# Tony Lyons

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{{Short description|American book publisher and political activist}}

'''Tony Lyons''' is an American book publisher and political [activist](/source/activist), best known as the founder and president of [Skyhorse Publishing](/source/Skyhorse_Publishing), an independent book publishing company based in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). Lyons, a political supporter of [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](/source/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr.), co-founded the [hybrid PAC](/source/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](/source/Upper_West_Side) of [Manhattan](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/The_Guardian), January 27, 2022, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> &mdash; this includes works by [Norman Mailer](/source/Norman_Mailer), [Blake Bailey](/source/Blake_Bailey), [Robert W. Malone](/source/Robert_W._Malone), [Robert F. Kennedy](/source/Robert_F._Kennedy), and [Woody Allen](/source/Woody_Allen), including Allen's ''[Apropos of Nothing](/source/Apropos_of_Nothing)'' and Kennedy's ''[The Real Anthony Fauci](/source/The_Real_Anthony_Fauci)'', both [The New York Times](/source/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](/source/The_Daily_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](/source/Big_Pharma_conspiracy_theories), and the assassinations of President [John F. Kennedy](/source/John_F._Kennedy), Presidential candidate [Robert F. Kennedy](/source/Robert_F._Kennedy), [Martin Luther King Jr.](/source/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.), and [Malcolm X](/source/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](/source/New_York_Times), August 17, 2023, retrieved September 1, 2025</ref> Skyhorse is distributed by [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_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](/source/Arcade_Publishing) (2010), Good Books (2014), and [Regnery Publishing](/source/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](/source/Skyhorse_Publishing) won a defamation lawsuit against [Kenny Kramer](/source/Kenny_Kramer), the inspiration for television character [Cosmo Kramer](/source/Cosmo_Kramer) on the [Seinfeld](/source/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](/source/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.](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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&nbsp;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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_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](/source/Make_America_Healthy_Again) movement, playing a key role in coordinating its political, media, and advocacy efforts in alignment with [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tony Lyons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Lyons) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Lyons?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.