I noticed you live in Azusa. I was actually working for Azusa Pacific University when I finally decided to leave my Christian faith behind. I'm guessing you have an idea how that went over.

As for any suggestions I'd simply say you shouldn't lead with your beliefs (or lack thereof depending on you're perspective) especially when meeting new people. As you get to know them you'll learn which ones you can trust and which ones you should allow to maintain their own ignorance about you.

Don't wear it on your sleeve, but don't hide it either if asked. Let theists have their beliefs and you keep yours. Personally, I try to avoid religious people as much as possible, ad I see it a actual a form of mental illness. Seriosly, I'm not kidding. All faith is blind faith, and a basic collegiate level of education should be enough for a reasonably intelligent person to realize that our consciousness is simply a form of energy. The net sum of everything in the cosmos is zero. Period.

First of all, Hello fellow former Christian. It took a lot of time to extricate my mind from that religion.
Second, it is not your responsibility to dispute the religious assertions of...the religious, unless you take it upon yourself. So, you can just keep your atheism to yourself and just try to be understanding of those that cling to religion.
Third, there is plenty of literature. "Seek and ye shall find." It is all about logical argument and seeing the fallacy in the logic of religion. Or you can just refine your thinking by discussing things with like minded people. Be careful of the lure of mysticism. Some people think it is the same thing as atheism. It is fraught with the same fallacious logic.

I just tell people that I have no interest in any form of religion or god(s). I don't let them draw me into discussing beliefs. If they try I just excuse myself. If they follow and persist, than they are being rude, and i feel I can't be also be rude to them.

This depends entirely on where you live. In Western Europe or Australia, religion is mostly a private matter, and no one will care much either way. However, I'll assume that you're in the USA; in which case, if the topic comes up, do your best to deflect it. Many people will judge you simply for being an atheist. But if they are confrontational, stand your ground. Most of all, show that empathy, not religion, makes a person good.

For family peace, you might find that the diplomatic approach is the best one, be as unconfrontational as possible, but don't deny your position, just keep it low key. Your journey to understanding where your personal philosophy is at, is yours alone, but you are not alone in making that journey

I think you have a big problem, first of all, with the term "belief". You can believe the world is flat- and the sun circles it- due to scientist/astrologers, like Galileo, that was proven false centuries ago. Yes, and Galileo was lucky to get off with his life for his research. Being an atheist hasn't got much bearing on anything. A person is "believing" or "not believing" in man-made gods. Why take the time? Even Thomas Paine, one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence, one amongst the millions to say this, said, "Man created god."

Do at least a little bit of reading. There is no explanation for the ultimate 'first step'- IF THERE IS ONE. If there is a cognitive planner, that planner would obviously be a 'creator' too. READ; get some information; it is so much more interesting than kid's fairytales about going to La La Land.

It really depends - letsay your parents will be seriously hurt and will blame themselves for not "raising you properly" - or something along this line. My mother was very hurt when I told her. She got over it but in retrospective I know I could have handled it better.