{"value"=>"<p>Helen Brann started The Helen Brann Agency, a literary agency, in 1974. She was close friends and later business associates with dramatic rights literary agent, Flora Roberts, who also represented Angelou. For decades, Brann represented many writers besides Angelou, including Julian Barnes, Richard Brautigan, Gerald Clarke, Nora Johnson, Stephen Sondheim, and Robert B. Parker.</p> <p>The Helen Brann Agency handled Angelou's contracts with publishers, including Random House, permission requests, and requests to contribute to other authors' works. The agency also oversaw the approval process for her children's books.</p>"}