Now all of Austin will hear the rest of the story.
Joanne Hansen has written a book entitled "Blinded By Deceit," which details how she sought to rescue her daughter from a religious cult.
The story of Leo and Joanne Hansen's struggle is well-known to Austinites. The mother became an outspoken critic of the influence of religious cults. She spoke to churches and other organizations and helped families intervene on behalf of their own children.
Meanwhile, she relentlessly pursued the mind-captors of her own daughter, Kate.
She went to jail, spent thousands of dollars traveling here and abroad and literally put her life on the line for her daughter.
She also questioned God and the Roman Catholic church and soon enough her own faith.
In the end, God was the answer and her faith persevered despite the dogged temptations to give up.
Although rooted in the late 1970s, Hansen believes her book is as relevant today as it was during the so-called "Christian family movement."
"The original title of the book was to be 'Blinded by Faith'," said the author. "That's what I thought was happening to me in the beginning. Then, I thought more about it and realized it was all a lie and that I was blinded by deceit."
The book cover's design is a heart torn apart, Hansen explained by "the love of the cult,."
Today, religious cults have taken a backseat to gangs and even terrorist organizations.
Hansen believes the same strategy she employed to regain her daughter's affection and reselect can be applied to families dealing with chidden seduced by gangs or terrorist organizations today.
"I started the book over 20 years ago," she said. Having survived the ordeal of literally kidnapping her daughter from a religious cult, Hansen decided to write about it, but then had second thoughts.
"I put it aside at that point. We just wanted life to return to normal," she said.
As time went on, Hansen observed an America reeling with the influence of organized gangs and she was reminded of something. "They play with your mind just like cults," she said. "It's all about intimidation."
So, she picked up the manuscript and went back to writing about her ordeal "It was risky what we did and it was expensive and it was even illegal. I served time in jail," she said.
Receiving her daughter Kate's endorsement, was all the encouragement she needed to see the book printed. That is, in spite of the naysayers.
"Everyone I talked to said if I would right a book it would reopen old wounds," she said. "They wanted me to just put it all behind me, but I don't think you can ever put something like this behind you.
"If this book helps somebody else to understand, it will be worth it."
Hansen had the book printed at her own expense. "I wanted full control over it. I didn't want an editor changing a word of it," she said.
Cover notes by the Rev. Greg Leif, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Adams, and Steve Murray, a friend from St. Augustine Catholic Church and a former Catholic schools teacher, praised Hansen's courage in telling her gripping story.
Now, she is promoting the book, beginning with book signings today, Friday and Saturday at the Philomathian Book and Gift Store in downtown Austin, 1 to 3 p.m. each day.
Hansen, who has also written "Events I Celebratate," plans to make her latest book available at Austin Public Library.
The book is also available at www.midwestbookshouse.com or by calling the author at 437-8818.
In a small city like Austin, the book puts down in black and white the rest of the Hansen family's story.
Plot-wise, it's about a daughter who became a stranger and who was kidnapped and returned to her family and then deprogrammed to become herself once again.
It's also a labor of love, Hansen said.
"This was something I just had to do," she said. "I still get calls from people needing help. I've dealt with all the frustrations they are going through and I just thank God at the outcome."