Monday, October 20, 2014

The stunning conclusion of Partnership in Blood

Yes, that's right. The Partnership in Blood series, ten years and a million words of my life, is now complete. And on Friday, October 31, the remastered versions of the first seven books will become available along with the final volume of the series.

 It started as a challenge on a writers' group I was part of ten years ago. Each month, the moderators would propose a theme and anyone who wanted to participate could write a story around that theme and enter it into the group's contest. We'd critique each other's stories and then at the end of the month, we'd have a vote and the winning story would get a banner for the author's Live Journal or wherever they wanted to post it. The theme for that year's October was supernatural stories. I'm not a paranormal reader. I love fantasy of the Lord of the Rings variety, but I've never gone in for the werewolves or vampires or any of that. So I looked at the challenge and at everything else I was working on and decided I'd pass that month. I'd cheer everyone else on and vote at the end of the month. And then I fell asleep.

I dreamed that night with a vividness and clarity that I rarely have, and I woke up with three scenes etched in my memory: two men meeting in a cemetery, one of the two men stumbling out of a building at dawn, and one of the two men kneeling at a gravestone. Beginning, climax, and end (or so I thought). I knew it wouldn't be short, but I also knew I had to write it, so I asked the moderators if I could enter whatever portion of the story was complete at the end of October for the voting. They said yes as long as I promised to finish it eventually. I don't think they had ten years in mind when they said eventually, but I can honestly say I kept my promise. Partnership in Blood is now complete.

(And yes, for the record, I won that month's competition. No, I don't still have the banner.) So without further ado, I give you the final installment in my saga of love and magic in Paris and beyond: Partnership Reborn!


 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5513&cPath=54_160   

 All his life, wizard Raphael Tarayaud has dreamed of a vampire—first as a friend, then as a lover. His search for his missing soul mate brings him to the attention of Sebastien Noyer, one of his childhood heroes. While Sebastien isn't his soul mate, he could be the perfect partner for Raphael's best friend Kylian Raffier.

As strange coincidences mount up, Raphael offers his research expertise to try and help Kylian and Sebastien understand what is happening to them, though the more he learns, the less he likes it. But it won’t keep him from fighting with everything he has to secure Kylian’s future.

When he finally meets Jean Bellaiche, former chef de la Cour and grieving widower, the meeting is disastrous, but Raphael can't let it go. He doesn’t stand a chance with Jean—who could compete with the ghost of Raymond Payet?—but nothing can stop him from dreaming.

Also, coming this Friday, a free bonus short story, Partnership Reforged.

 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5697&cPath=54_160

For two years, Thierry has wanted the one thing Sebastien's past denies him: an Aveu de Sang. With the help of friends new and old, he has finally assembled a ritual that will give him a close approximation of the ultimate bond between vampire and mortal... if it succeeds.

17 comments:

  1. I just got started reading the Partnership series (thanks to your post on fb, I found the first two books on Scribd and read them) but now I'm afraid! I like Raymond and Jean :( And if Sebastian is in here, then I'm afraid for Thierry. Now I'm not sure I want to finish them! :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can I say trust me? I promise I fix it permanently, not just for one lifetime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, okay... I'll give it a chance. But not until *after* I can read them all in one go. LOL (I'll be nuts otherwise!)

      Delete
    2. If it makes you feel any better, I had three people beta read it, one of whom is all about Jean and Raymond, one who adores Sebastien and Thierry, and one who's an Alain and Orlando fan, and all three of them approved the ending of the series.

      Delete
    3. That does make me feel better! <3

      Delete
    4. Ask Mary Calmes about it if you want her reassurances. I'm not sure if she likes Jean or Sebastien better. :D

      Delete
  3. So excited!!!! When you say the other books are remastered will there be added or changed content?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Matthew!

      There are a few additions and changes, but mostly it's fixing typos and continuity errors. If you got the first editions through Dreamspinner's site, you will be able to download the second editions on Friday without having to buy them a second time.

      Delete
    2. What does aveau de sang mean in English? Vow of blood? What does aveau, mean. I know I'm butchering the spelling.

      Delete
    3. Hi, again, Matthew,

      Aveu de Sang does mean vow of blood.

      Delete
  4. Loved the new book in the series. I hope that there will be other books, i.e. Vincent and Eric could be reborn, because of they being included in the spell work that connected the souls of Sebastian, Jean, and the others.
    Also, would like to read more about the vampires and wizards - where-ever those character´s live. As this is at least the 3rd "last book" in the series I can hope...

    ReplyDelete