My name is Aidé Montilla.
A writer, poet, storyteller, creative guide, and literary alchemist.
I wrote my first short story at sixteen.
I remember it clearly: trembling hands, a racing heart, and a small voice inside whispering, “maybe this isn’t for you.” That voice followed me for years, echoing doubts that I wasn’t good enough, that no one would read what I wrote. So I tucked my words away—quiet, unread, and hidden. But something in me refused to stay silent.
Since 2014, writing has become my refuge, my mirror, my place of return. I’ve written steadily, searching for my voice and learning to share it with the world.
In 2021, I published my first poetry collection Un invierno sin ti, a love song to heartbreak.
In 2023, I released Madres Solteras, an intimate exploration of the stigma of single motherhood. I’ve also created a planner, a journal, and multiple creative and soul-led writing tools.
But my path is not just about what I write—it's also about holding space for others to write, heal, discover, and if they wish, publish.
In 2021, I founded Bonooq Press, an independent and human-centered publishing house created to guide first-time writers who don’t know where to begin. Bonooq Press is more than self-publishing—it’s self-trust. It’s believing your story deserves to exist, in print and in the world.
I’ve had the honor of mentoring writers through the full journey: from idea to manuscript, editing, design, and launch. Books I’ve supported include:
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29 Poemas o Confesiones by Laura Burgos
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El amor y la cocina by Sonia Castellanos de Carrasco
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Las añoranzas de Cucurú by Roberto Domínguez
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Aprendiendo de la vida by Juan Meléndez
I’ve also worked on the co-editing, revision, and digital publication of novels like El olor de la sangre – 1968, the year of freedom, Cayo Confites, children’s books like Pescando nuestros sueños, and others with Cotoy Fondo Editorial, where I am a co-editor.
I’m a specialist in text editing—the kind of eye that sees what’s missing or what no longer belongs. I design with intention: covers, journals, guides, and structures that help people birth the books they once only dreamed of.
Mujeres Oruga – Returning to yourself
In 2023, I founded Mujeres Oruga, an intimate space for women seeking emotional rest, conscious writing, and deep reconnection. The project was born out of our collective need to feel, pause, and listen after the isolation of the pandemic—and today it lives through retreats, workshops, digital guides, and in-person gatherings.
Mujeres Oruga is not therapy. It’s a soft landing. A place where women can come as they are—with their doubts, heartbreak, stories, and dreams. It’s a reminder: you are not alone.
🎓 Background and Experience
Since 2021, I’ve worked as a Spanish-language editor and workshop facilitator with the Dominican Writers Association (Dominican Writers Inc.). I’ve also led workshops and literary events for INDEX, the Dominican Civic Cultural Center, and the Dominican Ministry of Culture Abroad.
I bring over ten years of experience as a content creator, graphic designer, photographer, and speaker. I’m trained as a Breath Coach, certified mental health first aid and resilience, studying Bibliotherapy, and currently pursuing a Copy Editing Certification at City College of New York, where I’m also completing a B.A. in Romance Languages with a concentration in Secondary Education.
💛 And above all...
I’m a woman rediscovering herself every day.
A mother of three, a coffee lover, and a slow and steady walker. I’m learning to respect my timing, to write truthfully, and to live with intention.
Everything I do—through Bonooq Press, Mujeres Oruga, my workshops, or my books—is born from the heart, with one mission: to create spaces where stories can be born and people can come home to themselves.
“Better to know I tried than to live with the regret of never having dared.”
