An Interview with Rebecca Cartwright
Rebecca (Becky) Cartwright is a nursery practitioner and primary school teacher in Warwickshire, England, and mum to Grace with a baby on the way.
Atmosphere Press
An Interview with Barbara Fischkin
Barbara Fischkin is the author of three books of narrative nonfiction and fiction and is currently writing an autism-related historical novel (working title “The Digger Resistance”). The book spans the years 1900–present and takes place in Ukraine and other European and American locales. She holds a SUNY interdisciplinary Master of Liberal Studies Degree in “Autism Past and Present,” and has taught journalism at three universities. Her books include Muddy Cup: A Dominican Family Comes of Age in a New America—published by Scribner and considered a landmark work about Dominican immigration to the United States—and two satiric novels published by Bantam Dell at Random House: Exclusive and Confidential Sources.
An Interview with Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl
Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl, or Diosa X for short, is a multilingual and multidimensional spoken word artist, workshop facilitator, and international poetiza. She is a seasoned language arts educator with a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Cross-Cultural Teaching. Diosa X was selected Regional 2nd Runner Up in Inlandia’s Hillary Gravendyke’s Poetry Prize in 2023 for her poetry collection titled When the Leaves Come Tumbling Down: An A to Z Poetry Collection About Loss. She was also selected as finalist for Somos en escrito’s Best Raza Short Story Award in 2023 for her piece titled The Weight of the Scales.
An Interview with Lisa Overton
I’m a queer femme feminist, a politics lecturer by day, and a seashore wanderer whenever I can sneak away (with my gorgeous dog). My teaching spans sustainable development, human rights, gender, sexualities, intersectionality, and research methods. I have a particular interest in creative approaches to research—especially storytelling. In my work, I explore power relations—from institutions to intimate relationships—using a queering approach to experiment with possibilities and challenge norms. I use she/her or they/them pronouns.
An Interview with Gen Velzian
Hailing from Somerset in the UK, Gen is a writer of short stories, poetry, and fiction novels. Her romantasy novel Fayte & Blood has been called “immersive, gripping and romantic” (Bigreads). Both Gen and her husband can “work from anywhere,” and she can often be found writing in underground bunkers in Seoul, bridge-side coffee shops in Vietnam, and beach bars in Thailand. Fayte & Blood is the start of a series; the second novel, Fayte & Bone released in late May 2025. She can be found on TikTok and Instagram @worldofvieve.
An Interview with Aziza Kibibi
Aziza Kibibi is a New Jersey–born author, activist, media personality, and mother whose work bridges memoir and mission. Her landmark memoir, Unashamed: a life tainted… Vols. 1 & 2, chronicles her survival of incestuous abuse, child molestation, and violence, and has cemented her reputation as a fearless storyteller. Her voice reaches far beyond the page: she’s been featured on Investigation Discovery, ABC, PIX11, FOX5, and Glamour magazine. Her memoir has earned widespread acclaim across platforms.
An Interview with Cornelia J. Glynn
I am German and my six-month-to-a-year stay in London has just had a fiftieth anniversary, so you might have guessed I’m no longer a spring chicken, though to look at I could lie and say I am an autumn hen). My career path is rather varied—twenty-five years in the music business and a short spell in TV (behind the scenes—I was not a screen goddess…), after which I retrained as a homeopathic practitioner and later taught Hawaiian healing massage.
An Interview with Dottie Lee
Dottie Lee is a children’s book author, dancer, and healing arts practitioner who writes to inspire inclusion, confidence, and empathy in young readers. Her bestselling picture book, Frances Flamingo: Prima Ballerina, has sparked joy and conversation in families, schools, and libraries. Dottie lives in Texas, where she enjoys a good cup of coffee, walking her rescue Bichon Frise, Lily, and dreaming up new adventures for Frances Flamingo.
An Interview with Titania Tempest
Titania Tempest is a lifelong writer of epic fantasy who somehow stumbled into publishing a women’s fiction romcom as her debut novel. She’s still trying to figure out how that happened, but overjoyed all the same.
How to Use Sentence and Word Counts to Improve Story Pacing
The beauty of using sentence and word counts is that these patterns become visible. Instead of relying on vague feelings like “this section feels slow,” you can point to concrete data: “I have twelve consecutive sentences over twenty words in what should be my most intense scene.”
How to Write a Cover Letter to a Publisher
Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure into the world of publishing? Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or a budding author, an attractive cover letter is the golden ticket to capturing a publisher’s attention and getting your book on shelves. Though writing a cover letter can be a daunting task, fear not! We’re here to help unravel the mysteries of crafting an engaging, effective cover letter.
Resolutions vs. Cliffhangers: How to Choose the Right Ending for Your Story
But here’s the thing I’ve learned since then, both as a reader and a writer: endings are ridiculously hard to get right. Your final pages carry enormous weight—they’re what readers remember, what they talk about, what makes them either slam your book shut in satisfaction or immediately start hunting for the sequel.
Atmosphere Press Staff Spotlight: Emma Riva
Emma Riva is a writer based in Pittsburgh. She is the founder of Petrichor Magazine and a contributor to publications such as Artforum, The Art Newspaper, and Whitehot Magazine. She has worked for Atmosphere as an interior designer for 3 years and worked in book design in some form for almost 10.
Writing for Different Age Groups: Middle Grade, YA, and Adult Fiction
The magic happens when you stop thinking about writing for an age group and start thinking about writing to real people who just happen to be that age. Kids aren’t small adults, teenagers aren’t dramatic kids, and adults aren’t just older teenagers. Each group has its own wisdom, its own way of seeing the world, and its own stories that need telling.
Avoiding Publishing Scams and Finding Legitimate Platforms
As authors and writers, we are drawn to the allure of sharing our stories with the world, but the digital landscape can be treacherous. While legitimate platforms exist, the internet is also rife with scams preying on the dreams of aspiring authors. It’s essential to arm ourselves with knowledge and discernment to navigate this terrain successfully.
What Makes a Good Villain? Creating Compelling Antagonists
The best villains aren’t just obstacles to overcome—they’re complex characters who challenge our protagonists in meaningful ways, force growth, and sometimes even make us question our own moral compass. Let me walk you through the essential elements that separate forgettable bad guys from truly compelling antagonists!
How to Write a Devotional
In this post, we’ll walk you through the essentials of devotional writing across different styles—from traditional Bible-based devotionals to spiritually-inspired and personal-themed reflections. This balanced approach will help you decide the style that fits your voice and audience, and give you practical tools to create devotionals that truly resonate!
The Art of the Kiss: Balancing Emotion, Chemistry, and Consent
Kiss scenes come in many shapes and sizes, and what resonates most depends on your story’s tone, the characters involved, and the emotions at play. Whether it’s tender, fiery, awkward, or transformative, the best kiss scenes fit naturally within your narrative and deepen the connection between your characters!
The One-Sentence Pitch: How to Hook Agents and Editors
In this post, we’ll unpack why your one-sentence pitch carries such weight, common pitfalls to avoid, and actionable tips for crafting a pitch that grabs attention and leaves industry professionals wanting more. Whether you’re querying an agent or writing your book’s blurb, understanding this skill is vital to your success.
An Interview with Wendy Waters
Wendy Waters is an award-winning author, composer, lyricist, and librettist. Born in Australia, she grew up in Sydney, lived in the USA for six years, and now divides her time between London, Sydney, and Paris. In 2011 Waters volunteered to work with OASIS Salvation Army Crisis Centre in Sydney, helping musically gifted young people and it was in this capacity that she first conceived of the idea of a guardian angel rescuing a troubled or abused child as many of the young people at Oasis spoke of guardian angels coming to their rescue at times of danger.