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.
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Blog
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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…
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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.…
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Becoming Marisol: A Character Study in Hesitation, Heritage, and Healing
Read more: Becoming Marisol: A Character Study in Hesitation, Heritage, and HealingIf you’ve read even a chapter of The Ordinary Bruja, you know Marisol Espinal is not your typical “chosen one.” She isn’t eager. She isn’t confident. She doesn’t wake up one day thrilled to be the next link in a magical bloodline. She wakes up confused.Disconnected.Deeply hesitant.And honestly? Same. Marisol is the young woman who…
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Finding Purpose Under a Full Moon: My Nighttime Read of The Full Moon Coffee Shop
Read more: Finding Purpose Under a Full Moon: My Nighttime Read of The Full Moon Coffee ShopLately, my evenings have been graced by the gentle magic of The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki. This novel isn’t just a story—it’s a soothing balm for the soul, inviting readers into a world where the celestial and the mundane intertwine. A Synopsis of Celestial Comfort Translated from the Japanese bestseller, The Full…
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So, Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?
Read more: So, Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th didn’t come from one place—it’s a mashup of old fears, patriarchal erasure, and cultural myth-making. Here’s a little historical tea: My Take as a Storyteller As a Dominican writer steeped in magical realism and ancestral memory, I see Friday the 13th not as something to fear, but as something…
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Language is The First Step Towards Dehumanization
Read more: Language is The First Step Towards DehumanizationWords have the power to reshape how we see each other. They can strip away humanity or restore it, depending on how we wield them. This raw, urgent episode dives deep into how language becomes the first battleground where human dignity is won or lost. When certain words keep appearing—invasion, flood, illegals, infestation—they aren’t random…
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Welcome to Café Enchantment—Where the Coffee’s Hot and the Spirits Are Watching
Read more: Welcome to Café Enchantment—Where the Coffee’s Hot and the Spirits Are WatchingIt’s funny how the universe works. I’ve been unwinding at night with The Full Moon Coffee Shop, a story steeped in quiet wisdom, tender reflection, and celestial cats. But by day? I’m neck-deep in the eerie reality of Café Enchantment—the haunting heart of my own book, The Ordinary Bruja. Let me be clear: Café Enchantment…
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Why I’m Translating Differently in The Ordinary Bruja
Read more: Why I’m Translating Differently in The Ordinary Bruja@acupofjo_hanny Chapter 10: Growth and a whole lot of feelings Just hit chapter 10 and input my edits for The Ordinary Bruja and… The finish line is in sight. I’ve officially scheduled my line editor to begin in June, which means I have two weeks to wrap this face and pass the baton. She’ll take…
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