Christian author Monica Broussard joins me today to chat about the latest book in her meta-physical visionary series, Tattoo, The 7th Dimension.
Bio:
Writer, speaker, and certified life coach Monica Broussard is passionate about writing fiction that contains elements of fantasy 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 Toastmasters International 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-eight years. She has enjoyed various occupations over the years, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing.
Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, Monica. Please tell us about your newest release.
It is book two of the Tattoos Series. 7th Dimension picks up the story of Derek being kicked out of Kendal’s cozy apartment. Derek is left to his own devices and banished back to his lavish penthouse.
He is sent home to confront and overcome his self-limiting beliefs in order to have a breakthrough and move forward.
As he reflects on his life, he realizes the importance of letting go of lingering emotions from the past, allowing him to see things from a higher perspective and to help other people.
The meaning and origin of his mysterious tattoos still elude him, but now, with friends’ help, he continues searching for answers on how they appeared, their significance, and how to remove them.
The ultimate dilemma is still the driving factor in the second book: Will he get rid of them before he loses everything?
What inspired you to write this book?
This book is actually part of the first book, 21 Tattoos. It was so long that my publisher suggested I write a second book. As I continued to write the story for the second book, I realized that a third book was necessary to complete the story.
Excerpt from The 7th Dimension:
He dashed to the stairwell door and took the stairs down two at a time. Just as he hit the garage level, he saw her little red convertible pull out. Downshifting with a loud grind of gears, Kendal made the turn out of the parking garage, tires squealing. At that moment, a memory flash came, a déjà vu. He had experienced this scene before. As he stood there in the garage it came to him. This was his nightmare.
He ran for his motorcycle, turned the key, hit the button to start the engine, dropped the bike into gear and gave it the gas while releasing the clutch. The back tire started to fishtail as he kept his leg down, trying to keep the bike upright as his adrenaline spiked. He hit the street where the dip from the garage made the front wheel pop up as he flew through the first stop sign, and was almost taken out by a delivery truck.
Dodging other vehicles, he caught sight of the little red sports car. Twisting the throttle, Derek lay down on the tank. He knew instinctively this was a matter of life and death. At a center median that divided the street into four lanes, he caught up to Kendal.
What’s the next writing project?
I am in the process of fine-tuning the third book in the series. Book 3 should be out sometime in 2025.
What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)
One of my biggest struggles is finding the right words to describe the constant stream of thoughts in my head. It’s like a never-ending movie, and trying to convey the emotions and significance behind it can be challenging at times.
If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?
As my story progresses and I encounter situations that require more explanation or involve unfamiliar subjects, I always seek out experts for guidance. For example, when Derek visits a therapist, I thoroughly research his symptoms before writing about it. However, in my initial draft, I tend to include too much information. I later go back and trim down the excess details to create a reader-friendly explanation.
What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.
In the early days when I started the book we had a cabin in the mountains. I spent a lot of time there when I was recovering from chemotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer. I now live in a beach house the we just remodeled to make it feel like the cabin. It has a vacation vibe. I time my books to be edited right before I go to visit my sister’s ranch in Iowa. I love going there to the isolation of being in the middle of nowhere to finish the process.
What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?
My genre combination is unique. Since it combines styles, I don’t necessarily have a specific author. I am all about the story. I need to be taken on an imaginary trip for a book to interest me. The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen is an example. Tess does a great job tying in the backstory with current-day events. In the end she is able to fluidly connect the past with the present to give a satisfying ending. I am all about a good ending.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?
I strive to evoke empathy from my readers for the characters. Each conflict is presented in a way that would provoke a similar reaction from anyone facing the same situation and set of obstacles.
The developing events of my story give the reader something to invest in and provide an experience that synergizes with the plot. At times, it’s like a roller coaster- the stakes increase, and then a solution arises, either permanent or temporary. Each event must serve a purpose that takes the storyline forward, whether direct or subtle. When attainable, I try to complete these conflicts with a satisfying finale. At its heart, my storyline reflects how we live our lives.
I strive to craft a story that my readers find captivating. I pray that when I reach the conclusion and bring the story arc to its apex, I have written something worth my reader’s time.
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