Lyons, Andrew

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Lyons, Andrew

PERSONAL:

Born in St. Louis, MO. Education: Attended Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

ADDRESSES:

CAREER:

Has worked as a writer for television programs, including Marilu and The Stephanie Miller Show; film researcher for Access Hollywood, until 2000; associate producer for VH-1, 2001—.

WRITINGS:

Darkness in Him (novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS:

After graduating from Washington University, Andrew Lyons set off for Los Angeles, California, to find work as a writer in the television industry. He spent several years writing for shows that were ultimately cancelled, then became a film researcher for Access Hollywood. During this time Lyons began work on a novel in his off-hours, a project that took priority in 2000 when he quit his job to write full-time. The finished product was purchased by St. Martin's Press in the fall of 2001, and published as Darkness in Him in 2003.

The novel is told from the perspective of Jake, a do-no-wrong college senior intent on going to Harvard University for law school, joining his father's prestigious law firm after graduation, and marrying his beautiful and popular girlfriend. When the repercussions of a one-night stand threaten to derail Jake's future plans, he ruthlessly commits a series of crimes to cover up his indiscretion. Booklist reviewer David Hellman remarked that Lyons does "a persuasive job of creating a creepy and almost charming antihero." "A psychologically chilling picture of a contemporary Raskolnikov," commented Roland Person in a Library Journal review. Ava Dianne Day wrote in a review for Bookreporter.com that Lyons "has the insight to choose a subject that beats close to the pulse of America's competitive, success-driven heart. If he continues to choose his subjects so unerringly and unflinchingly, his future looks bright."