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Travis Baldree, known for his bestselling feel-good fantasy books, recently released his latest book in the collection. Named Brigands & Breadknives, the narrative focuses on Fern the ratkin as she embarks on a classic fantasy adventure following abandoning her successful bookshop.

A Departure from Comfort

In contrast to the earlier stories in the collection, that focused on establishing a business, Brigands and Breadknives delves into the concept of disappointing friends and family. Travis Baldree stated that this book is focused on learning to make tough choices that you cherish.

"This book is concerning learning to say no whom you value, and mastering to refuse," Baldree said. "I'm creating a distinct story. Are people going to be disappointed? Is it important? Must I follow my true passion to me, though it might alienate someone?"

Life Challenges Influencing the Story

Travis Baldree explained that his personal experiences have consistently informed his stories. Before, he was involved in video game design, developing projects like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. The move to step away from the gaming world to produce audio stories resulted in the protagonist Viv's life shift in Legends and Lattes.

"I discovered during the first book that when you write a tale, you unavoidably put a lot of yourself into it," he said. "Then when the audience respond to that, there's this really amazing moment of connection."

Increased Interest of Feel-Good Fantasy

As per Travis Baldree, the popularity of feel-good stories has increased in lately, in part due to a longing for relief and personal bonds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Society feels a slightly chaotic, and I believe through the stories we enjoy, a lot of us prefer something that is comforting," he said. "During COVID, the series Game of Thrones was released, and I thought, 'I'm a fan of Game of Thrones, but I have no interest in watching my favorite characters meet grim fates.'"

Delving Into Different Paths

Although Viv found her joyful resolution in Legends & Lattes, the author felt he couldn't rip that away from her by sending her out from the cafe. Centering on Fern offered him the opportunity to examine a character embarking on the reverse journey—abandoning a comfortable existence to go on an quest.

"I believe that every answer for challenges are to stay put and run a shop," he stated. "Each person is distinct, and furthermore, we're each unique at different points in our life. The approach that succeeded for me 10 years ago doesn't work for me currently."

Developing the Setting

Differing from the prior stories, which were located in cozy communities, Brigands & Breadknives includes a journey that enabled Baldree to flesh out his imaginary realm avoiding info-dumps. The adventure accompanied by Astryx and her talking sword the sword Nigel contains deadly poultry, fearsome creatures, ethical soldiers, and a unexpectedly calm monastery focused on honoring a cosmic god.

Next Endeavors

In terms of his upcoming book, Baldree is venturing even further afield with a game-lit tale tentatively titled Four Bastards & a Baby.

"I've consumed numerous game-lit stories, and now I have formed views about my preferences in one," the author said. "I desire deeper characters. I like resolution. Many these books want to maintain the status quo, and I don't want that."

Revisiting the Setting

Enthusiasts of the universe of Legends and Lattes, the author has written a set of short stories featuring accounts about the Thimble Thimble and Viv's succubus partner Tandri the character, which will be issued in an forthcoming collection. He also anticipates he'll revisit to the world to grapple with his process writing his recent story, which is much lengthier and more plot-driven than his earlier works.

"I plan to write a novel about squeezing something into being that was incredibly tough for the author to do," the author explains.