Novel Ideas Literary Agency / Hellman Entertainment, Inc.

colealpaugh · Apr 22, 2009

Curious if anyone has had any contact with this "boutique" agency in the San Fran Bay area.

Agents are listed as Shana Hellman, Crystal Rocks (cool name), and David Hellman. Their authors list is "under construction" and my various searches yielded zip. Their blog consists of two entries in February.

A WhoIs query show their website was created on 1/10/2009.

http://www.novelideasliterary.com/literaryagency/Home.html

M.R.J. Le Blanc · Apr 22, 2009

Shana Hellman: No experience.

Crystal Rocks: funky name, but no experience.

David Hellman: No experience.

In other words, I wouldn't bother. No experience = no contacts. No contacts = no contracts. At the very least wait a year and see if they do manage to make some good sales. In the meantime don't be a guinea pig.

Barbarique · Apr 22, 2009

Can't be the same as this one... can it?

http://www.novelagency.com/

JJPie · Apr 22, 2009

I agree. I looked at their website and tried to find info on AQ and got nothing. The site is nice and everything but they listed no experience in the industry. And honestly, that "release form" weirded me out. It's all legalese, granted, but do I really need to be reminded that they bear no obligation of confidentiality? Are they telling me they could steal my story without ramifications? Just strange...

JJPie · Apr 22, 2009

Barbarique said:
Can't be the same as this one... can it?

http://www.novelagency.com/

That one looked shady too...

M.R.J. Le Blanc · Apr 22, 2009

Barbarique said:
Can't be the same as this one... can it?

http://www.novelagency.com/

I think they have their own thread in B&BC. I've seen this website before.

CaoPaux · Apr 22, 2009

Barbarique said:
Can't be the same as this one... can it?

http://www.novelagency.com/

JJPie said:
That one looked shady too...

M.R.J. Le Blanc said:
I think they have their own thread in B&BC. I've seen this website before.

Nope, yep, and yep. Novel L.A. (Ann Beck) is here: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136624

colealpaugh · Apr 22, 2009

Barbarique said:
Can't be the same as this one... can it?

http://www.novelagency.com/

C'mon, fess up, you had your neighbor's six year old throw that site together in twenty minutes. (j/k, of course)

Unless the one I posted moved from Houston, it's likely not the same.

colealpaugh · Apr 22, 2009

JJPie said:
that "release form" weirded me out. It's all legalese, granted, but do I really need to be reminded that they bear no obligation of confidentiality? Are they telling me they could steal my story without ramifications? Just strange...

I'm guessing David Hellman is Ms. Hellman's father and she sought his legal advice for this new venture. And the buzz kill of the "release" page is the product.

victoriastrauss · Apr 23, 2009

Confidence is not inspired by this entry from Novel Ideas' blog on author-agent contracts:

Whether it is with this agency, or another, there are certain key elements every agency contract should contain: the rights given to the agent by the author, how long these rights last, and over what territory (not just geographical--detailed contracts will describe the various types of properties and sales that the agent is promoting)...a power of attorney clause which gives the agency the right to collect the funds and deduct the commission;

You don't "give" rights to your agent; your agent represents your rights. (Possibly that's what the passage above is intended to mean, but the imprecise wording is confusing.)

And if I saw a power of attorney clause in an agency contract, I'd run far and fast. Agents don't need power of attorney to collect funds for clients; such a provision is not just overkill, it's completely unnecessary.

I'm also guessing that, based on the description of his experience at the agency's website, Mr. Hellman is not an intellectual property lawyer.

- Victoria

Barbarique · May 14, 2009

After three weeks, they said no.

I must say I feel more relieved than distraught.

colealpaugh · May 14, 2009

Barbarique said:
After three weeks, they said no.

I must say I feel more relieved than distraught.

Two friends emailed me saying they'd received R's from Shana Hellman today. I guess Novel Ideas Literary will have to wait to post a name on their "Authors" link.

Funny that both expressed the same sentiment as did you.

M.R.J. Le Blanc · May 14, 2009

Keep in mind, rejection doesn't automatically equal legitimacy. Vanity publishers reject mss, doesn't make them legit either. Just a FYI.

CaoPaux · Feb 6, 2011

Site's gone, no further activity.

Novel Ideas Literary Agency / Hellman Entertainment, Inc.

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

Barbarique

Elle est arrivée!

JJPie

JJPie

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

Barbarique

Elle est arrivée!

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless