Maite R. Ochotorena

A brave story

I was born in San Sebastián (1970), and after wandering around for a long time without finding my path, I worked as a graphic designer for Zeus C.B.—character design, 2D and 3D animation, and storyboarding—and collaborated on projects like Risky Woods and Biomechanical Toy (Gaelco, Barcelona).

However, my true passion has always been and always will be literature. It took me a long time to take that step, until I realized I'd spent my life going against the grain. You know, the fear every writer has of being judged, of being exposed, of revealing that special, intimate part of themselves.

My first novel was The Secret of Belle Nuit (2007). With it, I realized I would never stop writing. It marked a turning point in my life. Its conclusion was followed by The Shadow of Fourneau (2009), and I began to make myself known in a peculiar and courageous way: I spoke about my work wherever my passion and enthusiasm took me, in towns and cities of my native Basque Country, and even in La Rioja, Burgos, and Madrid. You might say I'm crazy, and it's true that many people thought so and told me so, because I visited all kinds of shops on the street, from clothing stores to architecture studios and hair salons. I simply introduced myself and shared my passion for books with anyone who would listen. This is how I made my work known.

Nine books emerged before the publisher Planeta became interested in The Messenger of the Forest (2021). From then on, I published A Desert of Ice and Where Fear Dwells (2023) with the same publisher. On

March 23, 2026, I released my latest novel, "Our Love" (self-published on Amazon), an immersive story about superstitions and the fear of the unknown. Its pages bear my most authentic stamp: nature, emotions, and a melodic writing style that will sway you in a dark dance that will captivate you.