New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author Claribel A. Ortega went from journalism student, editing her classmates often times hilarious ads and ramblings on the back page of SUNY Purchase’s Independent Newspaper, to a small town reporter, where she enjoyed going to board of ed meetings and texting the town mayors about the line at Starbucks.

Today when she’s not busy turning her obsession with pop culture, magic and video games into books, she's co-hosting the hilarious and chaotic Bad Author Book Club podcast. She is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America and Deadline.

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Witchlings (Scholastic) was an Instant NYT Bestseller, a USA Today Bestseller, and #1 Indie Bestseller. Her graphic novel Frizzy with Rose Bousamra was winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text, The 2023 Eisner Award and an Indie Bestseller.

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Claribel’s debut middle grade novel Ghost Squad is a New York Times Bestseller and is being made into a feature film. 

Her latest book Witchlings Scepter of Memories releases September 16th 2025 from Scholastic.

 

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.