For fans of Mexican Gothic and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, The Ordinary Bruja is a psychological horror and magical realism novel about grief, ancestral secrets, Dominican brujería, and one woman’s fight to reclaim the magic her family tried to bury.
When strange messages appear in mirrors, and the scent of cigar smoke follows her through her small Ohio hometown, Marisol Espinal must confront the ghosts of her past, the truth about her mother’s death, and the family curse waiting for her on Hallowthorn Hill.
Her family buried the magic. Now it wants out.
Independent bookstores, libraries, educators, and book clubs can request access to the wholesale catalog
Recently posted on Threads and now in the blog: Danger began as someone I barely noticed in *Diarra from Detroit*, but Jon Chaffin’s layered performance transformed him into a character I cannot stop thinking about. Beneath Danger’s hardened exterior is a man attempting to choose vulnerability, healing, and softness after a lifetime spent surviving. #Diarrafromdetroit…
In Diarra from Detroit, Diarra will investigate an explosion, confront dangerous people, and risk her life before sitting still with her emotions. Beneath the show’s outrageous comedy is a painfully relatable story about trauma, avoidance, and rebuilding an identity after divorce. #Diarrafromdetroit
I went into the Gothic Market telling myself I only needed to sell ONE more book than I did at my last market.
Instead, I sold out of The Ordinary Bruja
But the biggest lesson I brought home had surprisingly little to do with sales.
I finally understood that my job at these markets isn’t…
Born in the Dominican Republic, Johanny Ortega’s childhood was enriched by the magic of books, igniting her imagination with each page turned. Her move to the U.S. only fueled this passion, as she mastered English to dive deeper into diverse literary worlds. However, a striking realization hit her: the absence of characters echoing her own experiences. This gap propelled Johanny from an eager reader to a dynamic storyteller, crafting narratives that echo her Dominican heritage across genres and age groups. At “Have a Cup of Johanny LLC,” she’s not just an author but a champion for BIPOC voices, ensuring underrepresented narratives get their spotlight. Writing under two aliases, J.E. Ortega for adult fiction and Johanny Ortega for younger readers, she weaves tales that transcend boundaries, each character a vibrant testament to Dominican strength and spirit. 📚🇩🇴✨
