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Travis Baldree, known for his acclaimed feel-good fantasy novels, recently published his newest book in the collection. Named Brigands and Breadknives, this story focuses on Fern as she begins a typical adventure story after leaving her thriving business.

A Departure from Comfort

Unlike the previous books in the set, which highlighted building a life, Brigands & Breadknives examines the concept of letting down loved ones. Travis Baldree explained that this book is about grasping to say no who you care about.

"This story is concerning learning to disappoint people that you love, and mastering to decline," Baldree said. "I am creating a new project. Could fans going to be upset? Is it important? Must I pursue my true passion to me, though it may alienate someone?"

Life Challenges Influencing the Story

Baldree noted that his personal challenges have always influenced his books. Earlier, he worked in game development, designing games like Torchlight game and Rebel Galaxy game. The move to abandon the gaming world to create audiobooks led to the character Viv's life shift in Legends and Lattes.

"I discovered while writing the debut story that when you write a story, you can't help but infuse a personal elements in the story," he said. "Subsequently when other people react to that, there's an incredible experience of shared experience."

Growing Popularity of Feel-Good Fantasy

In the words of Baldree, the rise of cozy fantasy has increased in lately, to some extent due to a longing for escape and community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Society appears a somewhat in turmoil, and I think with the media we consume, most of us desire an experience that is comforting," Baldree explained. "During lockdown, the series Game of Thrones premiered, and I was like, 'I'm a fan of the show, but I have no interest in viewing my beloved characters killed off.'"

Exploring Different Paths

While Viv achieved her happy ending in the first book, the author believed he would not rip that away from her by sending her away from the coffee shop. Focusing on Fern offered him the opportunity to examine someone taking the different route—walking away from a safe life to go on an journey.

"I don't think that the only way for challenges are to settle down and open a small business," Baldree stated. "Everybody's distinct, and additionally, we're individual at different points in our lives. What worked for me a decade ago fails for me today."

Building the Universe

Unlike the previous novels, which were located in cozy communities, Brigands & Breadknives features a travel narrative that enabled Travis Baldree to expand his fantasy world eschewing lengthy explanations. Fern's journey alongside Astryx One-Ear and her sentient blade Nigel the sword includes deadly poultry, fearsome creatures, ethical soldiers, and a unexpectedly calm monastery dedicated to honoring a cosmic entity.

Future Projects

In terms of his upcoming book, Baldree is moving even further afield with a LitRPG novel tentatively titled Four Bastards & a Baby.

"I've consumed many game-lit stories, and now I have developed opinions about what I desire in such a book," Baldree commented. "I prefer better development. I want an end. Numerous these books aim to maintain the status quo, and I reject that."

Future Stories

For fans of the world of Legends and Lattes, Baldree has authored a collection of narratives including tales about the Thimble Thimble the baker and Viv's succubus partner Tandri, which will be published in an upcoming collection. He also expects he'll come back to the world to address his journey creating his new book, which is considerably more extensive and more story-oriented than his previous works.

"There will be a novel about creating something challenging that was extremely difficult for me to accomplish," he says.