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Travis Baldree, famous for his bestselling feel-good fantasy books, recently published his latest novel in the series. Named Brigands & Breadknives, the tale focuses on Fern the ratkin when she begins a typical fantasy adventure after walking away from her thriving bookstore.

A Change from Comfort

In contrast to the previous books in the set, that highlighted building a life, Brigands & Breadknives examines the theme of saying no to loved ones. Baldree explained that this story is focused on grasping to make tough choices whom you care about.

"This book is regarding mastering to say no who you love, and learning to refuse," Baldree noted. "I'm working on a distinct story. Will readers be let down? Is it important? Do I have to do what's most important personally, even if it may upset fans?"

Life Challenges Influencing the Plot

Baldree explained that his own struggles have always shaped his writing. Previously, he had a career in video game design, developing titles like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. His decision to step away from the gaming world to narrate audiobooks led to the character Viv's career change in Legends and Lattes.

"I found during the initial novel that when you write a tale, you unavoidably put a much of your own experience within," Baldree said. "And when the audience react to that, there's an incredible moment of shared experience."

Growing Popularity of Cozy Fantasy

As per the author, the rise of cozy fantasy has surged in the past few years, in part due to a desire for escapism and community after the recent health crisis.

"Society appears a somewhat in turmoil, and I think through the stories we enjoy, many people want an experience that simply feels good," he said. "I recall lockdown, the show Game of Thrones was released, and I thought, 'I enjoy the show, but I am not interested in seeing my beloved characters meet grim fates.'"

Exploring Different Paths

While Viv obtained her joyful resolution in the first book, the author believed he couldn't take that away from her by sending her away from the business. Centering on Fern gave him the chance to examine someone embarking on the different route—walking away from a safe existence to begin an journey.

"I believe that all of your solutions for life's problems are to settle down and start a cafe," he said. "Each person is unique, and more than that, we're individual at different points in our journey. What worked for me a decade ago is not effective for me now."

Expanding the World

In contrast to the previous novels, which were located in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives includes a journey that permitted Baldree to develop his imaginary realm eschewing info-dumps. The adventure accompanied by Astryx One-Ear and her chatty weapon Nigel contains deadly poultry, terrible monsters, honorable mercenaries, and a remarkably peaceful monastery dedicated to worshiping a Cthulhu-like entity.

Upcoming Works

In terms of his next project, Baldree is stepping even further afield with a literary RPG tale working-titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I've gone through hundreds of LitRPGs, and currently I have developed opinions about what I want in one," the author explained. "I want deeper characters. I prefer a conclusion. A lot of such stories want to maintain the status quo, and I reject that."

Revisiting the Setting

Followers of the world of Legends and Lattes, the author has created a series of short stories featuring accounts about the ratkin baker Thimble and Viv's companion the succubus, which will be released in an upcoming collection. He also expects he'll come back to the world to grapple with his experience writing his latest novel, which is much more extensive and more narrative-focused than his prior books.

"I'll have a book about squeezing something into being that was extremely difficult for you to do," Baldree notes.