Clare Mao is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She represents adult fiction and nonfiction writers and creators who are poets, musicians, journalists, illustrators, bar owners, artists, and more. Across genres, she is drawn to writers who are curious, thoughtful, and critical, who have expansive interests and concerns including and outside of writing, and who have a knack for blending genres and forms. Most importantly, she wants to represent writers who are having fun. In upmarket and literary fiction, she is looking for novels with a strong sense of place, insightful character work, and beautiful prose. In nonfiction, she is seeking cultural criticism, journalism, memoir/narrative, and essay collections, and is actively looking for writing about solidarity, food, art, fashion, pop culture, new modes of creating community, and the environment. She also represents illustrated projects, and her list includes a Chinese mythology-inspired tarot deck, a photographic archive of emo music, and an astrology cocktail book. She does not represent children’s/YA, sci-fi/fantasy, or horror.

Clare was born and raised in Queens, NY, went to college in Iowa, and now lives in Brooklyn. Prior to joining Greenburger in 2023, she worked at Europa Content and Janklow & Nesbit.