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Travis Baldree, famous for his popular comfort fantasy stories, recently published his third book in the series. Called Brigands and Breadknives, the narrative centers on Fern when she begins a classic fantasy adventure subsequent to abandoning her thriving business.

A Shift from Comfort

Differing from the prior novels in the series, which highlighted building a life, Brigands & Breadknives explores the theme of saying no to people you care about. Baldree commented that the novel is concerned with understanding to make tough choices whom you cherish.

"This story is regarding learning to disappoint people who you love, and learning to refuse," he noted. "I'm creating a new project. Will readers be let down? Should I care? Should I pursue what's most important for myself, though it might upset fans?"

Personal Struggles Shaping the Story

Baldree mentioned that his individual struggles have always influenced his stories. Previously, he worked in video game design, developing projects like Torchlight game and the space combat game Rebel Galaxy. The choice to step away from the gaming world to produce audiobooks inspired the character Viv's career change in the first book.

"I discovered while writing the debut story that when you write a narrative, you inevitably infuse a lot of yourself within," the author stated. "And when the audience respond to that, there's this really amazing feeling of connection."

Growing Popularity of Feel-Good Fantasy

According to Baldree, the appeal of comfort fantasy has grown in recent years, partly due to a wish for escape and community following the global pandemic.

"Our world appears a somewhat chaotic, and I feel in our entertainment, many people prefer a story that is comforting," Baldree explained. "I recall lockdown, Game of Thrones was released, and I thought, 'I love the show, but I have no interest in viewing my favorite characters killed off.'"

Exploring Different Paths

While Viv obtained her joyful resolution in Legends & Lattes, the author believed he would not remove that from her by sending her out from the business. Centering on Fern offered him the chance to explore a character choosing the opposite path—walking away from a safe situation to begin an adventure.

"I believe that all of your solutions for life's problems are to open a business and start a cafe," he said. "People are different, and more than that, we're each unique at distinct times in our lives. What worked for me previously fails for me currently."

Expanding the World

Unlike the previous stories, which were set in quiet villages, Brigands & Breadknives involves a travel narrative that permitted the author to develop his fictional universe eschewing exposition. Fern's journey alongside Astryx One-Ear and her talking sword Nigel features deadly poultry, terrible monsters, honorable mercenaries, and a surprisingly chill sanctuary dedicated to worshiping a Cthulhu-like god.

Future Projects

Regarding his upcoming book, the author is venturing beyond familiar ground with a game-lit story working-titled Four Bastards & a Baby.

"I have read numerous game-lit stories, and currently I have formed views about what I want in a story," he commented. "I prefer deeper characters. I want an end. Numerous such stories want to maintain the status quo, and I do not desire that."

Revisiting the Setting

Enthusiasts of the universe of Legends and Lattes, the author has authored a collection of tales including tales about the Thimble the ratkin and Viv's succubus partner Tandri, which will be published in an future collection. Moreover, he expects he'll revisit to the world to address his process writing his new book, which is considerably lengthier and more narrative-focused than his previous books.

"I'll have a story about squeezing something into being that was incredibly tough for me to achieve," he says.