscript for The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore. The working title – The Spiritual Side of Grief - had cemented considerably so it was tough to smash it to bits once I’d realized it wasn’t quite a good fit any longer. Originally, I was wanting to simply get certain unique experiences on paper, suitably and only possibly, for sharing. Though the writing flowed more as a novel – a story – and I needed a title to reflect the story of experiences. That’s when I changed the title to The Open Window, then after considerable thought to The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
I did actually. First, it needed to be considerably different from my previous three novels which are a different genre – a speculative fantasy for adults and young adults. Many authors change their pen name when writing in a different genre, I chose not to and for that reason, required a different look for The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore. In my head, I knew I wanted it to be clean, simple, profound, and with a white background.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
Google, of course! About five years ago, I came across a website whose cover designs instantly caught my eye. I was impressed by the creativity and professional quality of their work right from the start. Over the years, the team has expanded and taken on more clients—a clear reflection of their success. With that growth, their service has become a little slower and not quite as personal as it once was, but their design expertise remains outstanding and continues to deliver beautiful results.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
BookLife gave the cover an “A-” grade, so I was happy about that. However, after receiving a few queries such as – ‘but it ends well, right?’ – I’ve realized some readers may bypass this creative memoir, which reads like a novel by the way, perhaps because they are not confident in the faith component. While in reality, the novel is a strong testament of faith, one that survives a harsh storm.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Review their prior work as well as their cost for producing a cover. Ensure they will provide two or three options and are willing to make adjustments once you’ve settled on an option. It is key that they ask for your input before design, input that is sufficient for them to get the ‘feel’ of your book – the feel you want your readers to have in order to pick it up.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
The biggest challenge was to take the heart and guts and experiences I’d kept secret and carried on my sleeve so-to-speak for many years and allow it to transition into a product per se. When writing, I’d decided to put my best foot forward, to have the story professionally edited and with a professional cover. Then I would make that final decision – to publish. And hence, I did publish.
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