In 2022, Travis Baldree self-published his first novel, Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes. As an audiobook narrator and game developer, Baldree was familiar with the publishing industry, but his career took a dramatic turn upon his independent publishing of Legends & Lattes. The novel went viral on social media, propelling Baldree into the spotlight.

The inspiration for Legends & Lattes came from a friendly challenge with a fellow writer. After trying unsuccessfully several times to finish a novel during November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Baldree and a friend challenged each other to complete a novel during the 2021 challenge. When Baldree self-published Legends & Lattes in 2022, it became a sensation thanks to social media, particularly BookTok, a reader community on TikTok, and was republished by Tor Books later that same year. Audiences responded to Baldree’s take on the cozy fantasy genre.

In 2023, Baldree followed Legends & Lattes with the second book in the series, Bookshops & Bonedust. Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Legends & Lattes. It tells the story of a young Viv just embarking on her career as a mercenary, whereas Legends & Lattes is about the end of Viv’s mercenary career.