PR & Comms
Past Clients & Employers
For a decade, I worked as a PR and communications professional in the centers of English publishing, New York City and London, to promote scholars, translators, and authors from around the world. In other words, I worked as a cultural organizer.
Most recently, I was the Digital Communications Manager of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, the premiere literary nonprofit for Asian/American literature. During the Workshop’s shift to remote work and virtual programming during the pandemic, I led its digital strategy and produced stories daily across the website (The Margins digital magazine), email newsletter, and social media. Plus, I built out the organization’s remote on-boarding process, hiring process, and administrative infrastructure. I started at the Workshop as a freelance editor.
Before that, I worked at Columbia University Press, Other Press, and Tilted Axis Press, specializing in international literature and academic scholarship. As publicist, I developed campaigns, worked with the media, and organized international tours.
Authors I’ve publicized or helped promote have won the National Book Award, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Literature Prize, and Society of Author’s TA First Translation Prize, among other honors.
I love to help mission-driven orgs and transcultural people find their audience. If this sounds like you, get in touch to discuss my rates and get on my calendar.
esther.kim1990 [at] gmail [dot] com
What recent coworkers said:
‘Esther brings the full force of her considerable talent and energy to all of her endeavors... Her high level of creativity sparks new ideas in everyone she works with… Intelligent, highly educated, hardworking, and a joy to have around, Esther is the kind of colleague who keeps me working in publishing. She is an asset in every situation.’
—Christine Dunbar (Columbia University Press)
‘I have truly treasured this time working together. You are a delight—such a brilliant, playful, and caring colleague, and you've taught me a lot about working with intention. I have so valued your voice in our editorial meetings, the vast reservoirs of ideas you pull from and usher into our work, and the appreciation you show for the whole team.’
—Jyothi Natarajan (Asian American Writers’ Workshop)
‘What a joy it’s been getting to work with you… A caring, intentional, and deeply kind leader and collaborator. You are a gem indeed. Thank you for everything.’
—Devyn Mañibo (Asian American Writers’ Workshop)
‘Frighteningly brilliant.’
—Saba Ahmed (Tilted Axis Press)
‘Publicity dynamo’
—Deborah Smith (Tilted Axis Press)