The Legend of Valentine
An Ancient Historical Love Story
by Sheldon Collins
Narrated by David Sweeney-Bear with an ensemble cast
Stephen Endelman, Composer
Daryl Bolicek, Sound Designer
Release date: November 15, 2025
Run Time: 11 hrs, 18 mins
ISBN: 979-8-9913624-2-9
Synopsis – Legend of Valentine
Rome, 268 AD. Valentine, a once-fearsome warrior reborn from the brink of death, sheds his
violent past for a new destiny inspired by his blind lover, Agatha. Amidst the ruthless rule of a
merciless emperor, Valentine undertakes a clandestine mission: to unite lovers in secret
ceremonies, defying imperial decrees that threaten to obliterate the Christian faith. As
Valentine’s covert acts of defiance grow bolder, he challenges the tyrannical order, planting the
seeds for a celebration of love that will echo through the ages—becoming the foundation of
what we now cherish as Valentine’s Day.
The Legend of Valentine is an epic tale of love, war, faith, and rebellion. Against the backdrop
of an empire in chaos, this gripping saga engagingly narrated by David Sweeney-Bear,
supported by an exciting cast, and enhanced with music and sound effects, invites listeners into
a world where love defies all odds.
Audio Book Cast
Sheldon Collins is an award-winning storyteller whose career began in Hollywood as a
screenwriter and director, with films featured on premium television and international festivals.
His critically acclaimed debut novel, The Legend of Valentine, is now being brought to audiences
as an Enhanced Audiobook, co-directed and executive produced by Collins through Hutchinson
& Collins Publishing.
Becky Parker Geist, Co-Director and Producer, is CEO and Founder of Pro Audio Voices, Inc., a
premier audiobook production company. Becky specializes in immersive, high-quality audio and
is known throughout the industry for pairing creative vision with technical precision.
Stephen Endelman, Composer, is a Grammy-nominated composer, arranger, and producer with
more than 70 credits in film, television, and theater, including major titles like Flirting with
Disaster, Evelyn, De-Lovely, Bride of the Wind, and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But
Came Down a Mountain.
Daryl Bolicek, Sound Designer, Music Editor, and Mixing Engineer, is the founder of Wild Horse
Recording, LLC in Stillwater, Minnesota. A lifelong musician, Daryl has transformed decades of
performance and recording into a studio dedicated to storytelling through sound.
David Sweeney-Bear, Narrator, is an Audible-approved producer with over 7 years of
experience and nearly 50 titles recorded for clients like Audible, HarperCollins, and Pro Audio
Voices.
Ensemble Cast: Ryan Haugen (Valentine), Katrina Michaels (Agatha), Scott Allen (Emperor
Claudius), Kitty Kelly (Empress Serena), Wayne LeGette (Emperor Gallienus), John York (Marius),
Lesley Dessalles (Porcia), Nicholas Corda (Bruttius, Junius), Manish Dongardive (Deodatus,
Master Ballavan), Benson Simmonds (Fabius), Chris Coxon (Scaro), Elias Khalil (Senator Didius,
Lucius), Jez Jameson (General Aurelian), Ken Teutsch (Horatius), Sakshi Sharma (Charu), Sarah
Smithton (Claudia), Becky Parker (Iset, Helvia, Empress Salonina), Tom Mumford (Maximus).
