Author Travis Baldree Shares Learning to Say No Via New Story

The author, famous for his popular feel-good fantasy novels, just published his third novel in the set. Called Brigands & Breadknives, this story centers on the character Fern while she starts a typical adventure story following leaving her flourishing bookstore.

A Change from Comfort

Unlike the earlier novels in the set, that centered on building a life, Brigands & Breadknives explores the theme of letting down people you care about. Travis Baldree commented that the novel is concerned with understanding to disappoint people that you value.

"The novel is concerning learning to say no whom you care about, and understanding to say no," Baldree explained. "I'm creating something different. Are people going to be disappointed? Should I care? Do I have to follow my own path personally, even if it might upset fans?"

Own Experiences Influencing the Plot

The writer explained that his personal challenges have always informed his books. Earlier, he worked in game development, developing games like Torchlight game and Rebel Galaxy game. The choice to abandon game design to narrate audiobooks inspired the character Viv's life shift in Legends & Lattes.

"I realized with the first book that when you write a narrative, you unavoidably infuse a much of your own experience within," Baldree commented. "And when other people react to that, there's this really amazing moment of connection."

The Rise of Cozy Fantasy

In the words of Baldree, the rise of cozy fantasy has increased in recent years, partly due to a desire for relief and personal bonds following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Society feels a somewhat chaotic, and I feel with the media we consume, most of us desire an experience that is comforting," Baldree explained. "During COVID, the show Game of Thrones was released, and I thought, 'I love the show, but I have no interest in seeing my favorite characters killed off.'"

Exploring Varied Journeys

While Viv obtained her happy ending in Legends & Lattes, Baldree believed he should not remove that from her by sending her out from the coffee shop. Following Fern offered him the possibility to examine someone embarking on the opposite path—walking away from a safe life to embark on an quest.

"I don't think that the only way for issues are to open a business and run a shop," he stated. "People are different, and additionally, we're each unique at different points in our life. What worked for me 10 years ago doesn't work for me now."

Developing the Setting

Unlike the previous novels, which were set in cozy communities, Brigands & Breadknives involves a travel narrative that allowed Travis Baldree to expand his fictional universe eschewing exposition. Fern's journey with the elf warrior and her talking sword Nigel the sword features killer chickens, terrible monsters, noble fighters, and a remarkably peaceful monastery devoted to revering a Cthulhu-like deity.

Upcoming Works

In terms of his future work, the author is venturing beyond familiar ground with a literary RPG novel tentatively titled Four Bastards & a Baby.

"I've gone through many LitRPGs, and currently I have developed thoughts about what I want in such a book," Baldree commented. "I prefer deeper characters. I prefer a conclusion. A lot of LitRPGs try to avoid change, and I reject that."

Returning to the World

Followers of the world of Legends & Lattes, the author has authored a set of narratives involving tales about the Thimble the ratkin and Viv's companion the succubus, which will be published in an future collection. He also anticipates he'll return to the setting to address his experience authoring his latest novel, which is considerably more extensive and more narrative-focused than his prior works.

"I plan to write a story about developing a difficult project that was incredibly tough for the author to accomplish," he says.