WHO KILLED SAINT VALENTINE?

Hey Thriller fans,

here's a short tale of murder and deception to brighten up your day. :)

Do you know the bloody history of Saint Valentine? Or the Roman festival that may have started it all?

The ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia was celebrated in mid-February. The festivities were dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and to the founders of Rome: Romulus and Remus.

In an early form of speed dating, young men would draw names of eligible women from a box and they would be paired for the duration of the festival. The practice was eventually deemed unchristian and outlawed by the end of the 5th century.

Around that same time, the Christian church established Valentine's Day. The most popular legend of Saint Valentine says that in the 3rd century he was a priest who secretly married young couples against the orders of Emperor Claudius II. The Roman emperor had banned marriage for young men, thinking single men made more dedicated soldiers. Some versions of the story suggest that Valentine was beaten and beheaded on February 14th, around the year 270 AD. Personally, I'm thinking death by bow and arrow firing squad would have been more fitting. Gallows humor! 

If you're wondering Whodunit, historians blame Claudius II for Valentine's demise. The Roman emperor may have gotten away with murder then, but during the Middle Ages the celebration of romance with cards and gifts kicked into high gear. Love triumphed in the end.

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In more recent news, if you love-love-love thrillers, you'll be happy to know that I'm making great progress on my next novel. Tentatively titled The Good Thief, the first draft is almost complete. Here's a brief tease:

To discuss creativity, an inspiring new magazine called Bold Journey recently interviewed me. You can read that article here: 

Here's hoping your Valentine's day is filled with love and unputdownable stories.

As always, for your kind reviews!