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The writer, renowned for his bestselling cozy fantasy stories, recently launched his third book in the collection. Called Brigands & Breadknives, the tale follows Fern as she embarks on a classic fantasy adventure subsequent to walking away from her flourishing bookstore.

A Shift from Familiar Territory

In contrast to the prior novels in the series, that focused on establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives examines the idea of saying no to people you care about. Travis Baldree explained that this story is focused on grasping to say no whom you care about.

"This story is about understanding to say no whom you care about, and learning to say no," he said. "I am working on something different. Could fans be upset? Is it important? Must I pursue my true passion to me, though it could alienate someone?"

Own Experiences Shaping the Plot

The writer noted that his personal experiences have consistently shaped his writing. Before, he was involved in game development, developing projects like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy. His decision to step away from that career to narrate audio stories inspired the character Viv's life shift in the first book.

"I realized with the first book that as you write a narrative, you can't help but put a much of your own experience in the story," the author commented. "And when readers connect with that, there's an incredible feeling of understanding."

Growing Popularity of Cozy Fantasy

In the words of Travis Baldree, the rise of cozy fantasy has increased in recent years, partly due to a wish for escape and human connection in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Society seems a somewhat in turmoil, and I feel with the media we consume, many people want something that simply feels good," Baldree explained. "During COVID, the series Game of Thrones came out, and I thought, 'I enjoy the show, but I have no interest in watching my favorite characters killed off.'"

Delving Into Varied Journeys

Whereas Viv achieved her satisfying conclusion in Legends & Lattes, the author felt he should not rip that away from her by making her out from the coffee shop. Following Fern gave him the possibility to explore a character taking the opposite path—leaving a secure life to embark on an journey.

"I don't think that all of your solutions for issues are to open a business and run a shop," the author remarked. "Each person is distinct, and furthermore, we're individual at various stages in our journey. What worked for me previously is not effective for me currently."

Expanding the World

In contrast to the earlier stories, which were taking place in quiet villages, Brigands & Breadknives features a journey that enabled Travis Baldree to develop his fantasy world eschewing lengthy explanations. The quest alongside Astryx and her talking sword Nigel contains violent fowl, horrifying beasts, ethical soldiers, and a unexpectedly calm temple focused on worshiping a cosmic entity.

Next Endeavors

In terms of his future work, Baldree is stepping even further afield with a game-lit tale working-titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read many LitRPGs, and at this point I have developed views about what I desire in such a book," Baldree said. "I desire more characterization. I want an end. Numerous LitRPGs want to maintain the status quo, and I do not desire that."

Returning to the World

Enthusiasts of the setting of the original book, Travis Baldree has authored a collection of short stories including accounts about the Thimble Thimble the baker and Viv's love interest Tandri, which will be issued in an forthcoming collection. Moreover, he anticipates he'll return to the world to grapple with his experience creating his new book, which is considerably longer and more story-oriented than his prior works.

"I'll have a story about developing a difficult project that was incredibly tough for you to achieve," the author explains.