The multi-talented John Jarrold is not only a leading literary agent, but also a script doctor and and editor. Among his clients he counts Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Hunt, Mark Charan Newton and Aussies Simon Haynes and Cory Daniells. He also appears to have an appetite for belly-bursting breakfasts that rivals mine.
1. A client is made irresistible to me when …
It’s about the writing and story-telling first. I need to LOVE the first ten pages, personally and professionally. And it has to be in an area of the genre I believe I can sell to publishers in 2010 with a new novelist. Hint: forget cyberpunk …
2. The worst thing that ever happened to me at a con/reading was …
… the bar ran out of beer.
3. What made you decide to get into the agenting business?
After 15 years as a publisher of SF and Fantasy I went freelance in 2002, and agenting followed, somehow naturally, two years later …
4. You get to be a fictional character for a day, with no consequences attached: who do you choose, where do you go and what do you do?
Rick in CASABLANCA, and I make love to Ingrid Bergman …
5. Donuts or danishes?
Both, and bacon, fried eggs (sunny side up), black pudding, fried bread, fried tomatoes, a quart of orange juice and lotsa black coffee. Then, for lunch …
His blog lives here.