ESCALA’S WISH (Tales of Valla Book 1)
Winner of the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Awards in Action/Adventure, Fiction
What’s the book’s first line?
“Teryn Lightwhisper, a sprite of the fey realm, perhaps twelve inches tall, hovered at the heart of the Glimmering Grove, just beyond the beautiful and lush gardens of the Court of Dreams.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
What if your first kiss could destroy the world?
Escala Winter has always been different. Half mortal, half fey, the pixie princess longs to understand the mysterious emotion her people fear most: love. But when a forbidden kiss breaks sacred law and shatters the balance of the True Cycle, she is cast from the Court of Dreams and forced into a deadly quest for redemption.
With loyal companions at her side and powerful enemies hunting her every step, Escala must decide whether love is worth the price of everything she has ever known.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I wrote Escala’s Wish because I wanted to tell an epic fantasy adventure built around a simple question: What is love really worth? Escala’s journey begins with a single impulsive choice, but it becomes a story about redemption, sacrifice, friendship, and discovering who we are when everything we thought defined us is taken away.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
You should read Escala’s Wish if you enjoy fantasy adventures with heart.
At its core, this is a story about a curious faerie princess who risks everything to understand love, only to discover that love is far more complicated—and far more powerful—than she imagined. Along the way, you’ll find dangerous quests, magical creatures, dragons, humor, memorable companions, villains with hidden agendas, and a richly imagined world filled with fey courts and ancient mysteries.
But Escala’s Wish is more than an adventure. It’s a story about redemption, belonging, sacrifice, and the consequences of our choices. Escala makes mistakes, faces the fallout, and must decide what kind of person she wants to become when the easy path is no longer available.
If you enjoy authors like Brandon Sanderson, Sarah J. Maas, J.R.R. Tolkien, or classic fantasy adventures with strong character growth and emotional stakes, Escala’s Wish offers a journey that combines epic fantasy, action, romance, and humor into one unforgettable tale.
Most of all, readers should pick up Escala’s Wish because it reminds us that our greatest mistakes do not have to define us—and that sometimes the most important journeys begin with a single wish.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The most distinctive thing about Escala Winter is her curiosity. In a world where the fey value order, tradition, and obedience, Escala is driven by questions. She wants to understand things she has been told to fear, especially love. That curiosity is both her greatest strength and the source of her greatest mistakes.
What makes her interesting to me is that she isn’t a hero because she’s the strongest, smartest, or most powerful character in the story. She’s a hero because she refuses to stop learning and growing, even when the consequences of her choices become overwhelming.
If I had to compare her to another character, I’d say she’s a blend of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit. Like Ariel, she’s fascinated by a world she isn’t supposed to enter. Like Bilbo, she begins as an unlikely adventurer who discovers she is capable of far more courage and resilience than anyone—including herself—ever imagined.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have talked about writing a novel for 10 years and got tired of just talking about it.
Is this the first book that you’ve written?
Yes
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am the chief legal and risk officer for a national financial services firm.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
20 hours a week
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Marketing
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Get a writing coach!
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Maybe. Like many indie authors, I’d be tempted by the broader distribution and visibility that a traditional publisher can provide. Seeing Escala’s Wish on the shelves of every Barnes & Noble and Target would certainly be appealing.
That said, indie publishing has given me complete creative control over my work, from the story itself to the cover design, marketing strategy, and overall vision for the series. Escala’s Wish is more than a book to me—it’s something I’ve poured my heart into. Any publishing partnership would need to demonstrate that they understand and value that vision.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t choose traditional publishing simply because a publisher came calling. I’d choose it if I believed they could help the book reach more readers while being as passionate about its success as I am.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I believe I have emotional, uplifting stories to tell, and I’d like them to gain recognition because of the positive impact they have on readers. I’ve been fortunate in my professional life and am already blessed financially, so money isn’t what drives me as an author.
I hope to see my stories reach a wide audience and resonate with people. If that brings a measure of fame or recognition, I’d want it to be because the books inspired readers, gave them hope, made them laugh, or reminded them that redemption, love, and second chances are worth believing in.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Stephen King. While he’s known for horror, what I admire most is his ability to tell compelling stories and create characters that feel real. He is the reason I decided to write a book.
I’m also a big fan of first-person storytelling, and King excels at creating distinctive narrative voices that make you feel as though you’re sitting across from someone hearing their story firsthand. His mastery of character, pacing, and voice is something I greatly admire as a writer.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
None. I admire many books and many authors, but I don’t wish I had written their stories. Those books belong to them. My job is to tell the stories only I can tell and create characters and worlds that are uniquely my own.