“I am DJ the Not So Ordinary—that’s probably the best way to describe me.”
– David James
David, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. To begin, could you introduce yourself in your own words—who you are, what you do, and what you currently aim to achieve through your work as a writer?
I am DJ the Not So Ordinary—that’s probably the best way to describe me. I am a Christian, husband, father, attorney, music producer, and writer. But I am so much more than that; I have more hobbies and interests than I could count on ten hands. But through all those roles, I am a storyteller, and it was only a matter of time before I wrote one down.
Escala’s Wish is the first of many stories I plan on writing. My goal is to make my readers feel real emotions. I want them to cry, laugh, and get mad, but most of all, I want to challenge them to think about how they live their lives through reading my stories.
Your book centers on a character-driven fantasy journey. What initially drew you to this story world, and how did it evolve from an early idea into a full-length novel?
The story is set in Valla, which is my campaign setting for the role-playing games I host as a dungeon master for my friends. I have been working on it and running games in it for fifteen years, so it has a long history.
Escala Winter is a Dungeons & Dragons character I created during COVID in 2020. I wanted to play her as a pixie, which was not an official player race. Technically, at the time, pixies were actually in the Monster Manual as monsters! The dungeon masters didn’t just say “no,” they complained. “Can you play a normal race in the Player’s Handbook?” So I did. I picked a female elf, but my backstory was that I was really a pixie who had been polymorphed into an elf for breaking the fey rules.
I then wrote what became Chapters 3 and 17. I have played her—and still play her—every week, and over the last five years, through roleplaying, I created the Court of Dreams politics, her parents, stepsister and stepmother, best friend, and the spurned lover known as Victor. The rest of the plot—how to bring it all together—just hit me one day while I was hiking in the woods.
When developing a complex narrative, how do you balance world-building with character growth so that readers remain connected to the emotional core of the story?
This is the hardest part about fantasy writing. You have to give the reader a foundation, but you cannot smother them with facts and lore either. I have read too many books in which fantasy writing includes what we call a “lore drop,” and it can occur in one of two ways.
The worst way, in my opinion, is when a nameless narrator drones on and on for pages, telling you the history of the world or this kingdom or that. I hate that kind of writing, and I will not write that.
The second approach is to have the characters in the story reveal it through dialogue, which is the route I chose. Because Escala is not from Valla, she can ask what would otherwise be dumb questions about history and other characters in small chunks, revealing the world to her and to you, the reader.
There were two spots where I did use character dialogue for more direct lore drops, but I think—with humor in one spot and seriousness and tension in the other—I was able to hide the boring lore drop and still build the world.
Many readers appreciate stories that explore relationships such as friendship, family, loyalty, and love. How do you approach writing these dynamics in a way that feels authentic within a fantasy setting?
Being fifty-five years old, married for thirty years, and having raised three children has given me a perspective on relationships that I simply didn’t have when I was younger. Relationships are messy. Love is complicated. And love shows up in far more ways than we expect. That’s what I wanted to explore in Escala’s Wish.
If I had tried to write this book in my twenties, it probably would have leaned heavily on action and physical-attraction romance. But as a hopeless romantic—and hopefully a more wise individual—I think writing dialogue that reflects real-life banter, the stuff you see your kids saying to each other, the stuff you said to your football teammates in the locker room or your best friends in 9th grade at the mall trying to meet girls, made my dialogue feel real and made the relationships between the characters feel real.
Writing a long and detailed novel requires sustained focus. Could you share what your creative process looks like—from outlining and drafting to revision—and how you stay committed over time?
I began outlining the book in October 2024. I’m a disciplined, very Type A person, and I treated the writing process like a serious commitment. Four nights a week were dedicated “writing nights,” where I typically worked for three to five hours at a time. On weekends, because my wife and I are empty nesters, I had more flexibility than most and often wrote for ten to twenty hours.
In January 2025, I started drafting the novel from that outline. With the exception of Chapters 3 and 17—which I wrote in 2020—and portions of Chapter 108, the book was written straight in order. I finished the complete draft on August 6, 2025. By August, the manuscript had reached roughly 185,000 words.
In August, I hired a professional editor, Lucy York, a London-based editor who works with a major publishing house and edits independently on the side. We completed three full editorial passes over three months. By the end of that process, the manuscript had been tightened to 143,500 words.
I carried a notebook around and constantly jotted down notes and edits I wanted to make or things to check, like “make sure that in Chapter 80, the color of her horse matches the color I described in Chapter 65.” Things like consistency checks.
On December 13, 2025, the book was published. All told, the novel went through roughly eighty drafts and represents about 1,500 hours of writing and editing over just a little more than a year.
Every major project comes with milestones and learning moments. Looking back, what personal or professional developments did you experience while completing this book?
I’d been talking about writing a novel since I was forty. I bought at least a dozen books on writing a novel and even started three. Talking without writing was starting to eat away at me, and I felt like a failure. But I don’t fail at things, and I don’t give up, and I could not stand the idea that this was something I couldn’t do.
When I look back now, I think what helped me get to the finish line was three wonderful cheerleaders who read early drafts of the book. I won’t say their last names, but Emmi was the first person to read the book, and she will always be able to say that. Her excitement about the story gave me fuel to keep going when I felt like I couldn’t finish or that the book wasn’t good.
The second person to read the book was Natalie. She told me to quit my job and start Book 2 immediately. Her excitement about the book was the second catalyst and milestone that pushed me over the finish line. I can never thank them enough for that confidence boost.
If readers or literary communities have offered recognition, feedback, or awards for your work, how do you reflect on those moments, and what do they mean to you as a writer?
I’ve been fortunate to receive strong reviews from several respected outlets, including BookLife, BookView Review—where the book earned a Gold Recommended Trophy—The Prairie Book Review, and The Chrysalis BREW Project, which awarded it a 4.83 out of 5 rating and nominated it for the BREW Readers’ Choice Award. I’ve also entered several book contests, though the results at the time of this interview are still pending.
The most meaningful recognition for me, however, came just four weeks after publication, when Escala’s Wish received a glowing review and the GET IT award from Kirkus Reviews in January 2026. That acknowledgment—from one of the toughest review outlets in the industry—was deeply emotional. I actually cried on the Zoom call with the Kirkus representative when she told me I had been awarded the GET IT designation. It felt like validation that all the false starts, long nights, and self-doubt had been worth it. More than the award itself, it represented finally finishing the thing I’d spent years telling myself I would someday do.
Fantasy often allows writers to explore universal ideas through imaginative settings. Were there any broader human themes or shared experiences you hoped readers might reflect on through this story?
At its core, the book is about love—but not just romantic love. It explores the love between friends, between parents and children, the bonds of community, and even our connection to the natural world. It also examines the sacrifices love demands and, just as importantly, what love is not.
All of those ideas are woven into a fantasy setting filled with faeries, danger, and adventure, allowing the story to explore very real emotions through an imagined world.
As storytelling continues to evolve, how do creativity and innovation influence the way you think about future projects or expanding your fictional worlds?
I rely heavily on handwritten notes. For Book Two, I’ve filled Moleskine notebooks and, more recently, moved to Rocketbook notebooks so I can capture ideas quickly and keep them organized. I now have hundreds of pages of notes—character backstories, bits of dialogue, clever lines, funny exchanges—anything I don’t want to lose when inspiration hits.
I already have new lead characters for Book Two and multiple outlines for where that story could go. Ideas have never been my limitation. That’s why, if I had to describe myself in one word, it would be storyteller. If you handed me a microphone and told me I had to entertain a room of a hundred people for five hours just by telling stories, I’d have no problem doing it—and I’m confident they’d be laughing, crying, and reluctant to leave by the end.
Your book was recognized as a BREW Reader’s Choice Award winner from The Chrysalis BREW Project. How did receiving this recognition resonate with you, and what significance does it hold at this stage of your writing journey?
I was thrilled when I received the email announcing I had earned the Gold Recommended Trophy and was nominated for the BREW Readers’ Choice Award. I am still in shock that people are responding so well to the book, but I could not be happier. I think the book has a powerful message about love and relationships, and it’s much more than an action-adventure story.
Just being nominated helps me stay focused on writing Book 2 and confirms that I should continue writing stories with deeper life lessons. My second book, Mad as a Hornet, will explore—amid a chaotic action-adventure and a complicated love triangle—whether a person can have only one true love.
I have been emboldened to really go deep on the emotional exploration of that topic by being nominated for the BREW Reader’s Choice Award, because I think people want deep emotional stories mixed in with their action-adventure romantasy, and that is what I write.
If you were to write your bio in your own words, what would you say? Looking ahead, what kind of long-term impact would you like your work to have?
Escala’s Wish has been published for just over a month, yet it has already received meaningful recognition from several respected review outlets, including The Chrysalis BREW Project, BookLife, BookView Review, The Prairie Book Review, and Kirkus Reviews, which also awarded the book its GET IT designation.
My long-term goal is for Escala’s Wish to be available in libraries across the country and around the world. To support that goal, I have entered the book in major industry and library-facing events, including the London Book Fair (2026), Public Library Association Conference (2026), American Library Association Annual Conference (2026), the Frankfurt Book Fair (2026), and the California Library Association Annual Conference (2026).
At its heart, the book explores love, relationships, and sacrifice—themes that are universal and timeless. I believe Escala’s Wish belongs in libraries, where it can be discovered by readers from all walks of life. Making that possible is a central part of my vision for the book.
On a personal level, I also hope to be recognized as a professional writer—one whose work might traditionally have been signed by a major publishing house. With that in mind, I’ve entered Escala’s Wish into several highly regarded award programs, including the PenCraft Book Awards, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and the American Legacy Book Awards. Recognition from any of these would represent an important milestone in that journey.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“It represented finally finishing the thing I’d spent years telling myself I would someday do.”
– David James
Links
- Know more about the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards here
Share Your Insights
What stood out to you most? Share your thoughts below:
- What motivates you to finish a long-term creative goal?
- How do stories shape the way you think about relationships?
- What role does imagination play in your everyday life?
Alignment with the UN SDGs
- SDG 4: Quality Education – storytelling and literacy
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being – emotional reflection
- SDG 11: Sustainable Communities – cultural expression
Other Highlights
Looking for something?
Type in your keyword(s) below and click the “Search” button.
Helpful Shortcuts
More Stories
Print and Digital Magazine
Don’t just read about greatness. Own it!
About Us
The World’s Best Magazine is a print and online publication that highlights the extraordinary. It is your passport to a universe where brilliance knows no bounds. Celebrating outstanding achievements in various fields and industries, we curate and showcase the exceptional, groundbreaking, and culturally significant. Our premier laurels, The World’s Best Awards, commend excellence through a unique process involving subject matter experts and a worldwide audience vote. Explore with us the pinnacle of human achievement and its intersection with diversity, innovation, creativity, and sustainability.
We recognise and honour the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our main office is situated. We extend our deepest respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture, and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders from all communities who also reside and work on this land.
Disclaimer: The World’s Best does not provide any form of professional advice. All views and opinions expressed in each post are the contributor’s own. Whereas we implement editorial policies and aim for content accuracy, the details shared on our platforms are intended for informational purposes only. We recommend evaluating each third-party link or site independently, as we cannot be held responsible for any results from their use. In all cases and with no exceptions, you are expected to conduct your own research and seek professional assistance as necessary prior to making any financial, medical, personal, business, or life-changing decisions arising from any content published on this site. All brands and trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. Your continued use of our site means you agree with all of these and our other site policies, terms, and conditions. For more details, please refer to the links below.
About | Advertise | Awards | Blogs | Contact | Disclaimer | Submissions | Subscribe | Privacy | Publications | Terms | Winners
The World’s Best: A Magazine That’s All About What’s Great | theworldsbestmagazine.com | Copyright ⓒ 2022-2026
Let’s connect
Discover more from The World's Best
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The World's Best 