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Travis Baldree, renowned for his bestselling comfort fantasy stories, just released his latest book in the set. Named Brigands & Breadknives, this story follows Fern as she embarks on a classic fantasy adventure subsequent to walking away from her flourishing business.

A Departure from Cozy Themes

In contrast to the earlier novels in the collection, that highlighted establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives examines the concept of saying no to people you care about. Baldree stated that this book is about learning to disappoint people who you value.

"This book is about mastering to say no whom you value, and understanding to refuse," he explained. "I'm writing a new project. Could fans end up upset? Is it important? Should I do what's most important for myself, even if it might upset fans?"

Own Experiences Influencing the Narrative

The writer explained that his own experiences have repeatedly influenced his stories. Previously, he worked in video game design, developing projects like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. The move to abandon the gaming world to produce audiobooks led to the protagonist Viv's career change in Legends & Lattes.

"I found with the initial novel that as you write a tale, you can't help but put a lot of yourself in the story," he commented. "And when other people react to that, there's an incredible experience of understanding."

The Rise of Comfort Fantasy

In the words of Travis Baldree, the appeal of comfort fantasy has increased in lately, in part due to a longing for escapism and personal bonds following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our world appears a slightly in turmoil, and I think through the stories we enjoy, a lot of us desire a story that actually just feels OK," Baldree explained. "During the pandemic, the series Game of Thrones was released, and I was like, 'I'm a fan of Game of Thrones, but I do not want in watching my favorite characters beheaded.'"

Delving Into Alternative Routes

Whereas Viv achieved her happy ending in Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree thought he would not take that away from her by making her off from the coffee shop. Centering on Fern offered him the chance to examine someone embarking on the reverse journey—abandoning a secure existence to embark on an adventure.

"It's not true that every answer for life's problems are to open a business and open a small business," Baldree remarked. "People are different, and additionally, we're individual at different points in our lives. What worked for me a decade ago doesn't work for me currently."

Expanding the World

In contrast to the previous novels, which were taking place in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives involves a road trip that enabled Travis Baldree to expand his fictional universe without relying on exposition. The adventure with the elf warrior and her sentient blade Nigel contains killer chickens, horrifying beasts, ethical soldiers, and a remarkably peaceful monastery devoted to honoring a Cthulhu-like deity.

Future Projects

Regarding his upcoming book, the author is venturing beyond familiar ground with a game-lit novel currently called Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I've gone through many LitRPG books, and now I have developed thoughts about my preferences in one," the author explained. "I prefer deeper characters. I prefer a conclusion. Many such stories aim to maintain the status quo, and I do not desire that."

Future Stories

Followers of the universe of the original book, Baldree has written a collection of tales featuring stories about the baker character the ratkin and Viv's love interest Tandri the character, which will be issued in an future collection. Additionally, he expects he'll come back to the world to explore his experience writing his recent story, which is much lengthier and more narrative-focused than his previous books.

"I plan to write a book about squeezing something into being that was incredibly tough for the author to accomplish," Baldree notes.