NEW RELEASE
Escala’s Wish is an action-adventure romantasy with banter, light humor, high stakes, and intrigue. No werewolves, badboy boyfriends, or enemies-to-lover storylines- this is unique.
The story is in the world of VallaTM and follows Escala Winter, a mischievous pixie from the Court of Dreams who wishes to understand love. Her impulsive act awakens an ancient grudge and sets in motion a chain of events that threatens both mortal and fey realms.
Banished from her enchanted home, Escala must navigate a dangerous world filled with betrayal, vengeance, and unexpected affection.
As she struggles to undo the damage she has caused, she becomes entangled in a conflict that forces her to confront the meaning of love, loss, and sacrifice.
Escala’s Wish is a sweeping coming-of-age tale about magic, passion, and the perilous consequences of curiosity.
It is the first book in the Tales from Valla series.
Escala’s Wish – Book Trailer
David James
David James (DJ) is an attorney and lives in Northborough, Massachusetts, with his wife, Tonya, who has somehow endured thirty years of his endless parade of ridiculous character voices echoing through the house. Together they’ve raised three wonderful children, now off conquering the world through college, law school, and Boston courtrooms.
When he’s not writing fantasy novels, designing campaigns, or crafting multi-page backstories, DJ records and publishes Christian hip-hop under the stage name “DJ the Not So Ordinary.” His music is available on all major streaming platforms.
DJ is the creator of his homebrew fantasy world Valla™ (www.vallaworld.com).
He is already hard at work on his second novel set in Valla, because, apparently, sleep is optional when your imagination won’t shut up

Blog
Escala’s Wish receives Kirkus’ “GET IT” Award
I’m incredibly proud to share that Escala’s Wish has been awarded the Kirkus “GET IT” Award. If you’re not familiar with…
Escala’s Wish Receives “RECOMMENDED” Award from Bookview Review
Bookview Review has issued a “RECOMMENDED” Gold badge award for my novel Escala’s Wish. I was very excited to receive the…
Escala’s Wish Earns a Strong Kirkus Review
Kirkus is known for being one of the toughest. They don’t hand out praise lightly and are willing to publish…
BookLife Reviews Esacla’s Wish
Escala’s Wish was reviewed my Booklife on January 2, 2026. I am absolutely thrilled with this review—it exceeded my…
Meet the Author behind “Paper World” – An interview with
I’m part of a number of Facebook writing groups, but my favorite by far is Fellowship of Human Authors. It’s…
Magic, Resilience, and Fairy Tales: An Interview with Heather Russell-Kay
I’ve always loved fairy tales—the original kind. The ones that don’t talk down to you. The ones that understand fear,…

