{{Short description|American book publisher and political activist}}
'''Tony Lyons''' is an American book publisher and political activist, best known as the founder and president of Skyhorse Publishing, an independent book publishing company based in New York City. Lyons, a political supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., co-founded the hybrid PAC American Values 2024 to support Kennedy's 2024 presidential candidacy.
==Early life and education== Tony Lyons was raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.<ref name="WSJ 2023-06-30">{{Cite news |last=Akst |first=Daniel |date=June 30, 2023 |title=Skyhorse Publishing, the House of the Canceled |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/opinion/skyhorse-publishing-the-house-of-the-canceled-tony-lyons-books-heterodoxy-manuscript-d7b57992?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAivZK3C9_mtD0LemJUSX5suXzuJu3infGy52KuuQzIFtasWSC6YvAq39jbqhjA%3D&gaa_ts=685cb17b&gaa_sig=jyOuROF66n__pbXLvcELc4c-sOUgndr4rPikVfcdWEzlTZ_vOCwcE2_JnjVXD2_LZxLVrIVGBXbjeS5qgmLcpg%3D%3D|access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref> His father, Nick Lyons, was a writer and publisher, and his mother was an artist.<ref name="WSJ 2023-06-30" /> Lyons graduated from Albany Law School in 1993.<ref>Albany Law School Magazine. [https://issuu.com/albanylaw/docs/albanylawmagazine_sp11_final/35 "While He’s Written, Lyons’ Heart Is in the Publishing"], Albany Law School Magazine, Spring 2011, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
==Career== In 1997, Lyons took over as president and publisher of The Lyons Press,<ref>Kirkus Profiles. [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/tony-lyons-skyhorse-publishing/ "Q&A: Tony Lyons of Skyhorse Publishing"], Kirkus, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> a publishing company established by his father.<ref name=GlobePequot>{{cite web|accessdate=June 25, 2025|url=https://www.globepequot.com/imprint/lyons-press/ |title=Lyons Press|publisher=Globe Pequot Press}}</ref><ref name=KirkusQA>{{Cite web|accessdate=June 26, 2025|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/tony-lyons-skyhorse-publishing/|title=Q&A: Tony Lyons of Skyhorse Publishing|work=Profiles |publisher=Kirkus Media}}</ref> The company focused on niche markets, publishing books on nature and history.<ref>Barnes, Jim. [https://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=419 "The Lyons Press: Fishing for Great Literature - and Niche Marketing Success"], Independent Publisher, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> In 2001, The Lyons Press was sold to Globe Pequot Press. Lyons continued with the company until 2004.<ref>Kirkus Profiles. [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/tony-lyons-skyhorse-publishing/ "Q&A: Tony Lyons of Skyhorse Publishing"], Kirkus, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
In 2006, Lyons founded Skyhorse Publishing, naming the company after Brando Skyhorse, a former editor at The Lyons Press.<ref>Millot, Jim. [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20060925/3334-lyons-forms-skyhorse-publishing.html " Lyons Forms Skyhorse Publishing "], Publishers Weekly, September 22, 2006, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref><ref>Millot, Jim. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/45251-skyhorse-buys-allworth-press.html "Skyhorse Publishing: From Zero to $40 Million in 10 Years"], Publishers Weekly, September 9, 2016, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> Skyhorse established itself by publishing a diverse range of titles,<ref name=PublisherWeekly>{{cite web|accessdate=July 22, 2025|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/71449-skyhorse-publishing-from-zero-to-40-million-in-10-years.html |work=Publishers Weekly|title=Skyhorse Publishing: From Zero to $40 Million in 10 Years|first=Jim |last=Milliot |date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> including controversial works that other publishers had declined<ref>Helmore, Edward. [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/27/tony-lyons-skyhorse-publisher-cancelled-books "Tony Lyons, the US publisher who picks up books ‘cancelled’ by other presses"], The Guardian, January 27, 2022, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> — this includes works by Norman Mailer, Blake Bailey, Robert W. Malone, Robert F. Kennedy, and Woody Allen, including Allen's ''Apropos of Nothing'' and Kennedy's ''The Real Anthony Fauci'', both The New York Times bestsellers.<ref>Kerridge, Jake. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/news/cancel-cultures-biggest-foe-man-publishing-books-mainstream/ "Cancel culture’s biggest foe: the man publishing books the mainstream won’t touch "], The Telegraph, March 10, 2022, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> In addition to publishing genres such as nature, sports, history, philosophy, religion, current events, politics, science fiction, and children's literature, Skyhorse has published many books on health freedom, Big Pharma, and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.<ref>Harris, Elizabeth A. [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/books/skyhorse-robert-kennedy-jr-president.html "What Alex Jones, Woody Allen and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Share"], New York Times, August 17, 2023, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> Skyhorse is distributed by Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and abroad.<ref>[https://literaryagentmarkgottlieb.com/blog/group-editorial-director-at-skyhorse-publishing-mark-gompertz "Group Editorial Director at Skyhorse Publishing Mark Gompertz"], Trident Media Group SVP & Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
Skyhorse expanded its catalog with Lyons' acquisitions of Arcade Publishing (2010), Good Books (2014), and Regnery Publishing (2023).<ref>Alter, Alexandra and Harris, Elizabeth A. [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/22/books/skyhorse-buys-regnery.html "Skyhorse Expands Its Footprint in Conservative Publishing"], New York Times, December 22, 2023, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref><ref>Millot, Jim. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/45251-skyhorse-buys-allworth-press.html "Skyhorse Publishing: From Zero to $40 Million in 10 Years"], Publishers Weekly, September 9, 2016, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
In 2014, Lyons and Skyhorse Publishing won a defamation lawsuit against Kenny Kramer, the inspiration for television character Cosmo Kramer on the Seinfeld show. Lyons commented, "We are thrilled that Kenny Kramer's absolutely ludicrous lawsuit was dismissed. It's a triumph not only for Skyhorse Publishing but for the entire book community."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gershman|first=Jacob|date=July 15, 2014|title= Judge Tosses Defamation Suit Brought by Real-Life Kramer Who Inspired 'Seinfeld' |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-LB-48601 |access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|access-date=June 25, 2025|url=https://www.fr.com/news/seinfeld-cosmo-kramer-defamation-lawsuit-07-15-2014/ |title=Skyhorse Publishing and Author Fred Stoller Win Seinfeld Related Defamation Lawsuit Brought by Real Life 'Cosmo Kramer' |publisher=Fish}}</ref>
==Political work== Lyons is a political supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<ref name=NYT-2023>{{cite news|accessdate=July 22, 2025 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/books/skyhorse-robert-kennedy-jr-president.html|title=What Alex Jones, Woody Allen and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Share|work=New York Times |first=Elizabeth A. |last=Harris|date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824075437/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/books/skyhorse-robert-kennedy-jr-president.html|archive-date=August 24, 2023|url-status=live|quote=...the publisher's founder, Tony Lyons, has supported the political ambitions of one of his authors: Robert F. Kennedy Jr....}}</ref> The hybrid PAC American Values 2024,<ref name=OpenSecrets>{{cite web|accessdate=July 22, 2025 |date=2024|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/american-values-2024/C00821439/summary/2024|title=PAC Profile: American Values 2024|publisher=OpenSecrets|quote=This committee is a single-candidate Carey committee in support of Robert F Kennedy Jr. (I).}}</ref>{{efn|As of 2025, the PAC had been renamed MAHA. It continues to support Kennedy's political aspirations.<ref name=FEC-Form1/>}} co-founded by Lyons in 2022, raised nearly $50 million to support Kennedy's run for the U.S. presidency.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gibson|first=Brittany|date=March 28, 2024|title=Super PAC raises $2.1 million after RFK Jr. announced his running mate |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/28/american-values-pac-fundraiser-nicole-shanahan-00149628|access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name=FEC-AV2024-PAC>{{cite web|accessdate=July 22, 2025 |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00821439/?tab=about-committee |title=America Values 2024: About this committee| date=January 2023 |publisher=Federal Election Commission (FEC)}}</ref><ref name=FEC-Form1>{{cite web|accessdate=July 22, 2025 |url=https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/311/202506229762526311/202506229762526311.pdf |title=FEC Form 1 - Statement of Organization|date=June 22, 2025|publisher=FEC |quote=Name...changed...MAHA PAC}}</ref> Lyons was involved in the creation of the $7 million ad that aired during Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024 announcing Kennedy's decision to run as an independent.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Curojo|first=Cristina|date=February 12, 2024|title=Super PAC supporting RFK Jr. airs $7 million ad during Super Bowl |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-super-pac-airs-7-million-dollar-ad-during-superbowl/|access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref>
In August 2024, after Kennedy withdrew from the presidential race, Lyons announced that he was joining the Trump campaign.<ref name=FocusToday>{{cite interview|accessdate=July 22, 2025 |url= https://focustoday.podbean.com/e/tony-lyons-rfk-jr-joining-the-trump-campaign/|date=August 28, 2024|title=Tony Lyons - RFK Jr. Joining the Trump Campaign|work=Focus Today|interviewer=Perry Atkinson|first=Tony|last=Lyons}}</ref>
Lyons has been described as a central organizer within the Make America Healthy Again movement, playing a key role in coordinating its political, media, and advocacy efforts in alignment with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. <ref>{{Cite news|last=Essley-Whyte|first=Liz|date=April 19, 2026|title=The RFK Jr. Ally Steering Millions to Boost MAHA’s Clout in the Midterms |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/tony-lyons-maha-rfk-jr-midterms-ce4dc487|access-date=April 21, 2026}}</ref>He is affiliated with several organizations tied to the movement, including a political action committee and multiple nonprofit groups.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Essley-Whyte|first=Liz|date=April 19, 2026|title=The RFK Jr. Ally Steering Millions to Boost MAHA’s Clout in the Midterms |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/tony-lyons-maha-rfk-jr-midterms-ce4dc487|access-date=April 21, 2026}}</ref> Reporting by The Wall Street Journal indicates that Lyons has also been involved in fundraising efforts aimed at securing up to $100 million to support candidates aligned with the movement.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Essley-Whyte|first=Liz|date=April 19, 2026|title=The RFK Jr. Ally Steering Millions to Boost MAHA’s Clout in the Midterms |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/tony-lyons-maha-rfk-jr-midterms-ce4dc487|access-date=April 21, 2026}}</ref>
==Advocacy and board membership== In 2023, Lyons joined the Board of Directors of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression from censorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ncac.org/news/ambika-kumar-tony-lyons-sheryl-oring-join-ncac-board|title=Ambika Kumar, Tony Lyons, Sheryl Oring Join NCAC Board |date=17 July 2023 |publisher=National Coalition Against Censorship}}</ref> NCAC represents 59 national education, publishing, arts, and civil liberty organizations and provides resources to resist censorship and promote free expression.<ref>[https://ncac.org/about-us/coalition "The Coalition"], ''National Coalition Against Censorship'', retrieved September 1, 2025</ref><ref>[ https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0009127/ " National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)"], ''Library of Congress'', retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
==Personal life== Tony Lyons resides in New York City.<ref name="Psy Today" /> He has two daughters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781629148427/101-tips-for-the-parents-of-girls-with-autism/|accessdate=June 26, 2025|title=Authors |work=101 Tips for the Parents of Girls with Autism|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing}}</ref>
==End notes== {{notelist}}
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> <references>
<ref name="Psy Today">{{Cite web|accessdate=June 26, 2025|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/tony-lyons|title=Contributors: Tony Lyons |work=Psychology Today}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Tony}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)