Understanding Publishing Agreements
with Dr. Patricia Leavy
Course offered by:
London Arts-Based Research Centre Methods Ltd.
April 21, 2026
19:00-21:00 (London Time)
Online, via Zoom
Fees: £125 (15% off for LABRC Members)
Price exclude Ticket Tailor fees
Description: At a time when we’re reading news stories about authors’ work being sold to AI training or uploaded in digital repositories, and other practices that surprise many authors, some are feeling confused, uninformed, and disempowered. This 2-hour webinar will provide everything you need to know about publishing agreements. All the major components of publishing agreements will be reviewed. Considerable time will be spent on licensing and copyright and understanding how issues may come up in more than one spot in a publishing agreement with different wording (and how to identify them). Examples from real book contracts with known publishers will be used, including the clauses that allow for things like the sale of authors’ work to AI training and other entities that authors may not be aware of. Not only will we cover what can be removed or amended in contracts, but there will also be examples of clauses and language that can be added to contracts. Again, examples from real book contracts will be used. Publishing is an exciting time for any author or aspiring author, and no one should enter the process feeling confused, overwhelmed, or disempowered, nor should any contract be signed unless all terms are fully understood by all parties. The goal of this webinar is to arm you with useful information so that you engage in productive contract negotiations and walk away from the table feeling that your work is in good hands. There will be a formal presentation and ample time for Q&A during which you can ask general or specific questions. All welcome at any career level. This is important information for all authors or aspiring authors. Experience shows that even the most well published authors could benefit greatly from a better understanding of their contracts.
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a world-renowned researcher and bestselling author. She has published fifty books, earning commercial and critical success in both nonfiction and fiction, and her books have been translated into many languages. She has extensive experience publishing with academic and trade publishers, both large and indie, and has recently worked with a hybrid publisher. Her books have garnered more than 100 awards including USA Best Book Awards, Independent Press Awards, International Impact Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards, Firebird Book Awards, International Book Awards, New York City Big Book Awards, and American Fiction Awards. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In addition to her experience as an author, Patricia has served as series creator and editor for 10 book series, partnering with 4 different publishers including Oxford University Press and Guilford Press. Through her fiction and nonfiction book series, she has vetted thousands of book proposals and helped hundreds of authors publish their work, including numerous bestselling and award-winning titles. A fierce author advocate, she successfully spearheaded game-changing negotiations with Brill, a global publishing house with a 300+ year history, securing better terms for all their authors. In 2022 an empowerment network gave her an award for “Leadership and Humanitarian Efforts in Literature and Publishing.” She has vast insider knowledge regarding publishing agreements and is eager to share her wisdom and answer your questions.
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