The Literatus Agency LLC (Vivian A. Hall)

[victoriastrauss]

http://theliteratusagency.com/

Some standard "uh ohs" here--inexperienced owner, no apparent sales, "proprietary" client/sales list. And an Alaska location, which, even with so much done online these days, might make it tough for an agent to maintain business contacts in NYC (assuming she had them).

But what really made me shake my head was this, from the bottom of the Submissions page. Excuse the caps and punctuation; that's how it's written on the website.

ANY FALSE COMMENTS ABOUT, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC., AND/OR ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS, AGENTS AND ASSOCIATES, PUBLISHED OR SPOKEN ANYWHERE IN: ARTICLES, BLOGS, FORUMS, CHAT ROOMS, EMAILS, WEBSITES, MESSAGE BOARDS, ADS, MEDIA OUTLETS, ETC. THAT IS REASONABLY CONSTRUED TO BE AGAINST THE BUSINESS OR PERSONALITY INTERESTS OF, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC., AND/OR ITS MEMBERS, AGENTS, OFFICERS, OWNERS AND ASSOCIATES, WILL BE ADDRESSED BY LEGAL ACTION.

WHOEVER CONVEYS THIS FALSE INFORMATION WILL BE SUED FOR, CORPORATE AND/OR PERSONAL DEFAMATION AND ANY ADDITIONAL CAUSES OF ACTION RELEVANT TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENTS.

NO INVASION OF PRIVACY, CORPORATE AND/OR PERSONAL, NOR VIOLATION OF THE PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC. ITS MEMBERS, OWNERS, AGENTS AND/OR ASSOCIATES, WILL BE TOLERATED.

A bit dramatic, no?

- Victoria

 

[CaoPaux]

Previously known as Hall and Walker Enterprises International, Ltd., a.k.a. The Midwest Literary and Entertainment Management Group.

ETA: Another member of the MLEM is/was Jack DeVoe.

 

[victoriastrauss]

Ugh, I've gotten questions about both of those. Great Google-fu!

- Victoria

 

[Momento Mori]

Literatus Agency Website:
READERS OF THIS INFORMATION MAY HAVE SIGHT PROBLEMS AND WE DO NOT WANT ANY CLIENT TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ‘FINE PRINT’ SO WE HAVE USED CAPITALIZATION THROUGHOUT THIS SECTION.

Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Literatus Agency Website:
OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS: [email protected]

Ah. A Gmail account. The true sign of a professional outfit.

Literatus Agency Website:
IN RARE CASES, WE DO EDITING AND MANUSCRIPT ANALYSIS AT NO COST FOR OUR CLIENTS DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT.

My agent gave me editing comments and a manuscript analysis as part of our professional relationship. It wasn't a favour. It wasn't a freebie. She did it because that's her job and she wants me to write the best book I can for her to take to her publishing contacts.

Literatus Agency Website:

OUR SALES AND CLIENT LIST ARE PROPRIETARY​

SOME AGENTS CHOOSE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION, WE DO NOT; WE PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR CLIENTS (e.g. DANGERS OF IDENTITY THEFT, ETC.) AND OUR BUSINESS DATA (i.e. SALES) FROM EXPLOITATION AND/OR UNFAIR COMPETITION.

Uh-huh. How does that work then when one of their clients gets a book deal and the publisher wants to announce the same?

That is, of course, assuming that their clients do get book deals with commercial publishers.

Literatus Agency Website:
ANY FALSE COMMENTS ABOUT, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC., AND/OR ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS, AGENTS AND ASSOCIATES, PUBLISHED OR SPOKEN ANYWHERE IN: ARTICLES, BLOGS, FORUMS, CHAT ROOMS, EMAILS, WEBSITES, MESSAGE BOARDS, ADS, MEDIA OUTLETS, ETC. THAT IS REASONABLY CONSTRUED TO BE AGAINST THE BUSINESS OR PERSONALITY INTERESTS OF, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC., AND/OR ITS MEMBERS, AGENTS, OFFICERS, OWNERS AND ASSOCIATES, WILL BE ADDRESSED BY LEGAL ACTION.
WHOEVER CONVEYS THIS FALSE INFORMATION WILL BE SUED FOR, CORPORATE AND/OR PERSONAL DEFAMATION AND ANY ADDITIONAL CAUSES OF ACTION RELEVANT TO SUCH FALSE STATEMENTS.

Good luck with that, hon.

Literatus Agency Website:
VIVIAN HALL’S, (JURIS DOCTOR) LAW DEGREE INDICATES HER LEGAL EDUCATION NOT LICENSURE AS AN ATTORNEY.

Uh-huh. No kidding.

Literatus Agency Website:
Classes I have taken, directly relevant to the services we offer are: Contracts, Advanced Contracts, Public Relations, Communications, English, Copyright Law, Art & Entertainment Law, Journalism, Photography, Cinema, Defamation, The Law of Personality Interests, Law of the Press, Radio & TV, Labor Law and Sports Law.

I've highlighted all the courses that aren't relevant to being an agent in bold.

I notice she hasn't done a course in publishing law. To be honest, I don't see how contract law classes give you anything other than the basics. I've been practicing law for almost a decade now and specialise in commercial contracts - but publishing contracts remain a specialism in themself that I'd want expert, experienced advice in.

MM

 

[CaoPaux]

Her PM page, such as it is: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/VivianHall/

 

[Frustrated]

Literatus Agency, LLC

Has anyone had any business with The Literaus Agency in Alaska?

 

[IceCreamEmpress]

Has anyone had any business with The Literaus Agency in Alaska?

They seem like a spectacularly unprofessional outfit, judging by their self-presentation on the Internet. Have they ever sold a book to an advance-paying, royalty-paying publisher?

(The "we're using all caps in case people have vision problems" disclaimer on the website made me laugh. Yes, that is absolutely the best solution to potentially illegible website design--use capital letters. Don't bother to, say, reformat the site in a way that makes it easier for people of all levels of visual ability to read!)

To be honest, the tone and style of the website is much better suited to one of those outfits that claims to teach you how to avoid paying taxes because there's a gold fringe on the flag than to a literary agency. I cannot imagine that her communications to publishers would be any more appropriate or professional.

 

[HapiSofi]

Has anyone had any business with The Literatus Agency in Alaska?

What the Empress said.

Note also that they're belligerent, they threaten litigation, and they aren't familiar with the actual laws. That section that begins, "ANY FALSE COMMENTS ABOUT, THE LITERATUS AGENCY, LLC. ..." is so wrong on so many counts that it's funny, but it's also the work of someone you never, ever want to tangle with.

Don't go near them.

 

[CaoPaux]

STILL NO, SIGN OF, CLIENTS OR SALES.

 

[frimble3]

To be honest, I don't see how contract law classes give you anything other than the basics. I've been practicing law for almost a decade now and specialise in commercial contracts - but publishing contracts remain a specialism in themself that I'd want expert, experienced advice in.

MM

I'm not asking for legal advice, but if you've been practicing law, you will probably know: What the heck is 'the Law of Personality Interests'? It just sounds odd.

(Okay,I have googled the phrase, and it appears to be something to do with groups being treated as single entities, (corporations, etc) and their rights and interests. Curiousity satisfied.)

 

[CaoPaux]

Has dropped the all-caps at least, and isn't accepting new clients. No sign of current clients, sales, or LinkedIn profile mentioned on PM page.