🔗 Share this article

The writer, renowned for his acclaimed comfort fantasy novels, has recently published his third book in the collection. Named Brigands & Breadknives, the tale centers on the character Fern while she starts a classic fantasy adventure after leaving her successful business.

A Shift from Comfort

In contrast to the previous stories in the set, that centered on establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives delves into the concept of saying no to loved ones. Travis Baldree explained that this book is focused on grasping to make tough choices whom you value.

"The novel is regarding mastering to say no who you love, and mastering to decline," Baldree noted. "I'm working on something different. Will readers end up upset? Is it important? Should I pursue my true passion personally, though it may alienate someone?"

Own Experiences Influencing the Story

Baldree explained that his personal challenges have repeatedly shaped his writing. Earlier, he had a career in the gaming industry, co-creating titles like Torchlight game and the space combat game Rebel Galaxy. The choice to abandon that career to produce audiobooks inspired the protagonist Viv's career change in Legends & Lattes.

"I realized during the initial novel that as you write a story, you inevitably put a much of your own experience within," the author stated. "Then when the audience connect with that, there's this really amazing feeling of understanding."

The Rise of Comfort Fantasy

According to Baldree, the popularity of comfort fantasy has surged in the past few years, to some extent due to a wish for relief and human connection after the global pandemic.

"The world feels a little bit chaotic, and I think with the media we consume, most of us want an experience that simply feels good," the author noted. "During COVID, Game of Thrones premiered, and I felt, 'I love it, but I am not interested in seeing my preferred characters beheaded.'"

Examining Alternative Routes

Whereas Viv obtained her joyful resolution in Legends & Lattes, the author felt he should not take that away from her by sending her off from the business. Following Fern offered him the opportunity to delve into a character embarking on the reverse journey—abandoning a safe life to begin an journey.

"I don't think that all of your solutions for issues are to open a business and start a cafe," the author remarked. "People are distinct, and more than that, we're all different at distinct times in our journey. The solution that worked for me 10 years ago fails for me now."

Developing the Setting

Differing from the previous books, which were taking place in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives includes a travel narrative that enabled Travis Baldree to expand his fantasy world avoiding info-dumps. Fern's journey alongside Astryx and her talking sword Nigel the sword contains violent fowl, terrible monsters, noble fighters, and a surprisingly chill temple dedicated to revering a eldritch god.

Future Projects

In terms of his future work, the author is stepping even further afield with a literary RPG novel tentatively titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read hundreds of LitRPG books, and at this point I have developed opinions about what I want in a story," Baldree commented. "I desire better development. I like resolution. Many these books try to stay on the treadmill, and I do not desire that."

Future Stories

For fans of the universe of Legends and Lattes, Baldree has authored a set of tales featuring stories about the ratkin baker the ratkin and Viv's companion Tandri the character, which will be released in an upcoming anthology. Additionally, he believes he'll return to the universe to grapple with his experience writing his recent story, which is significantly lengthier and more narrative-focused than his earlier works.

"There will be a book about squeezing something into being that was really, really challenging for me to accomplish," he says.