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The writer, known for his acclaimed comfort fantasy stories, recently published his latest installment in the series. Titled Brigands and Breadknives, this story focuses on the character Fern as she starts a typical quest after abandoning her successful business.

A Shift from Comfort

Unlike the earlier novels in the collection, which centered on building a life, Brigands & Breadknives explores the idea of saying no to friends and family. Travis Baldree explained that this book is focused on grasping to make tough choices whom you cherish.

"This story is about learning to say no that you value, and mastering to refuse," Baldree said. "I'm creating a new project. Could fans end up upset? Should I care? Must I follow what's most important to me, though it might upset fans?"

Life Challenges Shaping the Plot

The writer noted that his individual challenges have consistently informed his writing. Previously, he was involved in video game design, developing titles like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. His decision to abandon that career to create audiobooks led to the protagonist Viv's career change in Legends & Lattes.

"I realized during the first book that when you write a narrative, you unavoidably infuse a lot of yourself in the story," he said. "And when the audience react to that, there's a wonderful experience of understanding."

Increased Interest of Cozy Fantasy

According to Travis Baldree, the popularity of comfort fantasy has surged in lately, in part due to a wish for escapism and human connection following the global pandemic.

"Society appears a slightly on fire, and I think through the stories we enjoy, many people want a story that actually just feels OK," the author noted. "I remember COVID, the series Game of Thrones came out, and I felt, 'I'm a fan of Game of Thrones, but I do not want in viewing my preferred characters beheaded.'"

Delving Into Different Paths

Whereas Viv found her joyful resolution in Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree thought he would not take that away from her by having her away from the cafe. Focusing on Fern gave him the chance to delve into someone embarking on the opposite path—walking away from a safe life to begin an quest.

"I believe that every answer for challenges are to settle down and run a shop," the author said. "People are distinct, and additionally, we're each unique at different points in our journey. What worked for me a decade ago is not effective for me now."

Expanding the World

Differing from the previous stories, which were taking place in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives includes a road trip that allowed Travis Baldree to flesh out his fantasy world eschewing info-dumps. The quest with Astryx and her sentient blade the sword Nigel includes killer chickens, terrible monsters, ethical soldiers, and a surprisingly chill temple devoted to worshiping a eldritch entity.

Next Endeavors

For his future work, Travis Baldree is stepping even further afield with a game-lit story working-titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read numerous LitRPG books, and now I have formed views about my preferences in such a book," he commented. "I prefer better development. I prefer a conclusion. A lot of these books aim to maintain the status quo, and I reject that."

Revisiting the Setting

For fans of the setting of Legends & Lattes, Baldree has authored a set of short stories featuring stories about the ratkin baker the ratkin and Viv's love interest the succubus, which will be released in an upcoming collection. Additionally, he anticipates he'll return to the setting to grapple with his journey creating his latest novel, which is considerably longer and more narrative-focused than his prior novels.

"I plan to write a story about creating something challenging that was incredibly tough for you to achieve," Baldree notes.