Meet Dominican Author Johanny Ortega | Horror, Thrillers, Brujería & More
I’m Johanny “Joa” Ortega, also writing as J.E. Ortega, a Dominican author and independent publisher who writes atmospheric horror, psychological thrillers, magical realism, and heartfelt middle-grade fiction.
My stories are rooted in Dominican culture because that is my soil. It is the language in my bones and the rhythm behind the way my characters speak, love, argue, grieve, and fight for themselves. Across genres, my books explore complicated family dynamics, identity, belonging, inherited wounds, resilience, and the sometimes-terrifying journey of becoming who you were always meant to be.
Whether I am writing about a woman confronting ancestral power, sisters protecting one another, or a child learning to trust her own voice, my main characters are Dominican and deeply human. They are messy, conflicted, vulnerable, and determined to heal, even when healing requires questioning everything they were taught.
You do not have to be Dominican to find yourself in these stories. You only have to know what it feels like to want to belong, to feel misunderstood, to love people who have also hurt you, or to hope that something beautiful can still grow after hard things.
If you enjoy emotionally layered stories, multicultural families, psychological tension, messy relationships, resilient characters, and a little brujería woven into the family history, you are in the right place.
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The Ordinary Bruja: Book One of Las Cerradoras Series – Johanny Ortega
Marisol Espinal has spent her life trying to disappear from her family’s whispers of magic, from the shame of not belonging, from the truth she refuses to face. She’s always wanted to be someone else: confident, capable, extraordinary.
But when strange visions, flickering shadows, and warnings written in her mother’s hand begin to stalk her, Marisol is forced to confront her deepest fear: what if she isn’t extraordinary at all? What if she’s painfully ordinary?
Yet Hallowthorn Hill doesn’t call to just anyone. And the more Marisol resists, the stronger its pull becomes. The past she’s buried claws its way back, and something in the mist is watching—waiting for her to remember.
If Marisol cannot face the truth about who she is and where she comes from, the same darkness that destroyed her ancestors will claim her, too.
Somewhere in the shadows, something knows her name.
And it’s time for Marisol to learn why.
“The Alvarez Girls —A Military Thriller Novella” by J.E. Ortega
When Yaneriz Alvarez receives a cryptic message about her twin sister Amaya’s sudden disappearance, she knows something is terribly wrong. As she follows a trail of chilling clues from Texas to their childhood memories in the Dominican Republic, Yaneriz uncovers a dangerous web of lies, betrayal, and murder.
Facing corrupt military officials and racing against time, Yaneriz must confront not only the men who took Amaya’s life but also the guilt and grief that have haunted her since childhood. With nothing left to lose, she’s determined to get justice—no matter the cost.
In The Alvarez Girls, family bonds are tested, and the lines between truth and deception blur in a high-stakes thriller about sisterhood, survival, and revenge.
4th Edition “Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring and The Six Months that Changed Everything” by Johanny Ortega
Embark on an emotional adventure with ‘Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring’, a captivating middle-grade novel tailored for young readers aged 9-12. Join Isla on her inspiring journey of self-discovery and understanding. Get your copy today!
“I Love You So Much —A Domestic Thriller Short Story” by J.E. Ortega
In this compelling short story by J.E. Ortega, follow Gabriella as she confronts a harrowing reality. Faced with her husband’s deep mental turmoil, she clings to the power of love amidst crisis. A poignant exploration of the complexities of mental health and the resilience of the human spirit.
Trigger Warning: This narrative includes a vivid depiction of a suicide attempt, requiring reader discretion for those sensitive to such themes.
“Quislaona: A Dominican Fantasy Anthology” by various authors
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Quislaona: A Dominican Fantasy Anthology” is a spellbinding collection that weaves together tales of magic, mythology, and folklore from the Dominican Republic. Authored by talented Dominican writers, this anthology transports readers to enchanting realms filled with wonder and adventure. Perfect for fans of fantasy and Caribbean literature.
The Forgotten Bruja: Book Two of Las Cerradoras Series by Johanny Ortega
Isadora was so dangerous that she was forgotten. That is, until now.
The Forgotten Bruja is a haunting, character-driven novel about the woman erased from her family’s story and the legacy she never asked to carry. Set decades before The Ordinary Bruja, this book follows Isadora Espinal as she chooses exile over obedience, freedom over silence, and truth over inherited fear.
Blending Dominican magical realism, psychological horror, and gothic family drama, this is a story about dangerous women, generational curses, and what happens when a bruja refuses to disappear quietly.
Perfect for readers who love atmospheric prose, feminist horror, and stories where ancestry, identity, and power collide.
While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
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