There are moments in this indie author journey that remind me why I keep doing what I do. Why I spend countless hours writing, rewriting, editing, questioning my sanity, and then doing it all over again. And sometimes, those moments arrive in the form of a simple email.

Well, I received one of those emails, and let me tell you, it made my day!

The Ordinary Bruja is officially on its way to the Irving Schwartz Library in El Paso, Texas!

Yes! My little Dominican gothic horror novel is making its way onto a public library shelf, and I couldn’t be happier.

It Started With a Simple Request

A few weeks ago, I started looking into how independent authors could get their books into public libraries. As an indie author, one of the biggest challenges isn’t necessarily writing the book. It’s getting that book into the hands of readers.

Traditional publishers have established distribution networks, marketing departments, and relationships with bookstores and libraries. Indie authors? Well, we wear all those hats ourselves, and sometimes it feels like we’re trying to open doors that weren’t necessarily built with us in mind.

But here’s something I’ve learned throughout this publishing journey: Sometimes, you have to knock on the door yourself.

So that’s what I did.

I reached out to the El Paso Public Library system the branch close to my house and recommended The Ordinary Bruja for consideration. I wasn’t sure what would happen. Would they respond? Would they even consider purchasing a book from an independent author?

Well, on November 6, I received an email from Desiree Campos, a Public Services Librarian with the El Paso Public Library, letting me know that they had purchased my book and that it was on its way to the Irving Schwartz Library.

And just like that, another little milestone in this indie publishing journey!

Why This Means So Much to Me

Now, some people might look at this and think, Well, it’s just one book.

But to me, it’s so much more than that.

First, El Paso holds a special place in my heart. It’s a community I’ve called home, and knowing that something I created will be available to readers there makes this accomplishment even sweeter.

Second, libraries have always represented something important to me: access and sanctuary.

Not everyone can afford to purchase books. Not everyone has a bookstore nearby, and not everyone has the luxury of building a personal library. But public libraries give readers the opportunity to discover stories, explore different perspectives, and find themselves in books they might never have encountered otherwise.

And when we’re talking about diverse literature, that access matters even more.

The Ordinary Bruja is a Dominican gothic horror novel rooted in family, identity, generational trauma, and the complicated relationship we sometimes have with our cultural inheritance. It’s a story that draws from experiences and traditions that haven’t always been given space in mainstream publishing.

So the idea that someone might walk into a library, stumble across my book, and discover a story that reflects something familiar to them? Or perhaps discover a culture and perspective different from their own?

That matters to me. A LOT.

A Reminder That Indie Authors Have to Advocate for Their Work

One of the things I’ve been learning throughout this publishing journey is that writing the book is only part of the work.

There’s also the marketing, the networking, the book fairs, the vendor markets, the social media content, the newsletters, and all the behind-the-scenes administrative work that comes with running an independent publishing business.

And sometimes, after putting so much effort into all these things, it’s easy to wonder whether any of it is making a difference.

But then an email like this arrives.

It reminds me that progress doesn’t always come in the form of hundreds of sales or a viral social media post. Sometimes, progress looks like one library purchasing one book.

And that one book has the potential to reach multiple readers for years to come.

That’s a pretty good return on one email, don’t you think?

I’m also incredibly grateful to Desiree Campos for taking the time to respond to my recommendation and for sharing the wonderful news. Librarians play such an important role in connecting readers with stories, and I appreciate the work they do to make literature accessible to their communities.

Let’s Get More Diverse Indie Books Into Libraries!

Now, here’s where I want to encourage both readers and fellow independent authors.

If you’re an indie author, don’t automatically assume that libraries won’t consider your work. Research their collection development policies, find out how they accept purchase recommendations, and make sure your books are available through the distribution channels libraries use.

And if you’re a reader, you have more influence than you might realize.

Many public libraries allow patrons to recommend books for purchase. That means you can help introduce your community to books by independent authors, marginalized voices, and stories that deserve a place on library shelves.

If you’ve been wanting to read The Ordinary Bruja but haven’t had the opportunity to purchase it, consider submitting a purchase recommendation to your local public library.

And for my El Paso readers, keep an eye out for The Ordinary Bruja at the Irving Schwartz Library once it has been received and processed!

Every Little Victory Counts

I often talk about how this indie publishing journey is an experiment. I’m learning as I go, figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and what opportunities are worth pursuing.

Some experiments cost me money. Some cost me time. Some leave me wondering what in the world I was thinking.

But others? Others remind me that taking a chance can open a door.

This was one of those moments.

I’m proud of The Ordinary Bruja. I’m proud of the Dominican stories I’m putting into the world. And I’m proud that, little by little, those stories are finding their way to new readers.

One reader, one bookstore, one library at a time.

And if there’s one thing I hope other indie authors take away from this little victory, it’s this:

Don’t wait for someone to give your book permission to belong on a shelf. Advocate for it.

You never know who might say yes.

Until next time, happy reading!

Want to help bring The Ordinary Bruja to more libraries?

Request The Ordinary Bruja by Johanny Ortega through your local library’s book purchase recommendation program. And if you’ve already read it, consider recommending it to a fellow reader who enjoys gothic horror, haunted houses, family secrets, and culturally rooted supernatural fiction.

Every recommendation helps another story find its readers.