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 ancestor buried the magic. Now it wants out.
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I’m excited to announce that I’ll be bringing my books to the Día de Muertos Celebration at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum in Rancho Dominguez, California, on November 7! Día de Muertos is a beautiful tradition that honors those who came before us, celebrates the lives they lived, and keeps their memories alive. As a…
At 5 p.m. on November 2, La Lady got out in El Paso. I was in California, and by the time it got dark, my mind had already gone through every awful thing that could happen to her. She’s an elderly German shepherd who has trouble seeing and walking. What if she wandered into the…
A little library news, a big indie author milestone, and a request for my California readers. I have some exciting news to share, and this one feels particularly special because it involves something I have always believed in: the power of libraries to connect readers with stories they might not otherwise discover. The Ordinary Bruja,…
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. 📚🇩🇴✨
