celiabreslin

Hi Everyone! It’s Nanowrimo month, and I’m in the writing cave working on my third Cupid Dating Agency story, yay. For the blog today, I have a vampire character interview for you, plus recipes for a cocktail and an appetizer. Also, my Tranquilli Bloodline vampires have been on a month-long tour via Silver Dagger Tours, so be sure to check it out and enter my e-gift card giveaway (ends 11/7!). Details below the chit-chat with Carina and Alexander. Enjoy! 🙂
xo, Celia

Tranquilli Bloodline Series:
A Chat With Carina and Alexander, by Celia Breslin

“Hi Everyone! Celia here. Author of the Tranquilli Bloodline Series. My lovebirds Carina and Alexander have agreed to sit down and chat with me for a rare interview. Let’s get started, shall we?”

I smile at Carina and Alexander, who are seated across from me on a loveseat. “Hi, guys! Thanks for joining me on the Champagne blog.”

Carina grins. “Our pleasure. We always like hanging with you, Celia.”

“Aw, thanks! Easy first question: can you tell us where you’re from and what you like and dislike about your home?”

Alexander looks over the top of his sunglasses and nods at Carina.

She smirks at him than turns her attention to me. “Right, well, I’m originally from Italy. I moved to San Francisco when I was very young and that’s the place I call home. I love the weather, especially the fog, and there’s pretty much nothing I dislike about it.”

“How about earthquakes?” Alexander asks.

“Oh, yeah, hate those.” She strokes his arm. “Your turn.”

Alexander removes his shades and spears me with his sexy smoky blues. “I’m from San Francisco and like Carina, I’m a fan of the fog. For obvious reasons.” He winks.

I laugh. “Of course, being a vampire, fog is your friend. So…do you guys have a refuge? Some place you like to go to get away from it all? Where is it and why do you go there?”

“My refuge is wherever Carina is.”

“Aw, my man.” She kisses his cheek. “Ditto the love, but also, my dance clubs are our favorite retreats. I opened both my clubs, Haven and Destiny, so both humans and the preternatural community would have a safe place to party. No discrimination allowed. Everyone is welcome as long as they understand love is love is love. Bullies get bounced.”

I nod. “Sounds great. I guess this means you dance to relax right?”

“Yes,” they say at the same time.

I nod again. “I can see how that would be a great release after fighting evil all day. Speaking of your battle against Team Evil, is that what motivates you in life? What is your life dream and what do you do to make your dreams come true?”

A dark expression crosses Carina’s face. Alexander wraps an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. “Easy, baby,” he whispers, as power vibrates the air between us, and Carina’s dark chocolate eyes take on an eerie glow.

After several seconds, Carina sucks in a breath and exhales it slow. “Had to ask the tough ones, eh, Celia? Protecting my family and my friends is my top priority. And always will be. It’s my dream to keep them all safe. I’ll face down every single one of our enemies and take out anyone who dares hurt them.” Suddenly, she grins, and a fireball appears above one palm. “Thanks for the handy power, by the way. It rocks.”

I lean back in my chair, relieved the tension has dissipated. “Speaking of your enemies and your powers, anything or anyone standing in the way of happiness right now? And can you also tell us a little more about your abilities? Same question to you, Alexander.”

Carina closes her hand, snuffing out the fireball. “Our enemies are many. Currently, a bunch of bad vampires have issues with my relatives. I’ll need to take care of these pesky fangy troublemakers. As for my abilities, well I can burn vampires. I’m also strong, fast, agile. Can chat with my vampire family in my head. Pretty good with a sword too, thanks to my mentor Jonas’s training. Your turn, Alexander.”

Alexander kisses her cheek then cocks his head at me. “My favorite ability is telepathy. Being able to talk to Carina mind to mind. As a vampire, I’m powerful, quick, and generally deadly. I’m fairly good at playing piano, too.”

“Good?” Carina scoffs. “You’re freaking fantastic.” She glances at me. “Next question?”

They are so cute together, I almost forgot this is an interview. “Hm, how about sharing your favorite and least favorite memories from childhood? And your biggest fears?”

Carina rolls her eyes. “Always with the dark stuff, Celia. Sheesh. Favorite childhood memory is flying with Jonas when I was a little kid.” She gives me a disgruntled scowl. “My least favorite would be the one where I witnessed a murder. While the victim was holding me in his arms. Yeah, not fun. And biggest fear?” She exchanges a long look with Alexander.

I suspect they’re chatting mind to mind, then Alexander says, “Our biggest fear is losing each other.”

“And the darkness destroying our loved ones,” Carina adds with a grimace. “Not that I’ll ever allow this to happen.” Once again power floods the room, raising the hairs on my arms.

“Thanks for answering the tough questions. I’m sure the readers appreciate it. Let’s end on a happier note, shall we? What’s your life motto? And are you happy with the person you are today?”

Alexander chuckles and dons his sunglasses, looking like the sexy rockstar he is. “Definitely happy. Carina makes me a better man. And vampire. My life motto would have to be ‘Love is the best medicine.’”

“Ohhhh, good one,” Carina says, patting his knee. “I’m happy, too.” Then she leans forward, gazing at me with eyes gone vampire black. “My motto is more a warning: The Chosen One is here to stay. Bad, little vampires beware.”

(Character Interview, copyright 2020, Celia Breslin, all rights reserved.)

Carina’s Halloween Cocktail and Snack

Carina Tranquilli, the star of my Tranquilli Bloodline series, owns two dance clubs and has been known to mix a wicked cocktail. Here’s one of her favorites, plus a savory appetizer she likes to eat with it. Enjoy while watching your favorite spooky movies or reading a spooky tale…

The Bloody Carina
* 1-2 oz. vodka (optional)
* 4 oz. tomato juice (Carina prefers V-8)
* ½ – 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce (Carina makes her own!)
* dash of celery salt to taste
* pepper to taste
* Tabasco to taste
* dash of lemon juice
* twist of lemon as garnish

Pair your tasty beverage with Deviled Eggs. Carina likes Mary Nolan’s recipe on the Food Network

* 6 hard-boiled egg yolks (set aside egg-white halves for later)
* ¼ c mayo (Carina uses Vegenaise for an egg-free, dairy free option)
* 1 tsp vinegar
* 1 tsp yellow mustard (or to taste. More, if you like it tangy like Carina)
* 1/8 tsp salt (optional in Carina’s opinion)
* black pepper to taste
* smoke paprika for garnish

Mix. Dispense into the egg white halves. Eat!

Sale!

Haven (#1) is on sale for 99 cents on Amazon.

Free Read!

Vampire Code, a prequel short story starring Jonas, The Executioner is free on Kobo and Champagne Books.

Series Book Tour & Giveaway!

Visit the Tranquilli Bloodline Series Silver Dagger Book Tour to read excerpts from all three books and enter Celia’s e-gift card giveaway!

About the Series

The Tranquilli Bloodline is an urban fantasy vampire series with high-heat romantic elements, and starring San Francisco dance club owner Carina Tranquilli. Hot, undead musician Alexander is her love-interest. Over the course of the series, Carina transforms into a kickass warrior while wading through abundant family drama, battling assorted enemies, and, of course, falling in love.