Bondwitch by Chelsey Ortega

              Prom night is supposed to be magical, it wasn’t the kind of magic Annamaria was ready for.

About Bondwitch:

Eighteen-year-old Annamaria Lyons has never left her small hometown of Harrison, Wyoming. She has lived with her aunt, Trinity, since her parents died when she was two years old. Trinity has been a wonderful guardian with one exception—she won’t allow Annamaria out of the house after sunset. That is, until the night of senior prom. Annamaria’s long-lost sister arrives, bringing with her a world full of hidden family secrets and the supernatural.

Forced to flee her childhood home without a proper goodbye to her human life and first love, Annamaria immerses herself in the magical world. New friends and a new suitor challenge her original dreams for the future, and when she finds herself caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict, Annamaria must decide to rise above it or give in to the darkness.

Wild Women Authors features Chelsey Ortega and Bondwitch, a YA paranormal romance, released by the Wild Rose Press. First up is high school student, Annamaria Lyons.

Good morning, Anna, let’s start with where you are from. The answer to this question already highlights the craziness that is my life. I was born in Outer Salem (part of what humans know as Salem, Massachusetts). I moved to Harrison, Wyoming with my aunt when I was two years old after my parents died. I grew up in Wyoming, and my story begins there.

Tell us a bit about Bondwitch. The story relates how I came to learn about my witch background, got my powers unlocked (finally!), and learned how to use them; all while trying to protect myself from my family’s enemies – particularly my sister’s crazy vampire boyfriend. I love having magic powers, and getting private lessons from my aunt and sister was so fun, but it did cause a lot of drama with my human friends and boyfriend. I learned about other magical creatures, and met several vampires and werewolves. Despite the positives to magic, I’m still unsure if the way it uprooted my life was worth it.  

What did you think the first time you saw Anthony? His eyes were charming. He was the first vampire I met that I wasn’t afraid of.

What was your second thought? That he was polite in an old-fashioned way. He carried my empty breakfast dishes to the sink for me, and when he gave me a tour of his house, he put my hand in the crook of his arm.

Was it love at first sight? It was for him, but not for me. Anthony admitted that he knew I was special right away. I was attracted to him, but his world was still so new to me, and my breakup with my high school boyfriend was so fresh, I wasn’t ready to just jump into a relationship with him. But over time he won my heart, and I fell hard.

What do you like most about him? How respectful and caring he his. My safety is super important to him. He respects my boundaries. All of our romantic progress has been at my pace. He was there when I was losing my old life and felt abandoned by my aunt and sister. He’s my rock.

How would you describe him? Physically, he is so handsome. He’s tall-ish, taller than me, anyway. He has black skater hair (think early 2000s) and dark brown eyes that are super warm and safe. He has pale skin since he’s a 300-year-old vampire, and has very defined muscles; but he’s not too bulky. He’s perfect. Personality wise, he’s kind, loving, protective, and overall selfless. He is always careful to make sure that I’m comfortable and happy.

How would Anthony describe you? He’d probably say that I have beautiful green eyes and long straight red hair that he likes to touch. He’d probably point out my dancer’s body since he painted it all over my bedroom. For my personality he’d point out that I’m stubborn and quick to anger; and for some lucky reason, he’s okay with that about me. He would also share that I learn quickly as he has spied on my private magic lessons!

What made you choose dancing for a career? Lack of other options, honestly. I was stuck in Will’s house (my sister’s crazy boyfriend), and wasn’t allowed out. Posting dancing videos online was my only way to keep my foot in the human world and kind of connect with others. It’s not a permanent career, and as soon as I’m free, I have a ton of magical careers to explore.

What is your biggest fear? That I will never see my aunt Trinity again.

With all that went on with you, and continues to go on, how do you relax? Dancing. The music and choreography settles my soul when nothing else can.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Chenille from Save the Last Dance. Her advice to her older brother Derek about not being able to help who you love inspired me to move on from my ex-boyfriend [back in Wyoming] and fully commit to Anthony.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “Don’t let pride get in the way.” My aunt’s ex-boyfriend told me that about my own relationship. It was the downfall of theirs.

Thank you for spending time with us, Anna. Now we’d like to speak with Chelsey.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Harry Potter, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, Witches of East End, and Beautiful Creatures have all inspired my world building, characters, and plots. Rachel Hollis’ self-help books (particularly Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing) inspired me to actually try to publish the stories I write.  

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? My husband lost his job during the Covid lay-offs in 2020. I wrote this story late at night after the rest of the family went to bed as a way to take an emotional break from the hardship our life was taking during that time. Because of that, the first draft was raw, and I wrote it for myself. Since I wasn’t thinking about a potential audience, I wasn’t restricted by fears and second-guessing myself if a scene or character arc would be well-received. I just wrote from the heart. I didn’t put any private events in on purpose, but one of my beta readers who went to high school with me identified certain classmates in some of my characters, and I realized that I may have subconsciously used some scenes to get closure from past issues. This made the story more relatable, I think. I’ve been told that my characters act like real teenagers, which is a compliment to me!  

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? When I had made the decision to query to small presses who didn’t require an agent (I really like the idea of representing myself), I noticed several books I had currently read and loved were all published by the same publisher: The Wild Rose Press. I looked them up, and they were a small press who accepted queries directly from authors! Since books I loved were published by them, and those books also matched the aesthetic of my own writing, I decided to query them. They were my first-choice publisher, and I’m so grateful they gave me a chance.  

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Since I’m answering these questions right after Christmas, my physical TBR is quite high: American Prisoner of War Camps in Idaho and Utah; Boleyn Traitor; The League of Lady Poisoners; Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come; Sister Wife; All the Light We Cannot See; The Radium Girls; Crave; The Duchess War; The Duke Who Didn’t

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I have a short story titled To Sign Or Not To Sign that is coming out in the Creepy Spooky Love anthology on February 10, 2026. It is about a teenage witch who is getting ready to sign her name in the devil’s book, when her seemingly human crush knows more than he should and is trying to talk her out of it. ARC copies will be available in January (subscribe to my blog for more info).

The sequel to Bondwitch, Bondwitch: Hybrid is currently under contract, and about to enter the final galley phase of editing in the new year. A publishing date announcement is on the horizon, which subscribers to my blog will be the first to know!

Chelsey brought an excerpt for us:

“Annamaria… Prom Queen… Congratulations.”

“Uh…thanks.” Anna grunted as she tried to shove away from him.

“My Senior Prom was pretty amazing too.” His eyes darkened. “But my senior year didn’t end so well. Hopefully, yours is better.”

Anna stopped trying to push him away and looked up at him. He was older, which must be why Anna didn’t recognize him. Their eyes met, and Anna froze as his pupils expanded until they almost covered his brown irises. The surrounding volume lowered, and the music became fuzzy. Anna swayed, and her fear disappeared. Her surroundings were a blur save this handsome man. This man who held her desire in his hand. He was the only thing that mattered. Obeying him was the only thing she wanted.   

“Let’s leave,” he whispered. Goosebumps erupted along Anna’s cheek and neck. “Come with me.” They stopped dancing, and he gripped Anna’s hand and led her toward the exit.

 

To learn more about Chelsey Ortega and the stories she creates, go to:

Website and blog: https://chelseymortega.com/

Purchase options: https://chelseymortega.com/bondwitch-series/?frame-nonce=5e6d4fa89e

Facebook: Chelsey M. Ortega -Author  (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086032045677)

Instagram: @chelsey_mae_o

TikTok: @chelseym.ortega (https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseym.ortega)