Book 3 in the 21 Tattoos Series
Speculative Fiction; Visionary and Metaphysical; Christian Fiction
Date Published: September 17, 2025
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
How far will a man go to save his very soul?
Derek Hollinger has walked a long, hard road since a fateful encounter with an
Indigenous shaman woman turned his life upside down. Now married to Kendal,
his angel and savior, Derek desperately wants to be the man she deserves. But
his obsession with his tattoos—what they mean and how to get rid of
them—is tearing down everything they’ve built together.
Paralyzed by depression and self-loathing, Derek is convinced that only one
person can help him now: the granddaughter of the shaman whose power inked him
from head to toe. Enlisting the aid of his loyal friend and spiritual advisor,
Father Mike, Derek treks deep into the heart of the Amazon jungle, where a
final reckoning between good and evil awaits.
But God’s plan for Derek isn’t what he expects. And coming back
alive—whole in mind, heart, and spirit—will require every ounce of
his fortitude and faith.
Interview
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
I would like my readers to picture themselves hacking through a dense jungle, sweat dripping, much like the journey into their own psyche. The path is difficult, but worth it. Push through. You'll emerge transformed. This requires seeing setbacks as lessons, finding meaning that carries you through monotony and exhaustion, maintaining focus when distractions beckon, rising after each fall, and honestly confronting habits that no longer serve you. The work is demanding, but necessary for genuine growth.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
My greatest challenge as a fiction writer is rendering emotion with authenticity. I want my characters to process their emotions through an obsessive reorganization of kitchen cabinets, or in book 2, The 7th Dimension, of the 21 Tattoos series, Kendal strips her bed and washes the sheets. At the same time, she ruminates on how she is handling her relationship with Derek. I try to reveal the interior landscape, how a character interprets what happens to them, alongside the nearly imperceptible physical cues: a finger tracing the wood grain, a momentary hesitation before speaking. What characters don't express verbally proves more powerful by demonstrating what they do. When readers recognize these truthful emotional patterns, connection follows naturally.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I am currently writing book number 4 of the 21 Tattoo Series. Each book has become my favorite. Right now, my favorite is book 3, The 6th Heaven. The jungle metaphors were so much fun to write.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
It is Ryan Gosling and always has been. He is starting to get a bit old, but he still could carry the role. His hallmark lies in physical and emotional truth, a raised eyebrow that speaks volumes, a tightened jaw that reveals inner conflict, a slight shift in posture that transforms the entire character. By selecting challenging roles and subordinating his ego to the demands of the screenplay, Gosling has established himself among his generation's finest performers.
When did you begin writing?
I have been writing all my life. I started getting more serious in my thirties, then when I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and was on lockdown because of a low immune system from the chemo, I was able to focus on writing. My first book was 21 Tattoos. That was 2008.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
I started writing my first book in 2008. Rewritten in 2017 and published in 2021.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
The two authors who had the most impact on me from my childhood are Hugh Lofting's Dr. Doolittle and Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series. Both of them sparked my imagination at a young age.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Stepping into my characters’ world. I slip through the portal of my own making, into a realm where my characters breathe. I can sit and write for hours without realizing the time while the lock hands circle, unnoticed, as my fingers tap out their lives.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Resilience, Redemption, Revelation, Restoration
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I have three more books due in the 21 Tattoo series. I have two other fictional books I am working on right now. I have a nonfiction book in the works, and I will start publishing books outside the series soon.
About the Author
Monica Broussard
Writer, speaker, and certified life coach Monica Broussard is passionate about
writing fiction that contains fantasy elements and keeps the reader intrigued
about the lead character’s motives. She also writes an occasional
article for her hometown’s magazine, SeaCliff Living. She belongs to
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and enjoys attending national
writers' conferences.
Born in North Carolina on a Marine Corps base, Monica now lives in “Surf
City,” Huntington Beach, California, with her husband of thirty-nine
years. She has enjoyed various occupations, but her favorite job is the one
she’s doing now—writing.
The 6th Heaven is book 3 in the 21 Tattoos Series.
Contact Links
Author Website
FB: MonicaBroussard
IG: @monicabroussardauthor
Purchase Links
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