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 15 years as a literary agent and many 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 handles mostly women’s fiction, with an emphasis on commercial women’s fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction and romantic fantasy.  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.

Her focus is on high concept, upmarket book club fiction and intensely romantic women’s fiction and fantasy. Her list included Reese Book Club Picks, genre defining women’s fiction and long running international bestselling series. She is looking for a fresh approach, a defining hook to a story and page turning pacing.

When she’s not reading or working her email obsessively, she loves to walk her many dogs, spend time near the beach in her home town and travel internationally." (From the agency website)

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.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Marsal Lyon website.
Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Agency Facebook.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker.
Manuscript Wish List

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.
Kevan represents numerous New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling authors including Jennifer L. Armentrout, Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Chanel Cleeton, Natasha Lester, Evie Dunmore, Jane Igharo, Shelley Noble, Madeline Martin, Monica Chenault-Kilgore, Laura Griffin, and Jennifer Robson, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes, QueryManager.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
See the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
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.

Interviews and Podcasts:
Podcast Interview at E Train Talks Books (04/2024)
Podcast Interview at Thoughts at a Page (02/2024)
Podcast Interview With Julie Amante (12/21)
Contact:
Please see the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 12/23/2024.
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.