Travis Baldree is a full-time audiobook narrator who has lent his voice to hundreds of stories. Before that, he spent decades designing and building video games like Torchlight, Rebel Galaxy, and Fate. Apparently, he now also writes #1 New York Times bestselling books. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his very patient family and their small, nervous dog. His latest novel is Brigands & Breadknives and he recently talked about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.

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What was your inspiration for The Legends and Lattes?

In the middle of COVID, I really wanted to read something that made me feel okay when I was done, and my audiobook narration diet wasn’t meeting that need. A lot of my hidden inspiration beyond that was my own life—Viv’s journey pretty closely mirrors my own, as I went from being a game developer in my 40s to an audiobook narrator, moving to a new town, and engaging with a whole new welcoming community of narrators and book people.

For Bookshops and Bonedust?

Bookshops was a bit of a meta story in many ways. It’s the result of three failed attempts to write a second book, but is assembled from the wreckage of those attempts. It’s a book about your mistakes being the fertile ground of an eventual success, and the value of the roads not taken.

How did those novels evolve and change as you all wrote and revised it? Are there any characters or scenes that were lost in the process that you wish had made it to the published version?

Honestly, my books don’t change much from first draft to last—I’m a heavy outliner, so anything on the cutting room floor is primarily fluff, and anything added is usually an expanded scene or dialogue.

What was your inspiration for Brigands and Breadknives? How did it evolve and change as you wrote and revised it? Anything you wrote that you hated to leave out?

For Brigands, I wanted to push beyond the standard cozy template, and I wanted to spend time with another character. I wanted to talk about things that were harder to talk about—disappointing someone you care about, learning to say 'no'. Again, I didn’t really leave anything out that I intended, because of my aforementioned process, so there wasn’t a ton of evolution over the course of the writing. I’m still surprised by little moments and character interactions, though.

Are Viv, Tandri, Fern, Asteryx, Zyll, Cam, or any of the other characters in the novels, inspired by or based on specific individuals or characters?

Viv is basically me, in a lot of ways—the rest don’t have specific individuals they are based on, although a lot of the characters in Legends & Lattes were initially conceived based on archetypal coffee-shop patrons. The student who never buys anything and uses the wi-fi. The neighborhood cat. The neighborhood busybody.

Same question for Potroast (because I think/hope there may be a story here)?

Potroast is just the pet I’d love to have (no offense to my dog, Penny). But then again, I’ve always been partial to owlbears. I don’t think it’s easy to train them, though, so an owl-pug seems much more practical.

Will we ever learn what happened to Satchel?

It’s possible! I do know what happened to him, and had a short in mind that I partially wrote but didn’t complete. I may get back to it someday.

In your Acknowledgements, you state that you look forward to the day when you won’t start by stating "this book was harder to write than the last one." What were some of the challenges you faced in writing any of the books in this series, specifically Brigands and Breadknives?

I think the challenges are a combination of life-challenges—it rarely arranges itself in a way that’s conducive to writing, for me—and process challenges. Every book has new problems to solve, and the solutions are not always easy. It’s a new puzzle every time, and every time, it feels like the stakes for failure rise a little.

You also mention in your Acknowledgements that you would be remiss if you didn’t thank Seanan McGuire, who gave you a big "push" to start your writing career. Can you tell us a bit about how you know Seanan and how she helpfully pushed you?

When I first posted the cover art for Legends & Lattes as an indie author, Seanan retweeted it and said nice things. Then when I published it, she read it, and said more nice things, and continually directed eyes my way. I think it’s safe to say that the book would not have been anywhere near the same level of indie success without her generous involvement.

Legends and Lattes was your debut novel. What was that experience like? Your experiences with getting Bookshops and Bonedust and now Brigands and Breadknives published? What have you learned during the process of getting your novels published that you would like to share with other writers about your experiences?

Legends was thus far the most straightforward writing experience I’ve had. I wrote the book fairly straightforwardly, and things fell into place in a really short period of time. The subsequent books were each totally different experiences, and considerably more challenging for a variety of reasons. I think the thing I’ve learned most of all is that a) a simple idea can be a good one and b) that an idea is still no substitute for character and an emotional engine that makes the story go.

All three of your novels would make marvelous films or series! If/when this happens, would you prefer live action or animation? Who would your dream cast be?

I think it could go either way, depending on the approach—and I think the cast would have to be entirely different depending on the approach. I’m not sure I know who’d best fit the roles!

In addition to writing New York Times bestselling books, you also work as an audiobook narrator. Can you tell us a bit about your work on audiobooks? Do you have a favorite book that you’ve narrated? Is there a book or an author whose work you would love to record?

I’ve been narrating for about 7 or 8 years, and it’s a wonderful career. It also provides unrivaled insight into what you want to write, and how, in a way that is wholly unique.

Will Wight’s Cradle series is one of my favorites that I’ve narrated.

Also, Kyle Kirrin’s Ripple System series.

But there are loads of others.

I’d love to narrate a Stephen King novel.

You’ve also worked designing and building video games. What are some of the games in which you’re most proud of in your work?

I’m proud of what we achieved with Torchlight 2, and Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is the game that’s probably closest to my heart and almost exactly what I intended.

Do you play video games as well as design/build them? What are some of your favorites? Do you have a least favorite? (I realize that you may not want to address this one, and if that is the case, please don't. But I also realize you may dislike it so much that it could be fun to answer)?

I’m very picky these days. Lately, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are easy to slip into if I have a few spare moments, and ultimately calming.

What’s currently on your nightstand?

Too many books to list.

Can you name your top five favorite or most influential authors?

Stephen King
Julian May
Robin Hobb
J.R.R. Tolkien
Terry Pratchett

What was your favorite book when you were a child?

Nicobobinus.

Was there a book you felt you needed to hide from your parents?

Everything by Stephen King.

Is there a book you've faked reading?

Not yet!

Can you name a book you've bought for the cover?

Gideon the 9th.

Is there a book that changed your life?

I’m sure most of them have—every book is changed if you absorb any of it. I’d say Nicobobinus by Terry Jones (again) was formative.

Can you name a book for which you are an evangelist (and you think everyone should read)?

The Library at Mount Char.

Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?

Probably the entire Dark Tower series.

What is the last piece of art (music, movies, TV, more traditional art forms) that you've experienced or that has impacted you?

I recently watched all of Mad Men, end to end, while signing tip-ins, and it's an incredible achievement in storytelling, design, and character.

What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?

Traveling the world, free of obligation, exploring a beautiful new city for the first time, with a good friend along to share it with, good food, and surprising moments.

What are you working on now?

I hate to say it yet, because who knows what may happen, but it’s definitely outside of the Legends & Lattes world, and liable to be considerably longer.

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