‘I finally felt seen!’
Ruth Leigh, Winner, ACW Book of the Year 2025
This September, Instant Apostle were delighted to see author Ruth Leigh win the Association of Christian Writers (ACW) Book of the Year Award at the CRT 2025 conference! An industry gathering of retailers, publishers, writers and more from across the Christian book industry, it is always an encouragement to meet together – and to win such a prestigious award amid a field that includes large multi-nationals from the US is an incredible honour for us as a small company.
Ruth’s award-winning novel, The Further Adventures of Isabella M Smugge, is the fourth in a dynamic, light-hearted series that has seen her Mum-fluencer heroine developing – through various crises – from a very selfish character into one who is learning about faith and how to be a true friend. In The Further Adventures, Isabella begins attending a local church homegroup and we get to see a key element of Christian life through the eyes of a total new-comer – with hilarious and poignant results. This is reflective of how Ruth deals with spiritual questions throughout the series, making it a very safe way of raising Christian concepts such as forgiveness with those who might not otherwise be open to them.
A couple of years ago, Ruth took the brave decision to become a full-time writer. Making a career change in midlife is a daunting step for anyone – but trying to make a living from writing is perhaps, as any author will tell you, an especially difficult task. But Ruth felt clearly led by the Lord, and has a passion for sharing faith with non-Christians through her writing. And unexpectedly winning an industry-leading award can make all the difference!
‘Being shortlisted for the ACW Book of the Year award was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me,’ says Ruth. ‘Having won, I feel hugely encouraged to continue writing and I’m so grateful to the Association of Christian Writers, Instant Apostle and all my readers who are so incredibly supportive. I feel so affirmed and seen!’
Most weekends, Ruth is out at country fairs and markets, selling her books directly to readers and seeking opportunities to talk about faith with her readers – who regularly come back to buy the next instalments of Isabella’s journey! A journey which includes a nascent faith that is beginning to change her.
With the spiritual climate in the UK appearing to become more open, Instant Apostle passionately believe that fiction can be a key means of introducing non-Christians to Jesus in a non-threatening way, and of encouraging believers in their faith. After all, the parables show Jesus loved telling a story! This is the second year in a row that one of our novelists has won the CRT award, and we hope that this will help raise the profile of these gifted authors who have a real calling to share the gospel.
Nicki Copeland, who heads up Instant Apostle, comments: ‘Instant Apostle are thrilled to be award winners two years in a row for our contemporary fiction titles. We’re so delighted for Ruth, and the award is very well deserved. When Isabella M Smugge was launched into the world back in 2021, who knew how far she would go! We’re so pleased to see both such an excellent series of books and Ruth’s talent as a writer being recognised. Thank you again to the Association of Christian Writers and to CRT!’
So if you haven’t already, why not grab yourself a copy of Ruth’s award-winning novel and find out why Isabella M Smugge merited such a big award!