Crimson Jack Acorn III
Legendary treasure hunter, charming liar, and Trash Panda’s official mascot. Quite possibly the raccoon responsible for ending the world.
Our Raccoons
We only sign the best raccoons.
Meet the storyteller behind Trash Panda Publishing and the Tales of Valla, and the two raccoons who won’t stop interrupting him.
David James (DJ)
Creator of Valla™. Founder of Trash Panda Publishing. Owner of far too many character voices.
DJ has spent more than ten years building the world of Valla™ as its Dungeon Master, crafting campaigns, multi-page backstories, and an endless parade of ridiculous characters around the game table.
His debut novel, Escala’s Wish, won the Kirkus “Get It” Award, the Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold, and the PenCraft Best Fantasy Book Award for Winter 2026. He’s now deep into the sequel, Mad as a Hornet, coming spring 2027, because sleep is optional when your imagination won’t shut up.
DJ lives in Northborough, Massachusetts, with his wife, Tonya, who has somehow endured thirty years of those voices echoing through the house. Together they raised three wonderful children, now off conquering the world through college, law school, and Boston courtrooms.
When he isn’t writing, DJ works as a Chief Legal and Risk Officer, hosts the Trash Panda Publishing Podcast, and records Christian hip-hop as DJ the Not So Ordinary, available on all major streaming platforms.
The resident raccoons
DJ doesn’t work alone.
These two co-host The Crimson and Ava Show on the podcast and star in Mad as a Hornet. They have opinions about everything.
Ava Honeysuckle
The headstrong raccoon who drags Crimson into an impossible quest, and the only one who can keep him on task.
Books by David James
The Tales of Valla
Book 1 · Award-winning
Escala’s Wish
One forbidden kiss. Two worlds in danger. A faerie princess banished to the mortal realm.
Book 2 · Coming spring 2027
Mad as a Hornet
A legendary treasure hunter, a sarcastic talking sword, and a threat that could unleash the armies of the Underworld.