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The writer, famous for his popular cozy fantasy books, recently released his latest book in the series. Titled Brigands & Breadknives, the tale follows the character Fern as she starts a typical adventure story subsequent to walking away from her thriving bookshop.

A Shift from Comfort

Unlike the previous stories in the collection, that focused on establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives explores the theme of letting down people you care about. The author stated that this story is concerned with grasping to disappoint people that you care about.

"The novel is regarding mastering to say no who you care about, and mastering to refuse," Baldree explained. "I am working on a new project. Could fans end up disappointed? Does it matter? Should I do my own path to me, even if it could alienate someone?"

Own Experiences Shaping the Plot

Baldree mentioned that his personal struggles have repeatedly informed his writing. Previously, he was involved in the gaming industry, developing titles like the game Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. His decision to abandon that career to narrate audio stories led to the protagonist Viv's new path in the first book.

"I realized during the initial novel that during writing a tale, you inevitably put a lot of yourself into it," the author commented. "Subsequently when readers react to that, there's this really amazing moment of shared experience."

Growing Popularity of Comfort Fantasy

In the words of Travis Baldree, the popularity of comfort fantasy has increased in lately, to some extent due to a desire for escapism and community in the wake of the global pandemic.

"The world feels a slightly on fire, and I believe with the media we consume, most of us desire an experience that is comforting," the author noted. "I recall lockdown, the series Game of Thrones premiered, and I was like, 'I enjoy it, but I do not want in seeing my beloved characters meet grim fates.'"

Exploring Varied Journeys

Although Viv found her satisfying conclusion in Legends & Lattes, the author believed he should not remove that from her by sending her away from the coffee shop. Following Fern offered him the possibility to delve into someone embarking on the opposite path—leaving a safe existence to embark on an journey.

"I believe that the only way for challenges are to open a business and start a cafe," Baldree stated. "People are distinct, and furthermore, we're individual at different points in our journey. The solution that worked for me 10 years ago fails for me currently."

Developing the Setting

In contrast to the prior books, which were set in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives includes a road trip that allowed Travis Baldree to flesh out his fictional universe without relying on lengthy explanations. Fern's journey with the elf warrior and her sentient blade Nigel features deadly poultry, fearsome creatures, ethical soldiers, and a remarkably peaceful monastery focused on revering a Cthulhu-like deity.

Upcoming Works

Regarding his future work, Travis Baldree is venturing into new territory with a literary RPG story tentatively titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read hundreds of LitRPGs, and at this point I have developed opinions about what I want in such a book," Baldree said. "I desire more characterization. I want an end. Many such stories try to maintain the status quo, and I reject that."

Future Stories

Followers of the setting of the original book, Travis Baldree has created a collection of tales featuring tales about the baker character Thimble the baker and Viv's love interest Tandri the character, which will be published in an future compilation. He also anticipates he'll return to the setting to address his journey authoring his recent story, which is considerably lengthier and more plot-driven than his previous books.

"I plan to write a book about creating something challenging that was incredibly tough for me to do," he says.