| What happens when Heaven doesn’t just reveal itself—but sends you back with a mission? In Routed to Heaven, Julie Bonn Blank shares the moments that changed everything: a sudden medical crisis, clinical death, and a breathtaking encounter with Jesus Himself. Standing in Heaven, overwhelmed by love and beauty beyond words, Julie received a message that would redirect the course of her life: “There is still so much work to be done.” But this book is far more than one extraordinary near-death or afterlife experience. Routed to Heaven weaves together over twenty additional powerful testimonies from people who briefly crossed into eternity—children healed after death, abuse survivors guided by the Holy Spirit, one person sent back to earth for a do-over, and believers who stood at Heaven’s gates and returned forever changed. These stories affirm what so many long for in uncertain times: Heaven is real. God is near. And our lives matter more than we realize. What sets this book apart is its purpose. |  |
Each testimony is paired with Julie’s honest, compassionate reflections that address the real-life obstacles keeping believers from living with eternal focus—fear, grief, trauma, unforgiveness, mental health struggles, waiting on God, spiritual warfare, and more. With wisdom shaped by personal suffering and years of ministry, Julie doesn’t just inspire—she equips.
At the heart of the book is what she calls the Heaven-Minded Mission Manifesto—a practical framework designed to help readers stop sleepwalking through life and begin living with bold Kingdom intention. Through prayer, worship, gratitude, belief, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, readers are invited to move from survival to activated faith.
With thoughtful Pause & Ponder sections at the end of each chapter, Routed to Heaven becomes more than a book—it becomes a journey of awakening. For those who want to go deeper, the Companion Study Guide expands on these reflections with guided questions, scripture exploration, and practical exercises—making it ideal for personal growth, small groups, or church studies.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Heaven is real…
If you’ve questioned whether your life has greater purpose…
If you’re longing for hope, healing, or renewed fire for God…
This book—and its companion guide—are your invitation.
Heaven is watching. The time is short. And your mission matters.
At the heart of the book is what she calls the Heaven-Minded Mission Manifesto—a practical framework designed to help readers stop sleepwalking through life and begin living with bold Kingdom intention. Through prayer, worship, gratitude, belief, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, readers are invited to move from survival to activated faith.
With thoughtful Pause & Ponder sections at the end of each chapter, Routed to Heaven becomes more than a book—it becomes a journey of awakening. For those who want to go deeper, the Companion Study Guide expands on these reflections with guided questions, scripture exploration, and practical exercises—making it ideal for personal growth, small groups, or church studies.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Heaven is real…
If you’ve questioned whether your life has greater purpose…
If you’re longing for hope, healing, or renewed fire for God…
This book—and its companion guide—are your invitation.
Heaven is watching. The time is short. And your mission matters.
Genre: NF (Memoir, Devo, Christian Living)
Release Date: February 21, 2026
Release Date: February 21, 2026
Click here to get your copy!
Interview with Julie
#1. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
First, author Pam Farrel. A literary agent put us in touch and she became the first and only author who reached back out after I shared and then took time in her very busy schedule to Zoom so we could tell our stories and pray for each other. She’d also been to Heaven! (here is her book if you want to link: https://amzn.to/4wMBFAD)
And then Randy Kay who started reading my Heaven Blog and invited me to apply to be interviewed on his YouTube channel. He validated so much for me, listened and provided an affinity that only someone else who has been to Heaven can supply. He also had some Words for me from the Lord that stunned me. But God has been up to some wonderful things! I’ve now been on Randy’s show twice, attended his Heaven Encounters conference and part of my testimony is in his new Heaven Encounters book. (link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4gBzISK) Of course, this is all to the glory to the Lord and building His Kingdom.
Links to two interviews with Randy if you want them:
Original: https://youtu.be/nLTBRGMT_HI?si=HpbgEbjVtpXN9UXV
2nd Interview: https://youtu.be/jy8ORIN4Gjk?si=Ggg0PHxz3FbJy3_I
The heaviest influencer for sure for the book was the Holy Spirit!
First, author Pam Farrel. A literary agent put us in touch and she became the first and only author who reached back out after I shared and then took time in her very busy schedule to Zoom so we could tell our stories and pray for each other. She’d also been to Heaven! (here is her book if you want to link: https://amzn.to/4wMBFAD)
And then Randy Kay who started reading my Heaven Blog and invited me to apply to be interviewed on his YouTube channel. He validated so much for me, listened and provided an affinity that only someone else who has been to Heaven can supply. He also had some Words for me from the Lord that stunned me. But God has been up to some wonderful things! I’ve now been on Randy’s show twice, attended his Heaven Encounters conference and part of my testimony is in his new Heaven Encounters book. (link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4gBzISK) Of course, this is all to the glory to the Lord and building His Kingdom.
Links to two interviews with Randy if you want them:
Original: https://youtu.be/nLTBRGMT_HI?si=HpbgEbjVtpXN9UXV
2nd Interview: https://youtu.be/jy8ORIN4Gjk?si=Ggg0PHxz3FbJy3_I
The heaviest influencer for sure for the book was the Holy Spirit!
#2. How has writing about this particular topic changed your own life?
Going to Heaven for a visit and being sent back was of course, completely life changing. But the Lord planned more ahead for me as I wrote. I thought I returned with all of my Heaven memories but that was not the case. As I wrote “Routed to Heaven,” He sent poignantly placed memories specifically for certain chapters.
For instance, I just finished a section on how apologizing for things we didn’t actually do, on behalf of others, can bring healing for a traumatized person. Then I ran to the grocery store and in the middle of the tea aisle, His voice suddenly resonated loudly in my head: “Do you remember when you were in Heaven that I apologized for the pain that you have been through? I expressed regret for your many years of trauma…” It was so sudden and shifting that I spun around to see if anyone else was near (aisle empty of course!) and tears rapidly gathered, choking my throat. I almost ran to the checkout as I texted my husband: Jesus apologized to me!
Later, my Lord also explained why He chose me for some of those trials. But I first needed His acknowledgement, apparently. It changed my entire view of my past trauma and my healing.
After writing “Routed to Heaven,” I thought the memories were complete but that was not the case. He brought back more as I wrote the Companion Study Guide. (short link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4vzkGkc) There has been a lot of spiritual warfare in pinning down time to write the second book and I suspect that there are more memories waiting. The experts do say it takes seven years to process a Near Death or Afterlife experience and I am just now coming up to my two-year Heaven anniversary so we will see what He plans to say!
Going to Heaven for a visit and being sent back was of course, completely life changing. But the Lord planned more ahead for me as I wrote. I thought I returned with all of my Heaven memories but that was not the case. As I wrote “Routed to Heaven,” He sent poignantly placed memories specifically for certain chapters.
For instance, I just finished a section on how apologizing for things we didn’t actually do, on behalf of others, can bring healing for a traumatized person. Then I ran to the grocery store and in the middle of the tea aisle, His voice suddenly resonated loudly in my head: “Do you remember when you were in Heaven that I apologized for the pain that you have been through? I expressed regret for your many years of trauma…” It was so sudden and shifting that I spun around to see if anyone else was near (aisle empty of course!) and tears rapidly gathered, choking my throat. I almost ran to the checkout as I texted my husband: Jesus apologized to me!
Later, my Lord also explained why He chose me for some of those trials. But I first needed His acknowledgement, apparently. It changed my entire view of my past trauma and my healing.
After writing “Routed to Heaven,” I thought the memories were complete but that was not the case. He brought back more as I wrote the Companion Study Guide. (short link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4vzkGkc) There has been a lot of spiritual warfare in pinning down time to write the second book and I suspect that there are more memories waiting. The experts do say it takes seven years to process a Near Death or Afterlife experience and I am just now coming up to my two-year Heaven anniversary so we will see what He plans to say!
#3. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
One of the small groups I oversee completed a lesson last evening on shepherding. God is just so timely. In the morning hours of that same day, I needed to remind someone else that as shepherds, we have great responsibility. And boom! The lesson in the evening included Ezekiel chapter 34. The whole chapter speaks to how we are to shepherd others, including protecting, strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured and bringing in the strays. It is also an admonishment to leaders who have ruled harshly and not shepherded properly. I thought it was a wonderful reminder of my great responsibility that I take very seriously.
Thanks for having me come by, Jasmine! I appreciate it!
One of the small groups I oversee completed a lesson last evening on shepherding. God is just so timely. In the morning hours of that same day, I needed to remind someone else that as shepherds, we have great responsibility. And boom! The lesson in the evening included Ezekiel chapter 34. The whole chapter speaks to how we are to shepherd others, including protecting, strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured and bringing in the strays. It is also an admonishment to leaders who have ruled harshly and not shepherded properly. I thought it was a wonderful reminder of my great responsibility that I take very seriously.
Thanks for having me come by, Jasmine! I appreciate it!
More from Julie
When Julie returned from visiting heaven in August of 2024, she received a list of three things (to apparently start a list of many more lol) and one of those was to gather the stories and write “Routed to Heaven.” She was shocked to discover that while she was exuberant about her heavenly trip and couldn’t wait to share more, many others had experienced visits over the years and became hesitant to talk about their journeys due to misbelief or even put-downs from other people. But the Lord had placed within her heart that not only was it her job to round them up and get them into paper format, but to build a community. And that community had a special role on earth as well as upcoming in Heaven. She began many conversations with, “Hey I went to Heaven and I hear you might have had an experience too.” Even then, sometimes people hesitated. She found cases of “Well, your heart actually stopped and I don’t think mine did so mine was just a vision” or “I barely remember any of mine …” Over time, she was honored to help over twenty people write their stories for their inclusion in “Routed to Heaven.” People now seek her out specifically at times to tell their stories and she also finds people with stories in some interesting places, including funerals and grocery stores. You just never know! But there are many more stories out there and she continues to gather them for book 2, as well as for other purposes.
 Julie Bonn Blank | Julie Bonn Blank is the Bestselling Amazon author of Routed to Heaven: How Near-Death Experiences, Afterlife Testimonies And Heavenly Insights Can Help You Live With Intention and a fiction suspense series which highlights healing from human trafficking. She is a sought-after speaker, certified domestic violence advocate, near-death experience survivor, and founder of the advanced, faith-based interactive trauma recovery program Broken Souls Restored—a résumé she never planned on assembling, but the plot kept thickening and life hit “publish” anyway. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away
five books by Julie Bonn Blank and a Starbucks Gift Card!!
five books by Julie Bonn Blank and a Starbucks Gift Card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Cover Lover Book Review, September 17
Girls in White Dresses, September 4
Artistic Nobody, September 5 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, September 6 (Author Interview)
Fiction Book Lover, September 7 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 8
The Bookish Ledger, September 9 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, September 10 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, September 11 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 13 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, September 14 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, September 15 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, September 16
Cover Lover Book Review, September 17
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