Kevan Lyon is a veteran literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency with over 25 years in publishing, specializing in women's fiction, commercial and upmarket fiction, historical fiction, and romance across a wide spectrum of sub-genres — with a strong appetite for diverse voices, global settings, and stories centered on women.
In brief
Kevan Lyon is one of the more broadly-scoped agents in the commercial women's fiction and romance space — the sub-genre list is unusually long, signaling genuine eclecticism rather than a tight niche focus.
The public client signal around Mimi Matthews (historical romance) confirms that Lyon actively champions authors in that space — writers of Victorian-era and historical romance with strong female leads should take note.
Lyon's wishlist consistently prioritizes own-voices and diverse storytelling; this is a stated recurring emphasis, not a passing trend — writers from underrepresented backgrounds have an explicit invitation here.
Despite the breadth of listed sub-genres, the core of Lyon's taste clusters around three poles: (1) upmarket/book-club women's fiction, (2) historical fiction with female protagonists, and (3) romance with emotional and cultural depth.
Lyon's current status notes that new submissions are being accepted by referral only and may be forwarded to colleagues — writers should verify the live form status before querying, as this selective mode could shift.
Lately
Lyon promoted a limited-time ebook deal for Mimi Matthews' historical romance novel, encouraging readers to grab it quickly — a public signal of ongoing enthusiasm for Lyon's clients in the Victorian-era historical romance space.
What I'm looking for in a query is, one, a genre that I represent — so the author has done their homework — and then I'm looking for a description of the story that really captivates me, that has a great hook. Whether it's historical or contemporary, I want something that immediately catches my attention.
My intention is always to read the full manuscript — that's what I'm hoping for. You can sometimes tell in 10 pages, sometimes it takes me 50, sometimes the whole manuscript. When I know I'm loving something I'm racing through it — 50 to 100 pages have gone by very quickly — and I'm beginning to think about which editors I work with might love this book too. When I start to get that feeling, I know I'm on to something.
I represent both historical fiction and contemporary fiction — that includes romance, romantic suspense, and straight women's fiction. It's a great mix for me as a reader and as an agent, because every now and then I just need a contemporary novel and it provides a real reprieve from a dense historical.
What I'm looking for on that introductory call is the author's openness to editorial feedback and a realistic view of what it means to be a debut author in publishing. I want to make sure they have realistic hopes and expectations for where the book may go.
I always say it's a marathon, not a sprint. For most authors it takes a lot of books to get to the point where you're really making enough to make a living. It's book after book after book, building your audience and your platform. Don't give up your day job yet — but if this is what you really want, I'm going to do whatever I can to help you get there.
I see my work with clients as a long-term endeavor — we are in it for a career, not just for a book. I'm very involved in the hands-on management of their career and very accessible to them. My style tends to be quite collaborative, and that's worked well for me over the years.
What Kevan is looking for
Lyon is particularly drawn to stories featuring bold, accomplished women navigating history — especially lesser-known periods and settings that teach readers something genuinely new. Think transportive, immersive narratives where the historical moment is integral to the story, not just backdrop. Multigenerational sagas, multiple timelines, and layered family dramas set in the past are especially welcome.
Lyon wants emotionally gripping contemporary stories — complicated family dynamics, mother-daughter relationships, female friendships, and domestic fiction with real psychological and cultural texture. Stories that resonate as book-club reads, with commercial appeal and literary craft, are a sweet spot. Diverse protagonists and own-voices narratives are explicitly prioritized.
Sweeping love stories with emotional depth are a consistent focus. Lyon is drawn to historical romance, romantic comedies with cultural or global dimensions, multicultural and LGBTQ romance, and adult romantasy. Rom-coms with a 'comedy of manners' sensibility and a strong cultural component are specifically called out. Own-voices and global settings add appeal.
Lyon welcomes contemporary or historical fiction that incorporates a thread of magical realism, as well as fantasy that stays rooted in real-world emotional stakes — cozy fantasy, fantasy romance, historical fantasy, and modernized mythologies or fairy-tale retellings. This works best when the speculative element deepens the human story rather than driving a plot-heavy genre narrative.
Domestic suspense and romantic suspense are on Lyon's radar, particularly when anchored by a strong female protagonist and emotional relationships. Historical mysteries also qualify. The suspense element should complement character-driven storytelling rather than eclipse it.
Across every category Lyon represents, BIPOC, Latinx, Asian, Caribbean, and LGBTQ+ perspectives are explicitly and repeatedly sought. This is not a sub-category — it is a lens applied to everything above. Writers from underrepresented communities have a standing and repeatedly stated invitation.
Not the right fit
On Kevan's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kevan
Lyon is currently in a referral-preferred mode — if you have a connection to an existing Lyon client or a mutual industry contact, a warm introduction will significantly strengthen your position before submitting cold.
Verify the live form status before submitting; the selective/referral-only mode observed in April 2026 can change, and Lyon's colleagues at the same agency may be accepting unsolicited queries in overlapping categories.
Lead your query with the diversity or own-voices dimension of your work if applicable — Lyon names this as a top priority across every category, and burying it is a missed opportunity.
Frame your story around the emotional core and character relationships first, then genre — Lyon's taste gravitates toward feelings and stakes over plot mechanics.
If querying historical fiction, be specific about the time period and setting in your first paragraph; Lyon explicitly seeks 'unique settings and time periods' and finds the historical era itself a selling point.
For romantic comedies, emphasize the cultural or global setting in your pitch — Lyon specifically calls out global settings as a plus, and a generic domestic rom-com is a harder sell than one with a distinct sense of place.
Avoid pitching your project as primarily plot-driven genre fiction (hard fantasy, thriller, military fiction) — Lyon's interest, even in speculative sub-genres, is character and relationship first.
If your book has book-club or upmarket crossover appeal, say so explicitly in the query — Lyon uses those descriptors as affirmative signals, not just genre labels.