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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When the Writing Gets Spooky, and the Spooky Gets Real
Read more: When the Writing Gets Spooky, and the Spooky Gets RealWriters love signs. Some of us light candles, set intentions, shuffle tarot cards, or just wait for that perfect little wink from the universe that tells us we’re on the right track. But when you’re writing spooky shit, sometimes the confirmation is downright terrifying. Let me tell you what just happened. I was editing a…
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My First Book Sprout Review for The Alvarez Girls—And It Was Worth the Rewrites!
Read more: My First Book Sprout Review for The Alvarez Girls—And It Was Worth the Rewrites!I just got my first-ever review for The Alvarez Girls on Book Sprout, and let me tell you, I am living for this comment: Mind-blowing. This did not end at all how I thought it would. I’m still kind of stumped at the whole story. LOL. LOL. YES. That’s exactly what I wanted! When I…
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The Ordinary Bruja Is Coming—Get Your First Look! 🔮✨
Read more: The Ordinary Bruja Is Coming—Get Your First Look! 🔮✨Love stories that blend magic, mystery, and self-discovery? Then you don’t want to miss this. I stayed up late working on something special for you—a sneak peek into The Ordinary Bruja! If you love the haunting, atmospheric vibes of Isabel Cañas and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and crave stories where magic feels like it belongs in the…
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Embracing My Full Inheritance: A Hard Lesson Learned in Europe
Read more: Embracing My Full Inheritance: A Hard Lesson Learned in EuropeI always knew we Dominicans tend to be dense when it comes to seeing another point of view—especially when it comes to race and ancestry. I grew up in the we don’t talk about Bruno mentality, where family conversations about ancestry were conveniently glazed over with a simple, “We are Dominicans.” I get the sentiment…
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Do Men Truly Love Women or Just Tolerate Them?
Read more: Do Men Truly Love Women or Just Tolerate Them?I’ve been thinking about this a lot: Do men actually love women, or do they just tolerate us to get what they want? Because when I look at how they move, how they protect, uplift, and sacrifice for each other, it makes me wonder—who do they really love? Being in a male-dominated field has put…
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From Whimsy to Darkness: How The Ordinary Bruja Evolved into a Haunting Exploration of Identity
Read more: From Whimsy to Darkness: How The Ordinary Bruja Evolved into a Haunting Exploration of IdentityStories have a way of taking on a life of their own. When I first wrote The Ordinary Bruja, it was a whimsical, magical realism short story—something light, something filled with wonder. It had a touch of enchantment, a girl discovering something extraordinary about herself, a narrative infused with the warmth of magic woven into…
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