Zachary's Cry Long Listed for Book Viral 2025 Millennium Award

What the Book Viral 2025 Millennium Award Represents

The Book Viral Millennium Award is a prestigious annual recognition celebrating books that demonstrate exceptional storytelling, originality, and impact. To be long listed means Zachary’s Cry stood out among hundreds of submissions from around the world. The award seeks to highlight works that resonate deeply with readers and contribute meaningfully to contemporary literature.

Whilst Zachary’s Cry did not progress to the short list, nor ultimately win the award, being long listed is nonetheless something I am extremely proud of — particularly as this is only my third self-published book.

Books that reach the long list are evaluated by a panel of judges who assess narrative strength, character development, and the emotional connection a story creates. For Zachary’s Cry to be included, it had to meet high standards of quality and relevance.

How Zachary’s Cry Earned This Recognition

When I wrote Zachary’s Cry, my aim was to tell a story that explored resilience, hope, and the power of human connection. The book follows Zachary’s journey through profound challenges that test both his spirit and the relationships around him. Many readers have shared how the story encouraged them to face their own struggles with greater courage and compassion.

I believe several factors contributed to the book’s recognition:

• Authentic storytelling: The narrative is based on a true story and grounded in real emotions and lived experience, which many readers find deeply relatable.

• Strong character arcs: Zachary and the supporting characters develop in ways that feel genuine and earned.

• Engaging prose: The writing balances vivid description with clear, accessible language.

• Reader feedback: Positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations helped the book gain momentum.

Together, these elements made Zachary’s Cry a strong contender for the Millennium Award.

What Being Long Listed Means for Readers and Supporters

For those who have already read and supported Zachary’s Cry, this long listing is very much a shared achievement. It affirms the connection between the story and its readers. Those who found meaning in Zachary’s journey can take pride in knowing that the book is gaining wider recognition.

If you haven’t yet read Zachary’s Cry, this moment offers a good opportunity to discover the story. Being long listed signals that the book offers a thoughtful and emotionally resonant reading experience.

How This Recognition Shapes the Future of Zachary’s Cry

Awards and nominations can open doors in many ways:

• Increased visibility: Award recognition helps new readers discover the book.

• Broader distribution: Bookstores and libraries are often more inclined to stock recognised titles.

• Adaptation opportunities: Recognition can attract interest from filmmakers or other media producers.

• Author growth: Experiences like this encourage me to keep refining my craft and pursuing new stories.

This milestone represents an important step towards reaching a wider audience and continuing to create meaningful work.

How You Can Support Zachary’s Cry

Your support has been vital so far, and it continues to make a real difference in an increasingly crowded self-published marketplace. If you would like to help further, here are a few simple ways you can do so:

• Share your thoughts about Zachary’s Cry with friends or book clubs.

• Leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or your preferred bookstore platform.

• Share news of the long listing on your social media channels.

• Consider gifting the book to someone who might appreciate its message.

Every action helps build momentum and introduces the story to new readers.

Other Long Listed Authors

The image below shows the other books that were long listed, those that progressed to the short list, and the eventual winner — The Shadow Earl by Stella Riley. I feel both honoured and humbled to be included among such accomplished writers.