Travis Baldree, author of cozy fantasy novels, discusses his new book 'Bookshops and Bonedust' in which a young Viv recovers from a battle wound in a seaside town with skeletons, goblins, and a bookstore. They explore topics like writing, character development, and the significance of experiences and failures. The challenges of abandoning or continuing writing projects are also discussed along with the importance of including best ideas in current works. The origins and background of the character Zelia Great Stryder are explored, and advice for writers is shared.
Bookshops and Bone Dust explores the importance of early life experiences and the power of books in connecting people.
Author Travis Baldry emphasizes the need to recognize when a story is not working and salvaging ideas and characters for future use.
Deep dives
Bookshops and Bone Dust: A Prequel to Legends and Lattes
Bookshops and Bone Dust is a prequel to the popular cozy hit Legends and Lattes. The book follows the young protagonist Viv, who is still deeply involved in the adventuring lifestyle. After being wounded during a mission, she is left to recover in a beachside town and befriends the owner of a failing local bookshop. The story explores the importance of early life experiences and how they shape our paths later on. It also highlights the power of books and storytelling in connecting people. Alongside the charming characters and delightful romance, the book incorporates elements of mystery and features a range of unique and vividly portrayed characters.
Author's Writing Journey and Overcoming Challenges
Author Travis Baldry discusses the challenges faced while writing the prequel, Bookshops and Bone Dust. He shares that the book was not originally the second book he had planned, undergoing many iterations and rewrites. Travis emphasizes the importance of recognizing when a story is not working and being willing to set it aside. He also shares the valuable lesson of salvaging ideas and characters from unfinished projects to be repurposed later on. Travis offers insights into his writing process and the balance between humor and character development that he strives for in his storytelling.
Creating Rich and Distinct Characters
The podcast episode explores the rich and distinct characters found in Bookshops and Bone Dust. Travis Baldry explains that he aims to make every character capable of being a main character in their own story. He believes this adds depth and authenticity to the interactions between characters. Travis credits his experience as a narrator for enhancing his ability to create unique character voices, and he discusses the importance of humor that arises naturally from the characters' experiences rather than making fun of them. The episode highlights specific characters like Zelia, a romance novelist, and the delightful goblin character named Zill, who appears in a short story.
Advice for Writers and Future Projects
Travis offers advice for writers, including the importance of emptying every idea into the current story rather than saving them for later. He encourages writers to focus on the characters they care about and to recognize the difference between a story that is hard to write versus one that is fundamentally flawed. Travis shares that he has signed on for three more books with Tor, and while he is still exploring ideas, he mentions the possibility of incorporating mystery elements in his future work. He talks about a short story featuring the character Zill and the challenges and joys of constructing a mystery with humor and unforgettable characters.
Today I chat with Travis Baldree about BOOKSHOPS AND BONEDUST, his follow up to his breakout cozy fantasy hit, LEGENDS AND LATTES. We chat about writing, character development, and the charming story of a young Viv recovering from a battle wound in a seaside town, with skeletons and goblins and a bookstore. You can find both of Travis’ books in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my podcast, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.
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