Hello! It’s the end of June, the first official month of the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. Since it’s only the 7nth as I write this up, I’ve no idea what’s up or how many cuts there have been by now, but that doesn’t really matter since for the series, we apply the motto, “Once an SPFBO Author/Book, always an SPFBO Author/Book.”

So, let’s introduce you to Summoning and Sacrifice, by Nathan Hartle, to whom storytelling is a sacred art that honors Creation.

Summoning and Sacrifice

A hunted woman. A missing god. The adventure of a lifetime.

All that Shada desires is peace and freedom. What she has is fear and hunger. She’s a servant on the run from her cruel master, who is determined to lock her away.

Then comes a chance at a new life. Alone in the vast, cruel city of Ronia, she meets the Lady. This enigmatic spirit makes her an offer: Shada can accept her dismal lot… or undertake a quest to find Ronia’s vanished god.

For the gods disappeared without a trace in the long-ago age of legend, leaving the worlds of humans to chaos and war. Without its god, Ronia’s once-mighty empire is crumbling toward an abyss.

To save their people, Shada and her ragtag companions will journey to the ends of the universe. But first, they must escape Ronia alive.

Many in this city of blades, poison, and shadow mean to stop them at all costs. If they fail, slavery or death await them… and their world will fall into darkness.

Summoning and Sacrifice is the opening book of the Liturgy of Worlds epic fantasy series.

What a setup!

And …

Onto the Questions!

As a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) Entrant, you’re not just independently published, but self-published. Can you start by explaining a bit about why you chose that route and how it’s been for you?

I chose indie publishing because I don’t think I have the patience for traditional publishing. People who go the trad route can wait for years for their story to see print, if it ever does. While trad publishing certainly has its appeal, and I haven’t ruled it out for the future, I’d much rather start putting my words in front of people now.

So far indie publishing has been very gratifying but also very challenging. Taking the whole publishing process on yourself is a major project, and without the help of some very generous people, especially in the Facebook groups Wide for the Win and 20 Books to 50k, it would have been so much harder.

Oh my goodness, it’s such a major project, but so gratifying, too!

On a related note, why did you enter the SPFBO contest? How do you expect to find it? Refreshing your blog’s page every five minutes, or sit back and chill?

I entered the contest hoping to get more publicity for my book and to connect with other authors and readers. Only afterward did I realize what a big deal this contest is. Since it’s a lengthy process–necessarily, given how much work goes into it–I’m going to relax and not worry too much. No use making myself more anxious than usual.

SPFBO is a much bigger deal this year than it has ever been before, as far as I am aware! But hopefully, that means you’ll have a better chance at most of that publicity and those connections! We all win together, yes?

Book titles. Why did you choose the title, Summoning and Sacrifice?

I called this book Summoning and Sacrifice for a few reasons. First, it fits the story–the series’ characters come together and set off on a quest to save their world–a quest from which many won’t return. They’re summoned and sacrificed. Second, the title has a vibe of ritual and mysticism, which really suits the story’s tone. Finally, this title suggests the epic fantasy genre to me. It tells the reader what kind of story they’re going to get.

Ritual and mysticisim! I like the sound of that mysticism! Cool 🙂

I won’t ask for your favourite scene since I know some people don’t have those (like me; I never have favourites), but can you share a (non-spoiler) scene you just love every time you re-read it, or alternately a character you love.

I really like the scene where Brin, a priest in this world’s dominant religion, is betrayed in an unexpected way. He’s a smart, conniving guy who’s always taking advantage of others, and here he finds himself taken advantage of by someone smarter than him. Part of why I like the scene is that I sympathize with Brin despite his treacherous nature. He’s been through enough terrible things to twist and damage anyone. So the scene makes me conflicted because I feel for the guy while also recognizing that he’s earned this.

Interesting. I wonder how he will respond to being on the receiving end in the long run.

What are some elements or themes, or combinations thereof, that really make your book stand out to you?

The book and series combine a fun, adventure-filled fantasy premise (a quest for a lost god) with a unique setting (a low-tech far future) and a story driven by well-rounded characters. It’s a cool, unique combination and a special reading experience.

Well-rounded characters are always awesome! Sounds neat and intriguing!

What else would you like to share?

Folks hankering for a free epic fantasy story can grab one by signing up at www.nathanhartle.com. The story is called A Monsters War, and it lives up to its title. It’s set in the Summoning and Sacrifice universe but is its own stand-alone adventure.

Snag it and unsub if you want–no hard feelings. If not, I’d love to have you onboard for my newsletter. It’s a lot of fun: you’ll get news and updates from me, behind-the-scenes stuff, media reviews, and more.

I will probably be checking that out! Thanks for sharing with us!

Nathan Hartle lives in North Carolina, USA with his amazing wife, son, and two cats who are kind enough to share their house.

Though he’s had many, many jobs—travel agent in Bangkok, hostel clerk in Morocco, construction worker in Washington, DC—writing fantasy and science fiction is by far his favorite.

He believes storytelling is a service to others and a sacred act that honors Creation. Good stories let us glimpse eternity.

Keep up with Nathan by joining his list at www.nathanhartle.com or following him on Goodreads, BookBub, Facebook, or most social media (includes TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube).