How many authors have you taken on recently?

[GrownUp]

Hi John,
I've another curiosity question. How many authors have you taken on recently, in the last couple of years?
And what is the first meeting like, with an author who's work you have really liked? Does that person spark with you as well?
Do authors you have worked with for a long time become like friends of the family?
What about the 'Alistair' character in 'As Time Goes By'? Do you find it vaguely familiar to you, or a hideous (funny) caricature?
Right, I seem to have written one million questions down now.
Please answer those you have a mind to, and fling the others away, like chaff.

[John Jarrold]

I started up the agency in July 2004. Since then, I've taken on just over 20 clients - and turned down well over 1000 authors.

Every writer is different as a human being, so there is no one answer to your question about meetings! It's exacly like dealing with authors as a publisher, if you don't treat them as individuals, you'll fail (and be a bad publisher/agent). Some become close friends, others remain acquaintances or business partners. One tries to do the business professionally, and take the personal relationship as it comes!

I'm sure there might well be publishers like Alistair, but I've never worked with one!