We are so happy to welcome agent Cecilia (CeCe) Lyra to the podcast! Cecilia will go through her inbox, #TenQueries style, giving us in-the-moment reactions to her queries.

Ever wondered what agents think when they read your submissions? Now you know.

Cecilia Lyra is an agent at P.S. Literary actively acquiring adult fiction and nonfiction. She is particularly drawn to stories centered around dysfunctional families, ethical or moral dilemmas, and taboo subjects. She adores reading about protagonists who grew up straddling two opposing worlds and appreciates subtle storytelling, with characters who are nuanced and flawed, as opposed to overwritten and nice. Cecilia enjoys writing that is thoughtful on a line level with a strong, almost hypnotic voice. Some of her recent favorite novels include WHITE IVY by Susie Yang, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett, and EXCITING TIMES by Naoise Dolan.

In terms of nonfiction, Cecilia is seeking books about popular subjects written by experts in their field examined through original angles, particularly ones that deal with psychology and social behavior. Cecilia also loves memoirs, and strongly believes that a good memoir reads like a novel. Favorite nonfiction titles include TRICK MIRROR by Jia Tolentino, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb, and IN THE DREAM HOUSE by Carmen Maria Machado.

No matter the category or genre, stories centered around feminist issues have a special place in Cecilia’s heart, particularly those that explore intersectionality: race, sexual orientation, national identity, economic privilege and class. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, Cecilia is passionate about representing under or misrepresented voices that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. She believes in editing with compassion, and that words of affirmation can make all the difference in a writer’s life.

Cecilia began her bookish career through the Centennial College Book, Magazine, and Electronic program and The Rights Factory. Before working in publishing, Cecilia was a lawyer, and now reserves her litigious energy for rants against the patriarchy.