The Artist Academic: An Indelible Evening with Patricia Leavy
January 12, 2026 • 7:00pm (London Time)
Online via Zoom (FREE-registration required)
Merging Artistic and Academic Callings: Chat with Patricia Leavy about The Artist Academic
While the future was uncertain, it was hopeful. The road ahead was foggy and I didn’t know
exactly where it would lead, but I knew I wanted to stay on it. Somewhere in the distance, I could envision a career that didn’t just look good, but one that felt good. Regardless, I was enjoying the journey again . . . There is no revenge for being subjected to misogyny and abuse. Success is lovely but never guaranteed and always fleeting. Creativity though is a well that never runs dry. It is a tool, an elixir, and an antidote. It can even be a weapon, when we need it to be.
Part memoir, part guidebook, The Artist Academic is essential reading for anyone looking to
bridge their academic and artistic endeavors. Leavy details her exemplary career in academia, the frustrations that led her to explore creative approaches to research, her journey to becoming a public intellectual, and her successful transition to commercial novelist. The Artist Academic addresses the question Leavy is most frequently asked: How did you do it? In this deep dive into the backstage of her career, she holds nothing back and not only offers personal experiences, but also a roadmap for others. Leavy points to the “messy gut checks” that led her to “turning points” and how you might do the same. This book is filled with invaluable advice and insider tips on the publishing industry, how to build bridges between academia and the public, developing an artist platform, dealing with misogyny and other challenges, and protecting your creativity. Written with grace, enthusiasm, and honesty, this is an inspirational guide to finding and living your purpose.
Upon release, The Artist Academic was the Amazon #1 Bestseller in College & University Education and the #1 New Release in Biographies/Memoirs of Authors. It is also the recipient of the 2025 American Writing Award for Academic/Education book and was honored as a finalist in Autobiography/Memoir and Narrative Non-Fiction.
Join us for an exclusive discussion with Patricia about The Artist Academic. We will talk about becoming a creative, balancing scholarly and artistic callings, developing an author or artist platform, growing an audience and going public, industry challenges, and the joys of walking a creative path. There will be time for Q&A.
The Artist Academic is available for purchase through our LABRC online store.
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