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The author, known for his bestselling cozy fantasy stories, just published his newest installment in the set. Named Brigands & Breadknives, this story follows Fern as she starts a classic adventure story after abandoning her flourishing bookstore.

A Shift from Cozy Themes

Unlike the previous books in the collection, that focused on settling down, Brigands & Breadknives delves into the idea of disappointing friends and family. Travis Baldree stated that the novel is concerned with grasping to say no that you value.

"The novel is about mastering to disappoint people that you value, and mastering to say no," Baldree said. "I'm creating something different. Are people be upset? Should I care? Should I follow what's most important for myself, although it might alienate someone?"

Life Challenges Shaping the Story

The writer mentioned that his personal challenges have repeatedly shaped his books. Previously, he worked in game development, developing games like Torchlight and the space combat game Rebel Galaxy. The choice to leave that career to narrate audio stories resulted in the character Viv's new path in Legends & Lattes.

"I discovered during the first book that as you write a tale, you can't help but infuse a much of your own experience within," the author commented. "And when the audience react to that, there's a wonderful feeling of shared experience."

Growing Popularity of Cozy Fantasy

In the words of Travis Baldree, the popularity of comfort fantasy has surged in the past few years, in part due to a longing for escapism and personal bonds in the wake of the recent health crisis.

"Our world feels a somewhat chaotic, and I believe with the media we consume, most of us desire an experience that simply feels good," he said. "During the pandemic, the series Game of Thrones premiered, and I was like, 'I love the show, but I am not interested in watching my favorite characters beheaded.'"

Examining Different Paths

Although Viv found her joyful resolution in Legends and Lattes, the author thought he should not rip that away from her by making her off from the business. Focusing on Fern offered him the opportunity to explore someone taking the opposite path—leaving a comfortable existence to go on an quest.

"It's not true that all of your solutions for issues are to open a business and open a small business," Baldree said. "People are different, and additionally, we're all different at different points in our life. What worked for me a decade ago doesn't work for me today."

Building the Universe

Differing from the earlier novels, which were set in quiet villages, Brigands & Breadknives features a road trip that allowed the author to flesh out his imaginary realm avoiding exposition. Fern's journey alongside the elf warrior and her chatty weapon the sword Nigel includes violent fowl, terrible monsters, noble fighters, and a unexpectedly calm monastery focused on worshiping a cosmic entity.

Next Endeavors

In terms of his next project, the author is stepping into new territory with a literary RPG story tentatively titled Four Bastards & a Baby.

"I've gone through many game-lit stories, and now I have established opinions about what I desire in a story," the author said. "I want better development. I want an end. Numerous these books want to avoid change, and I do not desire that."

Revisiting the Setting

For fans of the universe of Legends and Lattes, the author has written a series of narratives including accounts about the baker character the ratkin and Viv's companion Tandri the character, which will be issued in an upcoming compilation. Additionally, he anticipates he'll come back to the setting to explore his experience authoring his new book, which is much more extensive and more narrative-focused than his prior novels.

"I'll have a book about developing a difficult project that was extremely difficult for the author to do," the author explains.