Sahara Clement is a Philadelphia-based agent and editor with deep roots in illustrated nonfiction, who built Clarkson Potter's Culture list and now hunts for art-forward books that celebrate diverse and underrepresented voices.
In brief
Her editorial background is unusually strong: over a decade hands-on at Chronicle Books and Clarkson Potter before agenting, which means she thinks about a book's visual and design life from page one.
She built Clarkson Potter's Culture list from scratch — that institutional knowledge of what sells at a major illustrated-nonfiction imprint is her sharpest competitive edge for clients in this space.
Her stated portfolio already includes NAACP Award–winning culture books and bestselling essay collections, signaling genuine commercial and critical reach, not just niche interest.
Her wishlist skews heavily toward the physical object: gift books, decks, journals, workbooks — writers should think about format and packaging, not just prose.
She is a newer agent (Neighborhood Literary is a young agency), so her client roster is still forming — an early opportunity to get in before her list fills.
Lately
In a published spotlight from early 2025, Clement described her decade-plus of hands-on editorial work with authors and artists as the foundation of her agenting approach — emphasizing that she helps transform ideas into finished books, not just negotiate deals. She flagged culture retrospectives, photography books, essay collections, illustrated histories, self-care, and gift products as her core targets.
What Sahara is looking for
Art-driven nonfiction narratives that explore culture, identity, and society — including retrospectives on pop culture moments, illustrated guides on race, gender, and sexuality, and histories with strong visual components. She built this exact list at a major imprint, so she knows exactly where these books land and how to sell them.
Vibrant, visually arresting photography books. The emphasis is on energy and intentionality in image curation — not coffee-table filler, but books with a clear curatorial point of view tied to culture, identity, or lifestyle.
Essay collections where the design and visual presentation are integral to the reading experience, not decorative afterthoughts. Illustrated or art-integrated approaches are especially welcome. Her editorial track record includes bestselling essay collections, so she brings strong editorial instincts and publisher relationships to this category.
Narrative histories that rely on illustration, photography, or graphic design to tell the story — think cultural or social histories where imagery carries as much weight as prose. Must have a strong point of view and a clear readership.
Unique, fresh approaches to self-care and wellness — not generic advice books, but titles with a distinctive voice, aesthetic, or community angle. She is drawn to work that amplifies underrepresented perspectives within the wellness space.
Guided journals, card decks, workbooks, and other format-driven gift products. Writers in this category should submit with a clear concept of the physical object, its shelf placement, and its target gift-buyer. This is an unusually explicit priority for her — lead with format and occasion if that is your book.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Sahara
Send a query letter directly to her email address (listed on her agency's public-facing pages) — she accepts queries via email, not through a third-party form, which is rarer and means a well-crafted subject line matters.
Include 2–3 sample chapters OR a detailed outline alongside your pitch — she specifies both options, so nonfiction writers with a proposal should lean toward the outline if chapters aren't polished.
Lead with the visual and design concept of your book, not just the subject. She is an editor who thinks in objects — tell her what the book looks like, feels like, and sits next to on a shelf.
Identify the underrepresented voice or community your book serves. Her entire track record centers on amplifying diverse perspectives; a pitch that doesn't name its community will read as incomplete to her.
If your project is a gift product — a deck, journal, or workbook — describe the format explicitly in your opening paragraph. She actively courts this category and wants to see that you've thought about it as a product, not just a manuscript.
Expect a response window of approximately 4–6 weeks, per her own stated timeline. Follow up only after that window closes.
Verify her current query status on the Neighborhood Literary website before submitting — she is a newer agent at a growing agency and windows may shift.