Blog Archives
Adventure Into the Unknown
The 6th Heaven centers around a plastic surgeon whose life is turned upside down when mysterious tattoos begin to cover his body, and he sets out on a journey to the Amazon jungle to find the key to his curse. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The idea for the novel grew naturally from the first two books in the 21 Tattoos Series. As Derek’s journey of self-discovery reaches both emotional highs and lows, he becomes increasingly driven to find answers—how the tattoos appeared, what they signify, and whether he can ever be free of them.
Did The 6th Heaven begin as a spiritual story, a psychological one, or an adventure into the unknown?
It started more as an adventure into the unknown. I didn’t know what would happen next to Derek until he made the decision to enter the jungle—then the story began to unfold on its own. As I continued writing, I realized that his struggle in the jungle mirrored the conflict within his own mind, and I expanded on that connection.
Where did you find the inspiration for Derek’s traits and dialogue?
It developed over time. I started writing about a man waking up with tattoos, and he just started to develop in my mind, and as I researched the meaning of tattoos I got to know him. Most of the material relates to experiences in my life.
Can we look forward to another installment in The 21 Tattoos Series soon? Where will it take readers?
My 4th book will be out in September 2026. Already with the publisher.
My 5th book will be out in September 2027. 50% finished.
My 6th and final book of The 21 Tattoos Series will be out in September 2028.
Each book follows Derek and Kendal as their relationship deepens, facing life’s challenges and evolving into the people they’re meant to become.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
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.
The 6th Heaven is Book 3 in The 21 Tattoos Series, by Monica Broussard. Read Book 1 (21 Tattoos) and Book 2 (The 7th Dimension) to jump into this saga filled with heart, passion, faith, and fear. Discover how Derek Hollinger’s journey for answers begins.
The 6th Heaven
The 6th Heaven by Monica Broussard follows Dr. Derek Hollinger, a plastic surgeon whose life is derailed when intricate tattoos suddenly appear all over his body. Struggling with depression and a past full of trauma, he leaves his wife, Kendal, and their Los Angeles home to trek into the Amazon jungle. He travels with a priest named Father Mike to find a shaman’s granddaughter who might hold the key to his curse. The journey is brutal. Derek faces venomous spiders and near-death experiences while Father Mike battles a jaguar. Eventually, through a mix of tribal rituals and a spiritual encounter with God, Derek undergoes a deep internal transformation that forces him to face his past and find true emotional freedom.
The writing feels deliberate and vivid. I like how the author uses the jungle as a mirror for Derek’s own mind. The descriptions of the rainforest are dense and humid. You can almost feel the dampness and the sting of the mosquitoes on every page. One of the author’s boldest choices is shifting the perspective between Derek’s physical struggle in the mud and Kendal’s emotional isolation back in California. It creates a tension that keeps you moving. I found myself curious about the tattoos and what they really meant. The way the ink is treated as both a physical burden and a spiritual map is a fascinating concept. The pacing is patient. It takes its time to let the characters sit with their thoughts, which makes the action scenes, like the jaguar attack, feel sudden and earned.
I spent a lot of time thinking about the ideas of identity and healing in this story. Derek is a man who builds physical beauty for a living, yet he feels hideous because of something he can’t control. The book explores the gap between how the world sees us and how we see ourselves. I liked the candid look at trauma. It doesn’t offer easy fixes. Even after the spiritual revelations, the characters still carry physical and emotional scars. The intersection of Christian faith and Indigenous shamanic traditions is an interesting choice. It makes for a unique spiritual landscape. It made me wonder about the nature of mercy and whether we can ever truly outrun our past. The idea that our life story is written on our skin is a heavy one, but it feels grounded here.
This is a stirring Christian fiction novel that uses magical realism elements in an interesting way, along with some supernatural elements. It’s a reflective story about redemption and the hard work of coming home to yourself. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories about spiritual journeys or readers who like fiction that wrestles with deep psychological themes. It’s a solid choice for someone looking for a grounded adventure that is not afraid to get a little bit dark before finding the light.
Pages: 265 | ASIN : B0FHBZWMRS
Self-Discovery Path
The 7th Dimension follows a plastic surgeon with mysterious tattoos he believes are connected to larger events unfolding around him, who embarks on a journey that leads him down a path toward the divine. I found Derek Hollinger to be an intriguing and well-developed character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I didn’t realize it until a few years later. Me. I had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and didn’t know if I would survive. This pulls the rug out from under your world. How you handle it is with the tools you have in your tool box. Some people don’t even have a tool box. That was Dr. Derek Hollinger.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
Self-discovery path. Why we end up where we are and what to do about it.
When will the next book be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The 6th Heaven September 17th, 2025. The Amazon jungle is captivating. Venturing into its depths is like exploring the hidden corners of the mind. The jungle hosts an array of remarkable creatures, including the mighty jaguar, the massive green anaconda, shocking electric eels, and flesh-eating piranhas. Just as travelers must remain vigilant and highly aware of their surroundings, we ourselves must be alert when exploring the concealed areas of our minds, where our deep personal thoughts and emotions reside. Like the jungle, it will reveal its secrets.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Derek Hollinger isn’t sure, but he knows they’re all connected to the mysterious tattoos that suddenly appeared across his body.
Determined to untangle the web spun by the vicious thug known as “Spider,” Derek embarks on a journey of redemption that leads from his lavish Los Angeles penthouse to the seedy world of underground fighting and human trafficking. But as he ventures deeper down the rabbit hole, the self-exiled plastic surgeon realizes that the answer lies within his heart and mind … and soul.
Faith is the key to reclaiming his life, but choosing God may be difficult for Derek, who has spent his entire career valuing material success over spiritual growth.
In this thrilling sequel to 21Tattoos, Derek must face the hard truth about where his tattoos came from and an even harder truth about what it will take to be free of them once and for all.
The 7th Dimension (The 21 Tattoos Series Book 2)
Derek Hollinger, a plastic surgeon, finds himself at a crossroads. Life weighs heavily on him, and when inexplicable tattoos begin to spread across his body, he takes them as a sign of cosmic upheaval. Suddenly, his world feels orchestrated by hidden forces. A teenager’s brutal assault, a cryptic old woman, and a dying gang member capture his attention, each thread tugging at a larger mystery he cannot ignore. Convinced these events intertwine, Derek embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim control of his life. Along the way, he must outwit Spider, a ruthless criminal bent on destruction, and uncover a path toward the divine.
The 7th Dimension by Monica Broussard is a taut thriller, reminiscent of The 9th Gate and infused with echoes of Dan Brown’s bestsellers. Though it is the second installment in a series, Broussard skillfully provides context, allowing new readers to immerse themselves without confusion. The novel is an eclectic fusion of genres, melding the grit of Elmore Leonard’s crime tales, the intrigue of religious thrillers, and the structure of a police procedural.
At the center stands Derek, a layered and compelling protagonist. The tattoos mark more than his skin; they symbolize a reckoning with the very core of his existence. To shed them, Derek must confront his misplaced values and the moral rot threatening his soul. Yet the danger is not solely internal. The malevolent Spider stalks him with equal menace, ensuring that Derek is besieged both from within and without. This dual conflict heightens the suspense, drawing readers deeper into his desperate struggle. The more we discover about Derek, the more his plight elicits pity, and the more we long for his release from the curse he bears.
Broussard demonstrates remarkable control over atmosphere and tension, driving the narrative toward a searing climax in the book’s final act. Her dialogue rings true, her pacing sharp, her tone deliberate and assured. The 7th Dimension delivers a chilling, thought-provoking tale that cements Broussard as an author capable of balancing imaginative concepts with gripping execution.
Pages: 230 | ASIN : B0DC1R9XTV
