New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author, Claribel A. Ortega is a former reporter who writes middle-grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she’s co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club. Claribel is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America and Deadline.

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Claribel’s NYT Bestselling debut middle grade novel Ghost Squad is being made into a feature film. Witchlings (Scholastic) was an Instant NYT and #1 Indie Bestseller. Her graphic novel Frizzy with Rose Bousamra was winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text and an Indie Bestseller.  Her latest book Witchlings Scepter of Memories, the fourth installment in the Witchlings Series, releases September 16th 2025.

 

You can find her on Threads, Instagram and Tiktok @Claribel_Ortega, writing personal essays on at claribelaortega.substack.com and on her website at claribelortega.com. Claribel lives in New York.