SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: Cecilia Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency

Good morning, everyone!

We are very excited to introduce another Spotlight On interview with Cecilia Lyra, an associate agent at P.S. Literary Agency.

Cecilia represents adult fiction and non-fiction. She is particularly drawn to books centred around power (dynamics, imbalance, rise & fall), identity (perception, exploration, intersectionality), and dysfunction (familial, societal, cultural) told with originality, nuance, and authenticity. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, Cecilia is passionate about representing under or misrepresented voices and stories that contribute to a larger cultural conversation.

The P.S. Literary Agency (PSLA) has championed creators for nearly two decades since opening in 2005. Since then, they’ve built a tradition of connecting their clients with leading publishers in Canada, but also the United States, Europe, and the world.

Check out some highlights from our interview with Cecilia below!

“I realized how much value I could bring to my clients with both my writing and legal background. And now, here I am: a storyseller.”

What brought you to agenting?

The short answer is: a love of reading.

The longer answer is that I used to be a lawyer and after realizing that legal life wasn’t for me, I took some time off to think about what I wanted to do in life. (At this point, I must offer a shout-out to my husband who is the world’s most supportive man—he’s the one who encouraged me to allow myself the time and space to consider what I truly wanted. Without his support, it would not have been possible. This is a huge privilege and it’s one for which I am very grateful.) I was still lecturing at a university, but it was only twice a week, and that left me with a lot of free time. Any normal human would have travelled, gone to the beach, or done something exciting (what do exciting people do, anyway?). I read—voraciously, widely, continuously. Seriously, I spent entire days devouring novels. I’ve always been an avid reader, but I didn’t have time to read nonstop and finally I did. And it was wonderful! Shortly after that, I started writing. While I do enjoy writing very much I realized that what I really wanted to do was work with stories—much more so than craft them. Being a storyteller was fun, but it wasn’t fluffing me in the way that I wanted. So I went back to school for publishing. That’s when I realized how much value I could bring to my clients with both my writing and legal background. And now, here I am: a storyseller.

What’s at the top of your fiction wish-list? What authors do you love? What kind of books?

I represent works across the literary / commercial spectrum—but only on the adult side (no YA, no kid lit).

Women’s fiction is probably my favorite genre. (It’s not a term I like at all, but for the purposes of clarity, it’s the genre I most enjoy.) I adore stories with dysfunctional, messy, and flawed protagonists. My taste gravitates towards literary and upmarket fiction (in the vein of EXCITING TIMES by Naoise Dolan, WHITE IVY by Susie Yang, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett) though I am also looking for commercial fiction with smooth writing (such as SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid and THE HUSBANDS by Chandler Baker). As well, family stories are like catnip to me, whether family of origin, family of partnership, or found family. I adored L.A. WEATHER by María Amparo Escandón and THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo. Novels about best friends set against the backdrop of competitive, high-stakes, art-based industries: this is what I live for! Contemporary fiction in the vein of Curtis Sittenfeld, Meg Wolitzer, J. Courtney Sullivan, and Delia Ephron is something I’m always looking for. Liane Moriarty is an all-time favorite author. (And, yes, Delia is my favorite Ephron. Sorry, Nora.)

Psychological dramas in the vein of THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain are high on my wish-list, as are high-concept thrillers that keep me guessing. I devoured WE WERE NEVER HERE by Andrea Bartz and WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews. Also, I would love to see stories that feel like straight-up contemporary fiction only to surprise the reader with a speculative twist. THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris is a favorite of mine!

A confession: I love horror! Especially horror that leans on eerie, atmospheric, and unsettling. MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia will forever be a favorite in this space. I don’t mind gore, but I’m typically not drawn to it. I prefer to feel scared, not grossed out. If you’d describe your story as Gothic, I might be the agent for you.

For romcoms, my taste veers towards genre-blends, i.e., a romcom that’s also a family saga or a romcom com that’s also a thriller. DIAL A FOR AUNTIES by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a great example and my all-time favorite romcom.

I am particularly selective about science fiction and fantasy. In this category, I prefer stories firmly grounded in our world with one twist/change. THE AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker is a great example. My taste for science fiction and fantasy is definitely on the literary/upmarket side—think THE POWER by Naomi Alderman and THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern. High-concept hooks really grab me! Another genre I’m super selective about is historical fiction. My preference in this space is for novels with a contemporary feel that lean into setting as a character, whether that’s a dwelling (THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett) or a country (THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi).

What do you love when it comes to non-fiction? What topics fire you up? Which genres leave you cold?

I am looking for nonfiction that is three things: expert-driven, well supported, and paradigm shifting. For nonfiction, I am open to most categories, across the spectrum, including psychology, history, current affairs, science, politics, narrative journalism, nature and the environment, wellness, spirituality, business and economics, mathematics, parenting, lifestyle, and pop culture. My taste in nonfiction is eclectic: no title is too serious or too accessible. Demonstrable expertise/experience is a must when querying for nonfiction.

Topics I’d love to see research-based proposals for include, but are not limited to: exposé on tipping culture; exploration of spirituality in the age of agnosticism/atheism; history of shifting social perceptions around pain/suffering, group-think in the age of social media; the evolution of home tests and how it relates to paternalistic approaches to medicine; toxicity in friendships and other relationships; history of—and true reasons behind—occupational segregation; climate change; career changes (reasons and consequences for society); psychological literacy (evolution, connections, consequences); privacy and freedom; blind spots; new forms of social currency; new approaches to problem solving; exploration between personal desensitization and wealth (title: How Rich People Become Assholes).

A clear, original, and preferably surprising conclusion should be included in a nonfic proposal, meaning that it can’t just be 50 pages of thoughts & feelings—a sharp, unique, and curiosity-inducing through-line must be present from the beginning with supporting research that culminates in paradigm-shifting takeaways. I am a fan of books that expose what’s hiding in plain sight, whether it’s an untold story, the unseen side of things we think we know everything about, and/or projects that unlock unexpected and enlightening patterns/connections.

The human brain is an endless source of fascination. I’d welcome paradigm-shifting nonfiction with a neuroscience bent, particularly titles exploring the nexus between neuroscience and other fields, e.g., neuropsychology, neurosociology, neuropharmacology, neuronutrition, etc. I find that the best nonfiction books both educate and entertain. A recent favorite is GIRLY DRINKS by Mallory O’Meara, and an all-time favorite is INVISIBLE WOMEN by Caroline Criado Perez. All-time favorites include GOOD MORNING, MONSTER by Catherine Gildiner, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb, AFTERSHOCKS by Nadia Owusu, and PLATO AND THE MYTHIC TRADITION IN POLITICAL THOUGHT by Tae-Yeoun Keum.

The only nonfiction that I wouldn’t consider is something in the sports, music, and true crime.

What do you want to see in a query letter? And what do you hate?

A well-structured query letter is very much appreciated. Your goal is to convey information with clarity and to make me curious! The first paragraph should include the title, genre, word count, and comps for your book, followed by the hook. The second paragraph should start with character and the inciting incident, including the plot escalation up until the climax. I should be able to see the major dramatic question there—the ‘will they…?’ The third and final paragraph should be used for information about you, the creator!

I fully realize how tough it is, writing a query letter. Writers are expected to condense a 100k novel into a paragraph—that’s a tall order! My best advice is quite simple: follow submission guidelines—I know it’s a lot of work to personalize each letter according to each agency’s specifications, but it’s a part of the process (and not the toughest thing in publishing, let me tell you!)

What do I hate? Honestly, I don’t hate anything. I would stop reading an offensive query letter or one that dealt with animal cruelty (that’s the one content note that would make me stop reading), but other than that I feel like I owe writers the time it takes to thoughtfully review a letter. They’ve written an entire novel, after all. It’s an honor, knowing that someone has chosen to query me. I never take it for granted. And it’s a responsibility I take very seriously.

Same question when it comes to the synopsis. What should writers do? What should they avoid?

First things first: writing synopses is like pulling teeth. It’s awful! I fully recognize that. It’s also a really important part of the process. (And, again, not the toughest, in the grand scheme of publishing.) A synopsis should include the entire plot of the novel, beat by beat, including the ending. Only include what is moving the plot forward. This is not the place for details or voiceyness. Personally, I’ll only read a synopsis after reading the entire novel because I do not care for spoilers.

What is a day in the life of an agent like for you?

As agents, we do a little bit of everything. A day in agenting can include submitting a project, negotiating an offer, continuing to build relationships with editors, reviewing queries, searching for experts for nonfiction projects we’re hoping to represent, hopping on publicity calls with our clients, strategizing future works with existing clients, reviewing new submissions by existing clients, reading full manuscripts in our queue, putting out fires. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg!

There is no such thing as a typical day and that’s what I love about my job! I seriously have the best job in the entire world and there isn’t a single day when I don’t take a moment to appreciate how lucky I am to work with storytellers and their stories.

Any final comments?

Check out the podcast I co-host with Bianca Marais and Carly Watters: THE S**T NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT WRITING. We have a very popular segments with writers called Books With Hooks in which we review query letters and first five pages and share our thoughts.

We hope you have enjoyed another instalment in our series on Canadian agents – more to come soon!

If you’re a member, head over to AgentMatch now and get searching. We’ve added Canada to our country search filters. If you’re not yet a member but want to try out AgentMatch, then sign up for the free trial. Or better yet, join us and become a member to get access to AgentMatch as well as everything else we have to offer.