🎭🏆 NHA’s Shakespeare Global Prize for Literary Excellence — Winners announced!

REVERENCE by MILENA MCKAY

Two ballerinas. Two fates. One stage.

It's the carefree '80s and Juliette Lucian-Sorel has it all. She’s the greatest dancer to ever grace the floorboards of Palais Garnier, she's royalty to her adoring fans, and Paris is at her feet. Or so it seems…

Katarina Vyatka is defecting from behind the Iron Curtain, desperate to save herself and her career. Or so she claims…

What happens when the Princess of Paris rescues the brightest star in the history of Bolshoi? Will the Paris ballet stage be big enough for both of them? Sparks fly and rivals become lovers as they set their lives ablaze in a torrent of secrets, intrigue and grands jetés!

PUBLISHER

INDEPENDENT

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AUTHOR OF THE YEAR

E.T. Milligan is a published author and award-winning poet. His novels include a five-book fiction detective series entitled The Blake Cutter Detective Series (Book #5 to be released in 2027) and a three-book fiction young-adult series entitled The Looking Glass Ghost Series. He is also the author of a biographical novel promoting organ donor awareness entitled On Linda: Love, Loss, and Renewal: The Case for Human Organ Sharing. His novels have been awarded The International Impact Book Award, The Positive Impact Book Award, Bookfest 2024 Award, Literary Global Book Award, The Firebird Book Award, and Finalist in the American Fiction Award 2024.

Milligan is also an accomplished poet and author of the poetry book Images of Life. He is the recipient of The International Pen Award and Poet of Merit for his inspirational poem ‘I’ll Never Die’, which has been viewed on Facebook by over one million people, shared over 11,000 times and translated into ten languages. His poetry has been published in nine national poetry anthologies.

Milligan served in the U.S. government for 41 years, 23 in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, and 18 as a federal civilian employee. He is the recipient of numerous recognitions including Who's Who among Students in Colleges and Universities, Outstanding Young Men in America and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen of the Year. Milligan conducted book signings tours in Germany and the United States. He has also conducted creative writing seminars at various schools and universities. To learn more about E.T. Milligan, visit his website at www.etmilliganpublishing.com.in

E.T. MILLIGAN

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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Cynthia Carr is an acclaimed biographer and cultural historian whose extraordinary body of work has illuminated some of the most compelling figures, movements, and overlooked stories in modern American history. For decades, her meticulous research, powerful storytelling, and commitment to preserving marginalized voices have established her as one of the nation's most respected nonfiction authors.

She is the author of the critically acclaimed Fire in the Belly: The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz, winner of the Lambda Literary Award and finalist for the prestigious J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. Her distinguished bibliography also includes Our Town: A Heartland Lynching, a Haunted Town, and the Hidden History of White America and On Edge: Performance at the End of the Twentieth Century, works celebrated for their depth, insight, and fearless examination of American culture.

In 2025, Carr added another landmark achievement to her career with Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar, the first comprehensive biography of the legendary Warhol superstar and transgender pioneer. Widely praised as a masterpiece of biography, the book was hailed as "Monumental" by The New Yorker, "Heroic" by The New York Times Book Review, "Thrilling" by the Los Angeles Times, and "Prismatic" by The Atlantic. The biography earned the 2025 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was named one of the year's best books by numerous major publications, including The New York Times Book Review, Kirkus Reviews, and The Brooklyn Public Library.

Throughout her distinguished career, Cynthia Carr has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to documenting lives that have shaped American art, culture, identity, and history. Her biographies are recognized not only for their exceptional scholarship and narrative brilliance, but also for their compassion, humanity, and enduring cultural significance.

In recognition of her outstanding literary achievements, remarkable contributions to nonfiction, and lifelong dedication to preserving important voices and histories, the 2026 SHAKESPEARE PRIZE presented by the NATIONAL HONOR ALLIANCE proudly honors Cynthia Carr with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

CYNTHIA CARR

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2026 SHAKESPEARE GLOBAL PRIZE CATEGORY WINNERS

LITERARY FICTION

HISTORICAL FICTION

Antique — Seth Panitch — Grand Central / Hachette

HISTORICAL FICTION

The Flower of Harlem — Alex Amirian — AXP Productions

The Life and Times of Milton Roberts — A. Raymond — Independent

SCIENCE FICTION

HISTORICAL FICTION

SCIENCE FICTION

Quest for Ghostly Secrets — E.T. Milligan — ET Milligan Publishing

HORROR

FANTASY

SCIENCE FICTION

How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps — Jessica Huntley — Self-Published

FANTASY

On the Edge (Of a Stroke) — Wallace E. Briggs — Self-Published

A Dagger in the Ivy — Dorothy Dreyer — Crimson Fox Publishing

ROMANCE

FANTASY

Reverence — Milena McKay — Milena McKay

SPECULATIVE FICTION

Children of Madness — Jarrett Brandon Early — Jarrett Brandon Early

MYSTERY THRILLER

SPECULATIVE FICTION

Past the Line — E.T. Milligan — ET Milligan Publishing

You Never Live Until You Die — E.T. Milligan — ET Milligan Publishing

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

SPECULATIVE FICTION

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

Static in the Attic — E.T. Milligan — ETMilligan Publishing

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

SHORT STORY COLLECTION

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

The Secret of Moonrise Manor: A Raven Gallows Mystery — Stephanie Bearce — Shadow Mountain

SHORT STORY COLLECTION

Six Stories Up — Kregg P. J. Jorgenson — BookLocker

DEBUT NOVEL

SHORT STORY COLLECTION

Antique — Seth Panitch — Grand Central / Hachette

CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Inheritance of Silence — John Erik Dunnam — Austin Macauley Publishers

PLAYWRITING/DRAMA

CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Appomattox: A Civil War Drama — Wes Phinney — Independent

NARRATIVE POETRY

CONTEMPORARY FICTION

MEMOIR/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Narrative Poetry

The Flowers That Bled Death — Nu Yeng Hang — Nu Yeng Hang

MEMOIR/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I am C.R. — Craig Ohlau — unpublished

HISTORY

MEMOIR/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

SELF-HELP

FBI Snitches, Blackmail and Obscene Ethics at the Supreme Court — Alex Charns — Alex Charns

SELF-HELP

MEMOIR/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

SELF-HELP

10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure — Teri M. Brown — Little Rules Pulishing

INSPIRATIONAL/SPIRITUAL

BEST INDEPENDENT PRESS TITLES

52 Pieces: A Manual of Light to Survive the Abyss of Trauma — Dr. Marina Kostina — Primedia eLaunch LLC

BEST INDEPENDENT PRESS TITLES

Inheritance of Silence — John Erik Dunnam — Austin Macauley Publishers

The Flower of Harlem — Alex Amirian — AXP Productions

EXCELLENCE IN STORYTELLING

BEST INDEPENDENT PRESS TITLES

EXCELLENCE IN WORLD-BUILDING

Six Stories Up — Kregg P. J. Jorgenson — BookLocker

EXCELLENCE IN WORLD-BUILDING

A Dagger in the Ivy — Dorothy Dreyer — Crimson Fox Publishing

BEST SELF PUBLISHED BOOKS

EXCELLENCE IN WORLD-BUILDING

BEST SELF PUBLISHED BOOKS

On the Edge (Of a Stroke) — Wallace E. Briggs — Self-Published

The Flowers That Bled Death — Nu Yeng Hang — Nu Yeng Hang

Six Stories Up — Kregg P. J. Jorgenson — BookLocker

VISIONARY FICTION

EXCELLENCE IN WORLD-BUILDING

BEST SELF PUBLISHED BOOKS

Why I Love Mom — Maggie McMischief — Independent

BEST BOOK COVER DESIGN

The Sons of Chester — Craig Ohlau & Kevin Gingrich — Black Rose Writing

BEST AUDIOBOOK

BEST BOOK COVER DESIGN

The Sons of Chester — Craig Ohlau & Kevin Gingrich — Black Rose Writing

BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

BEST BOOK COVER DESIGN

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

Why I Love Mom — Maggie McMischief — Independent

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

CHILDREN'S INSPIRATIONAL BOOK

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

Niko and the Mysterious Wave — Bryan Luzon — Bryan Luzon Publishing

CHILDREN'S INSPIRATIONAL BOOK

The Sons & The Stars — Rey A. Banda — Northopolis Publishing

CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL BOOK

CHILDREN'S INSPIRATIONAL BOOK

Niko and the Mysterious Wave — Bryan Luzon — Bryan Luzon Publishing

Who Can Enter

The Shakespeare Global Prize for Literary Excellence welcomes submissions from authors around the world across a wide range of genres and categories. The contest is open to writers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels — from emerging voices to established authors. We proudly encourage international submissions and believe every writer deserves the opportunity to have their work recognized and celebrated. Deadline to Enter: July 4, 2027

🏆📚 WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST ✨🎉

Mission of the Contest

Inspired by the literary legacy of William Shakespeare, the mission of the Shakespeare Global Prize for Literary Excellence is to recognize exceptional writing and support authors from around the world. The contest is designed to provide fair and thoughtful recognition for both emerging and established writers across a variety of genres. We aim to encourage originality, highlight strong storytelling, and create opportunities for authors to share their work with a wider audience.

Recognition & Awards and How to Apply

Beautiful, one of a kind Digital Seals are awarded for all winners and finalists.
Press Releases & Public Announcements to highlight author achievements.
The Winners receive a Lifetime Recognition Listing in one of our Honor Societies.

How to Apply

Process Entry Fee.
Complete the online application form while selecting your category or categories.
Upload your manuscript, cover, and any other book details.
Submit the completed entry form and book details to team@nationalhonoralliance.com.
Deadline to Enter: July 4, 2027

Entry Fees & Why We Charge

There is a modest entry fee associated with each submission. These fees allow us to:

Compensate judges and reviewers for their time and expertise.
Cover administrative costs, promotional materials, and website management.
Ensure long-term sustainability so that our contest remains credible, professional, and impactful.

Our goal is transparency: every dollar collected supports the contest’s mission of visibility, recognition, and opportunity for the authors.

Contest Structure

Submission: Authors submit their works in one or more categories.
Review: Entries are reviewed by our judging panel, which consists of educators, editors, and literary professionals.
Recognition: Winners are announced publicly, with awards, digital seals, and promotional opportunities.

We celebrate the breadth and creativity of literature by recognizing a diverse range of storytelling styles, voices, and genres. Each category will produce its own Winner or Winners. From the pool of category Winners, a single Book of the Year will be selected. From the entire pool of entrants, a single Author of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award will be selected. Please note that due to the high volume of entries received during each award cycle, submitting your book in multiple eligible categories may increase your overall opportunities for recognition and the chance of winning within a category.