The Blood We Truly Bleed: A Fabergé Egg on Princess Place Island

by Caesar Campana

In The Blood We Truly Bleed (an alternative historical fiction), we follow the lives of two protagonists, Tony Lazio, a baby- boomer living in Orlando, Florida and Stefan Lukavyy, a Russian immigrant escaping the Bolshevik Revolution. Even though their lives are separated by a hundred years and thousands of miles, their destinies come together. Our flawed heroes navigate a dark path mapped with violence, murder and accidental executions that involve Russia’s Imperial Family, Henry Flagler, Shaquille O’Neal, Mickey Mouse and two stolen Fabergé Eggs. Eventually the spirits (and bodies) of Tony and Stefan meet on a mystical island in the middle of the Matanzas River.

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2021

About the author

At the age of 18, Caesar Campana escaped the cold weather of New Jersey to study Shakespeare and play football at North Carolina State University. When he graduated from NCSU, he married his high school sweetheart, Monica, and they moved to Wilmington, NC where they both started long careers in education. For over forty years, Caesar worked in both public and private high schools in NC and Florida where he taught English, but also worked as a Dean of Discipline, PE Instructor, and Graduation Counselor. One year he taught at a drop-out prevention program on an island along the coast of Florida. Caesar coached Football, Track and Wrestling for most of his career. Now, besides fixing his chainsaw, he spends his retirement in Palm Coast, Florida and Murphy NC writing short stories, poetry and novels. Currently, he has published eight books, including five novels: Coach Sal Grasso and Cape Fear U, A Beautiful Castle of Mud, The Blood We Truly Bleed, Bright Shiny Objects, and (Caesar's most recent novel) Frogs in a Midnight Marsh.

Reviews

[Monica Campana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched. Flowery language. Amazing integration of the connections between past and present and good and evil. The evil was a bit over the top and the murder of children may disturb some readers. Couldn’t put it down though.

[Pat Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right There with Him

I felt like I was watching each scene unfold right in front of me . Powerful, clean writing that captures the imagination. CGS