Books published by Atmosphere Press

“Farmer I’m ready, I won’t let you down. No matter what comes, I will stand my ground.”Donkey is an unassuming hero who is still trying to find his place in the herd. Although he is young, he has been tasked with the huge responsibility of protecting his herd from any and all foes they may encounter. During the day, farmer is always there to guide him. How will he handle being on his own? Donkey must learn to summon his courage and rely on his own resourcefulness. Feel inspired to spend the night with Donkey as he bravely patrols his pasture and creatively outsmarts his challengers.

What do a love story unfolding and honeybee lore have in common? Cosmology and Humpty Dumpty? Sharon Whitehill’s full-length collection of poems, A Dream of Wide Water, finds such surprising connections. We become part of the intimate life of the the poet as she is leaving a bad love affair and on the tentative brink of a new one. These poems carry us through to an autumnal walk through a forest that seems to become a cathedral, then to life in a beekeeper’s orange grove. Yes, reader, she married him.But that’s only the start. Each poem that follows connects in some way to the world of nature: human nature not least of all. Themes emerge in the process: moments that leave their mark on a child, the unveiling of an identity, our human role the world, reflections on human behavior, the existence (or not) of God. All find a home in these poems. This poet presents us with what we might call an old-fashioned romantic spirit—yet it’s one equipped with a sense of humor linked to an ironic eye.

The Horror of 1888 is the true story of two brothers fishing in a creek leading off the Sugar River in the township of Primrose, Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1888. They noticed a sack in the shallow waters of the creek and inside found body parts belonging to someone who had evidently been murdered. The identity of the murderer was soon determined, and the bloody crime scene discovered and searched, disclosing the details of one of the most horrible murders ever known to Wisconsin at that time.This book continues the story in great detail, following the murderer across the Atlantic to Ireland, where he was arrested before he could reach his native country of Switzerland, and brought back to Wisconsin for trial. It would be eleven months before an unusual confession emerged.The events of this crime and the extradition process that returned the criminal to Madison generated international notoriety. The operation of the legal systems in England and Wisconsin in 1889 are woven into the story, along with sketches of contemporary life in Dane County. The fact that the author of the book is related to the murderer just adds to the intrigue...

A Stunning new collection from Stuart Jay Silverman, author of The Complete Lost Poems: A Selection“I think of poetry as a creative art, not primarily a form of expression, which reeks too much of pathos, the self-aggrandizing narcissism of our fearful times. Of course, the subjective enters into every poem ever composed. A sentient and thoughtful being does the creating. When the poem gets away from the purely confessional, it has a chance to expand its poet’s experiential horizons and, in consequence, that of the empathetic reader.The result is what I call a subsistent reality, in effect, an extension of the possible world whether naturalistic, surrealistic, or fantastic. It links to the plastic arts of painting and sculpture, and, perhaps, to architecture and music, by providing altered perspectives. new realities, or quasi-realities for the immensely complex mind which is the essential person.”~ Stuart Jay Silverman

“My name is Romanuel Washington, Jr. I have been involved in healthcare for over 70 years...”So begins this stellar recap of the life and thoughts of Dr. Romanuel Washington, the first Black licensed chiropractor in the state of Texas. Through his medical viewpoints and life experiences we gain a view of a time that has passed, but also one that remains deeply with us today. Compiled for Dr. Washington by Terri Baugh, his grandson and family, this is a moving testimonial of spiritual and occupational strength in the face of daunting cultural odds.

Meet Mr. Karahn J Washington. I’m a Millenial who was born in the 1990s, the Golden Era of Rap Music. I’m weird, but not in a psychotic serial killer type of way. I’m flamboyant, and reckless. I’m a bit restless. I’m the least chill guy in any of my friend groups. I refer to myself in the 3rd person. Yes, I am that guy. I’m an outsider everywhere I go. I’m the type of guy who will take you places and show you things.With that being said, I offer to you, The Escapist. As a black man from South Carolina, I begin to see the world for the first time. My travels begin to change myself and my perspective. The world as an adult is much different than what I was raised to believe. I realize that I’m caught in the middle of a changing zeitgeist; old versus new. The old life I was raised to follow where a man gets a mid-level paying job, gets married to a wife, and then they raise children. The new life that I am now enjoying consists of building an empire, being single, and traveling the world.But no matter how far I travel the world, something keeps bringing me back to South Carolina. Something’s missing, and I know it deep down in me. My travels eventually bring me to a crossroads. I have to choose between living one life or living the other. Each choice will require giving up something. There is no opting out of having to choose. There is no running away from this. Pressures are on me from many sides. How will I respond?