Johanny Ortega | Have A Cup Of Johanny LLC
The Ordinary Bruja
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.
For Bookstores & Libraries
Bring The Ordinary Bruja to Your Shelves
Independent bookstores, libraries, educators, and book clubs can request access to the wholesale catalog
Blog
-
by
Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring: A Fresh Spin on Christmas Tales
Read more: Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring: A Fresh Spin on Christmas Tales“Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring” is a refreshing take on Christmas tales, filled with suspense, adventure, and valuable life lessons. Set during a frosty Massachusetts winter, it follows the journey of a brave nine-year-old, Isla, who faces her biggest fear – her stepmom. Along the way, Isla and her family learn to let go of long-held…
-
by
Echoes of Despair: A Glimpse into Gaza’s Crisis Through an Outsider’s Eyes
Read more: Echoes of Despair: A Glimpse into Gaza’s Crisis Through an Outsider’s EyesThus Far: An Overview On October 7, 2023, an act of violence broke through our subconscious and enlightened most to see something that has been going on for 75 years. Hamas, a rebellious group from Palestine that has been categorized as a terrorist group by various countries, attacked and killed Israeli civilians attending a concert.…
-
by
Why I’m Drawn to Emotional Horror (and Why It Stays With Me Long After the Last Page)
Read more: Why I’m Drawn to Emotional Horror (and Why It Stays With Me Long After the Last Page)Lately, I’ve been realizing something about the stories I gravitate toward — they’re not always the ones that make me jump, but the ones that make me feel. I’ve been reading a lot of what I like to call emotional horror — stories that linger, that haunt through empathy instead of monsters. Books where the…
-
by
Friday Feature: Five Latina Brujas You Should Be Reading Right Now
Read more: Friday Feature: Five Latina Brujas You Should Be Reading Right NowNow that The Ordinary Bruja has officially stepped into the world (and I’m still over here smiling like a proud mama), I want to celebrate this moment by spotlighting other incredible Latina and Latine authors who’ve filled the world with stories of power, identity, and magic. These authors are proof that brujas come in many…
-
by
The Rhythm of Prayer: A Throwback to the Magic I Didn’t Know I Was Witnessing
Read more: The Rhythm of Prayer: A Throwback to the Magic I Didn’t Know I Was WitnessingWhen I think back to my childhood, some of my clearest memories aren’t of toys or school — they’re of prayers. The sound of women’s voices moving through rosaries in a rhythm so fast it felt almost impossible to keep up. Their lips moving like a current — one long, synchronized murmur of faith. Even…
-
by
Lessons in Letting Go: Perfectionism Isn’t Protection
Read more: Lessons in Letting Go: Perfectionism Isn’t ProtectionPerfectionism loves to lie to us—it says, “If it’s flawless, you’ll finally be safe from criticism.” But the truth is, perfectionism doesn’t protect you—it prevents you. In this episode of Have a Cup of Johanny, I share what letting go of perfectionism has taught me as a writer, soldier, and creative woman. From the late-night…
-
by
When You Don’t Finish What You Started (and Still Choose to Keep Showing Up)
Read more: When You Don’t Finish What You Started (and Still Choose to Keep Showing Up)I’ll be honest: I didn’t finish the 75-Day Joa Soft Challenge. I started strong, documenting my progress, checking off my daily goals, and feeling like I was finally doing something that expanded me — something just for me. But somewhere along the way, between the full-time job, family responsibilities, and preparing for The Ordinary Bruja’s…
Check Out My Substack
Categories
- #TheForgottenBruja
- #TheOrdinaryBruja
- Blogs I Love
- Celebration Station
- Challenge Accepted: Joa's Blogging Journey
- Current Events
- Documentary
- Dominican Identity
- Elections 2024
- Five-Star Finds
- Friday Feature
- Funny but True
- Journey with Joa: Behind the Scenes
- Learned Wisdom
- Literary Escapes
- Love Lessons Learned: The Dating Archives
- Mindful Musings: Quotes & Mantras
- Movies
- Mrs. Franchy's Evil Ring
- Paws & Reflect: Life with Fur Babies
- Podcast
- Reading Chronicles
- Romantic Rendezvous: Tales from the Heart
- Sappy Shit
- Short Story
- Shows & Series
- Stepmami Diaries
- Take It From Me
- The Alvarez Girls
- The Devil that Haunts Me
- The Kids Are Gone
- The Writing Craft
- Throwback Thursday
- Thursday Trouble
- Uncategorized
- Under The Flamboyant Tree
- Voices & Visions
- Voices for Change: Social Commentary
- Writing Updates
Recent post
Tags
author life Book Review character development creative process cultural identity Dominican Culture Dominican identity emotional healing empowerment family dynamics FridayFeature Generational Trauma Have a Cup of Johanny HaveACupOfJohanny intuitive living Latina spirituality Life lessons magical realism marisol espinal Mental Health mindfulness motivation Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring Own Voices personal development Personal Growth PersonalGrowth Psychological Horror Relationships Resilience SaturdayReads self-discovery Self Care Self Improvement Self Reflection Social Justice soft bruja challenge spiritual self care The Devil That Haunts Me The Ordinary Bruja ThrowbackThursday Under The Flamboyant Tree Writing Journey writing process Writing Tips
Join the community
Learn about new books and stuff.
Johanny Ortega | Have A Cup Of Johanny LLC
Powered by WordPress with WooCommerce