Sheldon Collins’ The Legend of Valentine wins fourth national honor of 2026

Sheldon Collins’ The Legend of Valentine received a Distinguished Favorite honor from the NYC Big Book Award®, adding a fourth national recognition this year for the audiobook. The win also strengthens Collins’ push to adapt the story into a limited television series, with the audiobook serving as a proof of concept.

Why it matters: - The new honor extends a strong awards run for The Legend of Valentine and raises the project’s profile with entertainment buyers. - The audiobook is now functioning as a test case for a larger screen adaptation, which can help the novel reach new audiences. - Collins is using the recognition to position the story for development as a limited television series.

What happened: - Sheldon Collins’ The Legend of Valentine received a Distinguished Favorite honor in Audiobook – Fiction from the NYC Big Book Award®. - The recognition is the novel’s fourth national honor of 2026. - The 22-performer dramatic audiobook has also been recognized by the Gracie Awards, the Independent Press Award and the Society of Voice Arts Awards. - The Society of Voice Arts Awards effort brought seven nominations and two wins across multiple categories. - Collins said the audiobook showed the story could work in a longer format and serve as a proof of concept for television. - Collins is currently developing The Legend of Valentine as a limited series and preparing it for presentation to the entertainment industry.

The details: - The story is set in Rome in 268 AD. - The novel reimagines the legends surrounding Saint Valentine and the origins of Valentine’s Day. - The plot follows a former Roman warrior who risks everything to secretly unite lovers in defiance of a ruthless emperor. - Collins described the audiobook as a production with 22 performers, music, sound design and dramatic direction. - Collins said the project has a world and characters built to expand, citing the adaptation paths of Shōgun and Outlander. - Publishers Weekly called the book a piercing exploration of faith, sacrifice and redemption. - Kirkus Reviews described it as a complex and ambitious adventure for lovers of ancient historical romance. - The Legend of Valentine is available in hardcover, paperback and eBook through Amazon. - The audiobook is available worldwide on major listening platforms including Audible, Spotify, Apple Books and Google Play. - Project information is available at The Legend of Valentine. - Industry, publishing and media inquiries go to James Pacitti, Esq. at james@pacittilawfirm.com. - Collins’ Instagram account is Sheldon Collins author.

Between the lines: - The awards momentum gives Collins a stronger case that the property can travel beyond the page and into serialized television. - The combination of a large cast audiobook and multiple honors suggests the audio edition is doing more than promoting the book; it is packaging the story as an adaptation-ready IP. - The mention of Shōgun and Outlander signals the type of audience and industry positioning Collins is aiming for: prestige historical storytelling with franchise potential.

What’s next: - Collins is preparing the limited-series adaptation for industry presentation. - Producers, representatives and other interested industry parties are being invited to contact Collins’ representation for materials. - The project’s next step is moving from award-winning audiobook proof of concept to formal entertainment development.

The bottom line: - The Legend of Valentine is emerging as both an award-winning audiobook and a screen-adaptation candidate, with 2026’s recognition cycle helping build momentum for the next phase.