Leaks, Laughter and Learning

In common with many of us I would imagine, I often look at the date and exclaim, “Oh my goodness, my slot is upon me! What on earth shall I write about?” Not this month. Gentle reader, my subject is a recent event and if you have been on the Facebook page over the past few days, it will come as no surprise to you. 

Last year, shortly after the second lockdown came to an end, I made my way to Cambridge early one September morning minus my favourite eyeliner (it turned up under the shoe rack in the end) and plus a fine new birthday outfit to address my first ever conference. The marvellous Andrew Chamberlain works at Ridley Hall and was in charge. For me, it was life-changing and I was rather hoping that there would be another one this year. 

There was. 

The second British Christian Writers’ Conference has been in the planning since February this year. From fairly early on in the proceedings, Andy and I felt that God had a big plan for the day. Andy secured the speakers (Tony Collins and Jason Smith, aka Lovely Jason who built my website and helps me with my social media) and then, almost by chance, I met up with one of my old youth group at a funeral. We had a wonderful chat; I mentioned the conference and she asked if we’d like her to bring a prayer team (she now works at Kingdom Living Ministries in London). Fast forward a few months and the conference was fully booked and Lauren and the team joining Tony, Andy, Jason and myself.

Now, I am a bit of a last minute girl. This is borne out by the fact that I’m writing this at 8.30 on the night of the 6^th. I had my talk and workshop title and I knew roughly what I wanted to say but I hadn’t had time to write it down. Five miles away in Woodbridge, Jason was in much the same situation, both of us self-employed sloggers drowning under an avalanche of work. Which is great, but stressful when there are only so many hours in the day.

Somehow, the two of us got our talks written and timed. We had a brief, slightly hysterical chat on the phone and agreed that we were idiots and would write anything we were asked to present six months ahead of time were we ever to be invited again. I emailed Tony on the Thursday about our author/agent chat and was enormously encouraged by his use of the phrase, “winging it.” 

So there we were at 7.45 on Saturday morning in the car park at Ridley Hall. Me, the peerless Mr Leigh who, as you will recall, is the Head of both Nutrition and Logistics and Distribution, and Jason, fretting about the fact that he’d left his colourful Speaking Shirt hanging up at home in Woodbridge. Gibbering very slightly, we sat in the car, draining our coffees and shuffling our notes. Andy and his son Ben let us in and we started the set-up, draping our cloth over the book table and arranging books and merch in an attractive fashion. For no good reason, my internet refused to work. I tried everything but an invisible force was stopping me from connecting. I started to feel a familiar sense of panic overtaking me until Andy saved the day with a secret password and code combo. Give that man a cape. 

Mr Leigh and Jason drove at top speed to TK Maxx in Cambridge where a pale blue shirt was sourced. Our, “Meet the Author” sign toppled from its perch on the stand and knocked books to the floor. The “e” and “t” disappeared, transforming my message to potential readers to, “Me the Author.” Mr Leigh grovelled about on the floor and found the rogue letters. 

You never know how these things are going to go, but from the start, there was a feeling of anticipation in the room. I briefed Mr Leigh on the use of the Sum Up machine and how to work the pre-order link on my laptop and left him on the bookstand. I glanced over as Tony was giving his talk and could see he was utterly engrossed. At home, we often joke about his filter and here was our first speaker talking about six of them. Halfway through, for no apparent reason, water began leaking through the ceiling and down the wall. There was a bit of a theme emerging. I was up next, marvelling that my carefully timed 25 minute talk was in danger of over-running my allotted 40 minutes. The sign fell over again, knocking a glass of water to the floor. I made a joke about laughing and leaking which the female delegates found hugely funny. 

Jason’s talk was fantastic, engaging and jargon-free. Again, Mr Leigh was agog. At lunch, we scattered, me on a table with a group of lovely ladies including Maressa, Sarah Tummey and Sophia Anyanwu, him on another with a bunch of complete strangers having a whale of a time. 

So much happened. The KLM prayer team had booked individual slots all through the day. I’ve had prayer from them before and always marvel at how they hear directly from God and tell me just what I need to hear. Saturday was no exception. 

There was a lot of laughter. I liked that. Everyone was chatting and engaging and asking questions. I knew some people, met others for the first time and had a strong sense that exactly those 50 delegates were the one that God had chosen for just that day and place. A sense that keys were being turned in hearts came to me. 

Nick and Jason are not yet Christians. On the way home, they both said how much they’d enjoyed the day and how much they’d learned. It’s testament to the characters and integrity of everyone there that I didn’t worry for a second that anyone might say something to put them off faith. Not once. And I rarely feel that way. 

Something’s going on. God has plans for us all. Never have I felt that so strongly and never have I been more excited for the future. Am I tired? Yes, I can barely keep my eyes open. But believe me, it was all worth it for a day of fellowship and laughter and learning. And the occasional leak.

The phrase that sticks in my head came from Tony. “You must not only catch your reader but hold them.” We writers are all working towards that, but whatever stage we’re at in the journey, God is holding us in His strong, loving hands and smiling at what we achieve in His name.

Ruth is married with three children, one husband, assorted poultry and a cat. She is the author of “The Diary of Isabella M Smugge”, “The Trials of Isabella M Smugge”. “The Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge” is available for pre-order in September and in the shops in October. Ruth writes for a number of small businesses and charities and blogs and book reviews at ruthleighwrites.co.uk. She has abnormally narrow sinuses and a morbid fear of raw tomatoes, but has decided not to let this get in the way of a meaningful life. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok at @ruthleighwrites and at her website, www.ruthleighwrites.co.uk.

To pre-order your signed copy of the Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge and unlock the first four pages exclusively, visit the shop here: 

https://www.ruthleighwrites.co.uk/shop/the-continued-times-of-isabella-m-smugge