Travis Baldree, known for his popular comfort fantasy stories, just released his latest installment in the series. Named Brigands & Breadknives, the tale centers on Fern the ratkin as she embarks on a typical adventure story after abandoning her successful bookshop.
A Shift from Comfort
In contrast to the previous novels in the collection, that centered on building a life, Brigands & Breadknives examines the idea of saying no to people you care about. Baldree stated that the novel is focused on grasping to disappoint people who you value.
"This story is about learning to disappoint people who you care about, and learning to decline," he explained. "I'm creating something different. Are people be disappointed? Should I care? Must I pursue what's most important for myself, even if it could disappoint others?"
Personal Struggles Influencing the Plot
Travis Baldree noted that his individual challenges have repeatedly influenced his writing. Earlier, he worked in video game design, co-creating projects like Torchlight game and Rebel Galaxy. The choice to leave game design to create audio stories resulted in the character Viv's new path in Legends and Lattes.
"I found during the initial novel that during writing a tale, you can't help but include a personal elements into it," Baldree stated. "Subsequently when readers respond to that, there's an incredible moment of understanding."
Growing Popularity of Feel-Good Fantasy
As per the author, the appeal of feel-good stories has grown in the past few years, in part due to a desire for escape and personal bonds after the global pandemic.
"Our world seems a slightly chaotic, and I feel with the media we consume, a lot of us prefer a story that is comforting," he said. "I remember COVID, Game of Thrones came out, and I felt, 'I'm a fan of the show, but I do not want in seeing my beloved characters meet grim fates.'"
Delving Into Alternative Routes
Although Viv achieved her satisfying conclusion in Legends & Lattes, Baldree believed he would not take that away from her by making her away from the coffee shop. Focusing on Fern gave him the possibility to explore someone taking the opposite path—walking away from a safe existence to go on an quest.
"I don't think that all of your solutions for issues are to settle down and run a shop," Baldree remarked. "People are distinct, and furthermore, we're individual at various stages in our journey. The solution that worked for me previously fails for me now."
Expanding the World
In contrast to the previous stories, which were set in quiet villages, Brigands and Breadknives involves a road trip that enabled Travis Baldree to flesh out his imaginary realm eschewing lengthy explanations. Fern's journey alongside Astryx One-Ear and her sentient blade the sword Nigel features killer chickens, fearsome creatures, ethical soldiers, and a remarkably peaceful monastery devoted to worshiping a eldritch god.
Upcoming Works
For his upcoming book, Travis Baldree is venturing into new territory with a game-lit story working-titled Four Bastards and a Baby.
"I've gone through numerous LitRPGs, and currently I have formed thoughts about what I want in such a book," he explained. "I prefer better development. I prefer a conclusion. Many LitRPGs try to stay on the treadmill, and I don't want that."
Returning to the World
For fans of the universe of Legends & Lattes, Baldree has written a collection of narratives featuring accounts about the baker character the ratkin and Viv's love interest Tandri, which will be released in an forthcoming anthology. Additionally, he anticipates he'll come back to the setting to address his journey authoring his latest novel, which is considerably lengthier and more narrative-focused than his prior books.
"I plan to write a book about developing a difficult project that was incredibly tough for me to do," the author explains.