Author Travis Baldree Reveals Mastering to Disappoint People In New Story

Travis Baldree, renowned for his bestselling comfort fantasy books, has recently released his latest book in the collection. Named Brigands and Breadknives, the narrative follows Fern when she starts a traditional fantasy adventure following walking away from her thriving business.

A Change from Familiar Territory

Differing from the prior stories in the collection, that centered on establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives explores the theme of disappointing people you care about. Baldree commented that this book is about grasping to make tough choices who you care about.

"This story is about learning to say no who you care about, and learning to refuse," Baldree said. "I'm creating something different. Are people going to be let down? Does it matter? Must I follow what's most important personally, even if it could alienate someone?"

Own Experiences Informing the Plot

Travis Baldree noted that his own struggles have repeatedly shaped his stories. Previously, he was involved in game development, co-creating games like Torchlight game and Rebel Galaxy game. The choice to leave the gaming world to create audiobooks resulted in the protagonist Viv's new path in Legends & Lattes.

"I found while writing the initial novel that when you write a tale, you unavoidably infuse a much of your own experience into it," Baldree commented. "Then when readers react to that, there's an incredible feeling of shared experience."

Increased Interest of Feel-Good Fantasy

According to the author, the appeal of comfort fantasy has grown in recent years, partly due to a longing for relief and personal bonds in the wake of the global pandemic.

"The world appears a little bit chaotic, and I think in our entertainment, many people prefer something that is comforting," the author noted. "I remember COVID, Game of Thrones came out, and I thought, 'I love it, but I do not want in viewing my favorite characters killed off.'"

Examining Alternative Routes

While Viv achieved her joyful resolution in Legends & Lattes, Baldree felt he would not take that away from her by having her away from the cafe. Centering on Fern gave him the chance to explore a character taking the different route—leaving a comfortable situation to go on an quest.

"I don't think that every answer for issues are to open a business and run a shop," Baldree remarked. "People are unique, and additionally, we're each unique at various stages in our journey. The approach that succeeded for me 10 years ago fails for me today."

Developing the Setting

In contrast to the previous stories, which were set in quiet villages, Brigands & Breadknives includes a travel narrative that permitted the author to develop his imaginary realm avoiding exposition. Fern's journey accompanied by Astryx One-Ear and her sentient blade Nigel the sword includes deadly poultry, terrible monsters, ethical soldiers, and a surprisingly chill sanctuary focused on worshiping a eldritch deity.

Upcoming Works

Regarding his future work, the author is stepping beyond familiar ground with a LitRPG novel currently called Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I have read many LitRPGs, and currently I have established opinions about what I want in such a book," he explained. "I prefer deeper characters. I want an end. Many such stories aim to avoid change, and I don't want that."

Future Stories

Enthusiasts of the world of the original book, the author has written a series of short stories including accounts about the Thimble the ratkin and Viv's companion Tandri, which will be published in an upcoming compilation. He also expects he'll come back to the universe to address his experience authoring his recent story, which is considerably more extensive and more plot-driven than his previous novels.

"I'll have a book about developing a difficult project that was really, really challenging for me to achieve," the author explains.