Amanda Ice
@amandaice.bsky.social
Book publicist @harvard_press
Boy mom x3, Texan by birth and Danish by marriage. Book people are my people
Boy mom x3, Texan by birth and Danish by marriage. Book people are my people
Essay-ready = needs background, unfolds over time, makes room for history and complexity, not tied to the news cycle. This is not a lesser form, it’s often the right form.
Both are good. They just belong in different places. Mixing them up = a lot of work and a very polite pass
Both are good. They just belong in different places. Mixing them up = a lot of work and a very polite pass
January 27, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Essay-ready = needs background, unfolds over time, makes room for history and complexity, not tied to the news cycle. This is not a lesser form, it’s often the right form.
Both are good. They just belong in different places. Mixing them up = a lot of work and a very polite pass
Both are good. They just belong in different places. Mixing them up = a lot of work and a very polite pass
Quick test for authors (esp. big national papers): is your idea op-ed-ready or essay-ready?
Op-ed-ready = reacting to news within 24–48 hrs, clear in first 2–3 sentences, one sharp point, very little setup. Not a lecture. No jargon. If "can you say this more simply?" scares you, it's not ready.
Op-ed-ready = reacting to news within 24–48 hrs, clear in first 2–3 sentences, one sharp point, very little setup. Not a lecture. No jargon. If "can you say this more simply?" scares you, it's not ready.
January 27, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Quick test for authors (esp. big national papers): is your idea op-ed-ready or essay-ready?
Op-ed-ready = reacting to news within 24–48 hrs, clear in first 2–3 sentences, one sharp point, very little setup. Not a lecture. No jargon. If "can you say this more simply?" scares you, it's not ready.
Op-ed-ready = reacting to news within 24–48 hrs, clear in first 2–3 sentences, one sharp point, very little setup. Not a lecture. No jargon. If "can you say this more simply?" scares you, it's not ready.
Why op-eds matter for publicity: they're rocket fuel for radio bookings. Producers at NPR, public radio, podcasts are looking for smart guests who can speak clearly about the news. A strong op-ed is proof you can make a tight argument in real time. It's a audition tape that bookers actually read.
January 27, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Why op-eds matter for publicity: they're rocket fuel for radio bookings. Producers at NPR, public radio, podcasts are looking for smart guests who can speak clearly about the news. A strong op-ed is proof you can make a tight argument in real time. It's a audition tape that bookers actually read.
Small lesson from the publicist trenches: worked w/ author for months on an op-ed at a major paper, editor very engaged, I'm booking NPR in my head, victory lap ready... then boom a pass. Not bc it wasn't good, but op-eds need "why this, why now" immediately. Right now "now" lasts about 11 minutes.
January 27, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Small lesson from the publicist trenches: worked w/ author for months on an op-ed at a major paper, editor very engaged, I'm booking NPR in my head, victory lap ready... then boom a pass. Not bc it wasn't good, but op-eds need "why this, why now" immediately. Right now "now" lasts about 11 minutes.
Hey hey, academic Booksky, first post is me doing the most publicist thing possible:
📣 sharing an interview I did about how scholars can get meaningful attention for their books.
Here's a few key takeaways:
yourwordsunleashed.com/ep-99-book-p...
📣 sharing an interview I did about how scholars can get meaningful attention for their books.
Here's a few key takeaways:
yourwordsunleashed.com/ep-99-book-p...
Ep. 99 - Book Publicity 101: What Scholarly Authors Need to Know (with publicist Amanda Ice)
In this episode, Leslie chats with Harvard University Press senior publicist Amanda Ice about the do's and don'ts of book publicity.
yourwordsunleashed.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Hey hey, academic Booksky, first post is me doing the most publicist thing possible:
📣 sharing an interview I did about how scholars can get meaningful attention for their books.
Here's a few key takeaways:
yourwordsunleashed.com/ep-99-book-p...
📣 sharing an interview I did about how scholars can get meaningful attention for their books.
Here's a few key takeaways:
yourwordsunleashed.com/ep-99-book-p...