A CAREER IN BOOKS
Past WORKPLACES
For nearly a decade, I worked in the book business in New York City and London, centers of English publishing, to promote scholars, authors, and literary translators from around the world. But I started in Western Massachusetts as an intern at Paris Press, a small press committed to publishing “neglected and daring works.” Poet Jan Freeman founded the press in 1995 to bring back Muriel Rukeyser’s The Life of Poetry into print. It informs my preference for grassroots endeavors and independent publishing.
한 여자가 그녀 삶의 진실을 말한다면 어떤 일이날까?
세계는 터져버릴 것이다What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
The world would split open.루카이저 (1913-1980)
Most recently, I was the Digital Communications Manager of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, a literary powerhouse and cornerstone of New York City. 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. On top of producing the magazine and promoting events, I built the organization’s new, remote on-boarding and hiring process. I started at the Workshop as a freelance editor of “Monsoon Notebook,” writing on water from the Pacific.
Before that, I worked in-house at Columbia University Press, Other Press, and Tilted Axis Press, specializing in international literature and academic scholarship. Personal favorites I promoted include Minae Mizumura’s serial novel of beleaguered caregiving in Japan Inheritance From Mother, Mihail Sebastian’s wry account of fascism’s rise in Romania For Two Thousand Years, and Hwang Jungeun’s delicate portrait of sibling relationships in South Korea I’ll Go On. As publicist, I developed campaigns, worked with the media, and organized international tours. I worked behind the scenes to push new books into public conversations and readers’ hands across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Germany, Scotland, England, and Indonesia.
Authors I’ve publicized or helped promote have won the National Book Award, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Literature Prize, Society of Author’s TA First Translation Prize, and Pulitzer Prize, among other honors. Stories about my clients have appeared in The New York Times, Tatler, Financial Times, Guardian, The Economist, Vice, and many, many more outlets.
I love to help mission-driven organizations and debut authors find their audience. If this sounds like you, I’d love to hear more about your projects.
Let’s talk shop! Get in touch to discuss my rates and get on my calendar.
For 2026, I will be open for new clients. I am closed for 2025.
esther.kim1990 [at] gmail [dot] com
What coworkers Have 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)