The winners of the 2025 Ink Book Prize were announced (September 25th) at a celebration event at Nomad Bookshop, London, hosted by prize co-founders Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis.
Now in its second year, the Ink Book Prize honours excellence in independent and self-published books from across the UK and Ireland. With categories spanning Adult Fiction, Children’s/YA, Non-Fiction, and Best Debut, the prize continues to showcase the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of indie authors. Each category was independently judged by a wide range of people from across the UK, including teachers, librarians, parents, book reviewers and bloggers.
The top three winners in each category are:
Adult Fiction
- Her Empty Chair by Sunna Coleman – WINNER
- The Art of Life by SL Russell – SECOND PLACE
- From Glasgow Without Love by Albrin Junior – THIRD PLACE
Children’s / YA
- Even Lions Get Scared by Dr Marcelle Moore – WINNER
- Ringside Gamble by SJ Clarke – SECOND PLACE
- Jump 2 by JG Nolan – THIRD PLACE
Non-Fiction
- The Thames Path Sketch Journal by Charles Leon – WINNER
- They’re All Barking: A Dog’s Guide to Human Behaviour by Professor Daniel Springer-Spaniel – SECOND PLACE
- The Surrender Agenda by Lorraine Ansell – THIRD PLACE
Best Debut
- Ringside Gamble by SJ Clarke – WINNER
- Even Lions Get Scared by Dr Marcelle Moore – SECOND PLACE
- Her Empty Chair by Sunna Coleman – THIRD PLACE
Each winner received a beautiful bespoke Ink Book Prize trophy, celebrating their achievement in a year that saw an impressive range of submissions from independent authors across the UK and Ireland.
Ink Book Prize co-founder and award-winning author Abiola Bello said:
“I started my career in self-publishing and know first-hand how challenging it can be. The Ink Book Prize is about recognising that hard work, the incredible talent, and the dedication indie authors pour into their books. The winners this year show the very best of what indie publishing has to offer.”
Ink Book Prize co-founder and publishing entrepreneur at Literally PR, Helen Lewis added:
“Indie authors are among the most entrepreneurial, creative, and resilient voices in the industry. To win an Ink Book Prize is an incredible achievement that we hope will help shine a spotlight on these books, their authors, and the thriving indie publishing community.”
The 2025 ceremony marked the second year of the Ink Book Prize, following the successful 2024 launch where the inaugural winners were: The Moose That Saved Christmas by Emily Lloyd-Gale (Children’s), Thirty-Eight Days of Rain by Eva Asprakis (Fiction), In Search of Lost Glitter by Sarah Nicholson (Non-Fiction), and Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief by Claire Linney (Debut).
The Ink Book Prize continues to amplify the vibrant world of indie publishing, offering a platform for creativity, courage, and community.
