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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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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Finding Your Anchor Through Life Chaotic Phases
Read more: Finding Your Anchor Through Life Chaotic PhasesWhen life throws us into chaos through major transitions, how do we find our way back to ourselves? That’s the question at the heart of this deeply personal episode where I open up about my recent experiences navigating multiple upheavals – moving from Kentucky to San Antonio and then immediately jumping into a temporary duty…
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Gossip, Grit, and Truth Bombs: My Take on The Secrets & Lies of Military Wives by Jenna Lumb
Read more: Gossip, Grit, and Truth Bombs: My Take on The Secrets & Lies of Military Wives by Jenna LumbWhen I first picked up The Secrets & Lies of Military Wives by Jenna Lumb, I was expecting a tight anthology of short stories—beginning, middle, and end. You know, classic literary structure. But that’s not what I got. And initially, I was thrown off. The stories felt short. Not incomplete exactly, but more like snippets…
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Want to Be a Beta Reader for The Ordinary Bruja?
Read more: Want to Be a Beta Reader for The Ordinary Bruja?Something in the dark knows her name… and I hope you do too. Hey familia-VacitosI’m so excited (and honestly, a little nervous) to share this with you. After months of edits, rewrites, and emotionally walking through the fog of grief, doubt, and ancestral magic… my next book, The Ordinary Bruja, is almost ready. But before…
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Move First, Write Later: My Top 5 Ways to Wake Up Creativity
Read more: Move First, Write Later: My Top 5 Ways to Wake Up CreativityIn my last post, I talked about how I don’t wait for inspiration anymore. I go looking for it—or better yet, I move until it finds me. Here’s the thing about my brain: it loves motion. Something about my body being active while my mind wanders is the sweet spot. When I’m physically moving, I…
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Season 5 Episode 7: Finding My Way Back
Read more: Season 5 Episode 7: Finding My Way BackI should’ve known it the moment I yelled, “Babe! I’m finally recording an episode for my podcast!”—because when you have to declare something like that, chances are, it’s been way too long. This month, I’m talking about returning to self. And I can’t lie—this journey didn’t come wrapped in affirmations or self-care candles. It came…
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How Mamá’s Jarabe Is Keeping My Family Warm (and Healed)
Read more: How Mamá’s Jarabe Is Keeping My Family Warm (and Healed)There’s something about a stuffy nose and a scratchy throat that takes me right back to Mamá’s kitchen. Not the one we had here in the States—but the one back in the Dominican Republic. The one that smelled like coffee in the morning and garlic and onions at night. The one where, if you were…
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