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The author, famous for his popular feel-good fantasy stories, has recently launched his newest novel in the series. Called Brigands & Breadknives, the tale centers on the character Fern when she embarks on a classic adventure story subsequent to leaving her flourishing bookstore.

A Shift from Cozy Themes

Differing from the prior books in the set, which centered on settling down, Brigands and Breadknives examines the theme of letting down loved ones. Travis Baldree stated that this story is concerned with grasping to make tough choices whom you value.

"This book is concerning mastering to let people down who you value, and mastering to say no," he said. "I'm writing a new project. Are people be disappointed? Is it important? Should I do my true passion to me, although it may upset fans?"

Life Challenges Influencing the Story

The writer mentioned that his individual experiences have always influenced his books. Previously, he had a career in video game design, developing titles like the game Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy. His decision to leave game design to produce audiobooks led to the character Viv's new path in Legends and Lattes.

"I discovered with the initial novel that as you write a narrative, you can't help but infuse a lot of yourself into it," Baldree commented. "Subsequently when other people respond to that, there's a wonderful experience of understanding."

Increased Interest of Comfort Fantasy

According to Baldree, the appeal of feel-good stories has surged in the past few years, partly due to a wish for escapism and community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The world seems a little bit on fire, and I think through the stories we enjoy, most of us desire something that actually just feels OK," Baldree explained. "During COVID, the series Game of Thrones premiered, and I was like, 'I enjoy Game of Thrones, but I have no interest in viewing my favorite characters beheaded.'"

Exploring Different Paths

Although Viv obtained her satisfying conclusion in Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree believed he should not rip that away from her by making her away from the coffee shop. Focusing on Fern provided him the opportunity to delve into an individual embarking on the different route—abandoning a comfortable existence to begin an journey.

"I believe that every answer for challenges are to settle down and run a shop," the author said. "Everybody's unique, and more than that, we're individual at different points in our journey. The solution that worked for me a decade ago fails for me today."

Developing the Setting

Differing from the prior novels, which were located in cozy communities, Brigands & Breadknives includes a travel narrative that allowed Baldree to flesh out his fantasy world eschewing exposition. Fern's journey accompanied by Astryx One-Ear and her chatty weapon the sword Nigel features deadly poultry, horrifying beasts, ethical soldiers, and a remarkably peaceful sanctuary devoted to honoring a Cthulhu-like god.

Future Projects

Regarding his future work, Travis Baldree is moving into new territory with a game-lit story working-titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read numerous LitRPG books, and currently I have developed views about what I desire in such a book," he commented. "I prefer better development. I want an end. Many these books try to avoid change, and I don't want that."

Future Stories

Followers of the world of the original book, Travis Baldree has written a series of short stories featuring stories about the Thimble Thimble and Viv's companion Tandri, which will be released in an forthcoming anthology. Additionally, he believes he'll return to the world to address his experience creating his recent story, which is significantly more extensive and more story-oriented than his prior works.

"I plan to write a book about developing a difficult project that was incredibly tough for me to achieve," Baldree notes.