Agent Spotlight: Kevan Lyon

This week's Agent Spotlight features Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
Status: Open to submissions.
About: "Kevan Lyon is a founding partner of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. With over 25 years in the publishing business, including over 10 years as a literary agent and 17+ years on the wholesale, retail and distribution side of the business, Kevan brings an informed and unique perspective to her work with clients. Her background on the buying and retail side of publishing affords her helpful insight into what types of books will sell and how to market them. Kevan holds an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.

Kevan is currently looking for women’s fiction, with an emphasis on commercial women’s fiction and historical fiction in particula.. Kevan works with her authors to help them realize their dreams of being published and to build a long term career as a writer, and strives to partner with her clients on all phases of the publishing path. Authors on Kevan’s list span a broad range of genres in women’s fiction including historical fiction, romance, mystery, commercial fiction and young adult. She loves to be swept away by a captivating story and fresh narrative voice. Kevan represents numerous New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling authors including Rachel Hollis, Kate Quinn, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Laura Kaye, Stephanie Dray, Chanel Cleeton, Jennifer Probst, Kristen Proby, Shelley Noble, Julie Kenner, Laura Griffin, and Jennifer Robson, among others." (Link)
About the Agency:
“Our Agency’s mission is to help writers achieve their publishing dreams. We want to work with authors not just for a book but for a career – we are dedicated to building long-term relationships with our authors and publishing partners.
Our goal is to help find homes for books that engage, entertain, and make a difference. From conception, through a collaborative and engaged editorial process, to finding a publisher and beyond, we partner with our authors to ensure success in finding the right publisher and long term success on the market.” (Link)
Web Presence:
Marsal Lyon website.
Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Agency Facebook.
Twitter @KevanLyon.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Fiction: Literary fiction, mystery, commercial, women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, young adult, thriller, and suspense
Non-Fiction: Current events, narrative, memoir, environment, parenting, medical, women's
issues,health and fitness, and pets/animals.
From an Interview (5/2011):
“I represent all types of women’s fiction, some non-fiction and young adult fiction. In the broad women’s fiction category I represent commercial women’s fiction both contemporary and historical, mystery and suspense, and all genres of romance. The only exception is I don’t do much in the Science Fiction or inspirational categories. I am always looking for fresh stories with a great voice that really draws the reader into the characters’ world and the story – both in women’s and young adult fiction. I am particularly looking to build my young adult author list as well as women’s
commercial fiction.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Science fiction and erotica
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients:
There is a list of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency clients on the website.
Ms. Lyon’s clients include:
Jennifer L. Armentrout, Tracy Bilen, Valerie Bowman, Evangeline Collins, Stuart Coleman, Brittany Geragotelis, Laura Griffin, David Helvarg, Cayla Kluver, Margaret Mallory, Katie McGarry, Shelley Noble, Erika Robuck, among others
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
E-mail: Send a query with the word “Query” in the subject line.Please include a contact telephone number.
See the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Query Tips:
See Ms. Lyon’s Twitter feed and the interviews linked below for tips.
Response Times:
Unknown
What's the Buzz?
Kevan Lyon co-founded the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency after several years with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and numerous in the wholesale, distribution and retail side of publishing. She is a respected literary agent with a successful client list.
I recommend following on her Twitter @KevanLyon where she often tweets submission tips and client news.
Interviews:
Interview with Super Literary Agent, Kevan Lyon at YA Fusion (5/2011).
Contact:
Please see the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 4/23/20.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 4/23/20.

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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These profiles feature agents who accept children's and/or young adult fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.