Hybrid Publishing and Atmosphere Press

Colleen Alles is a writer, former librarian & teacher, and Michigan girl for life. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan State University (2005) and her MLIS from Wayne State University (2015). Her fiction and poetry have appeared in Red Cedar Review, Tar River Poetry, The Write Michigan Anthology, The Michigan Poet, and other places. Her fiction has been longlisted for The Fugere Book Prize for Finely Crafted Novellas in 2023 (Regal House Publishing).

Every month, Atmosphere Press receives more than 1500 submissions! That’s a lot. And we ultimately move forward with roughly 30 publishing contracts per month. Obviously, it’s a mutual decision to move forward on a contract, because we need to want to work with an author and an author needs to want to work with us.

For years, authors have been told, “The gatekeepers are gone, and publishing access is open to all!” Thanks to self-publishing and digital platforms, it’s easier than ever to get your book online. But true publishing access—getting your book into readers’ hands and building a lasting career—is far more complex.

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.

Forget six degrees of separation—in Texas, the connection between readers and writers is much closer. As a passionate Texan (and writer) myself, I’ve witnessed the incredible growth of the Texas book publishing scene. From established powerhouses to a thriving indie haven, the great state boasts a diverse and exciting ecosystem for authors, editors, and publishers alike!