Inside Black Walnut Books, which focuses on BIPOC and queer authors
Local independent bookstores have never been more important. In the face of political criticism of fair access to literature, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve.
Each week we profile an independent bookstore, find out what makes them special, and get their expert book recommendations.
This week we have Hillary Smith, owner of Black Walnut Books in Glen Falls, New York!
What is the story of your business?
Black Walnut Books is an Indigenous and queer-owned bookstore focusing on Indigenous, BIPOC, and queer authors. Launched in 2021 as a Bookstagram account by Hillary, owner and longtime bookseller, it became an online and pop-up bookstore in 2022. In March 2023, the brick-and-mortar store opened in the historic Shirt Factory, and in March 2024, Little Black Walnut Books, a children’s bookstore, opened down the hall. The store is small, bright, colorful, and filled with plants.
What makes your independent bookstore unique?
The focus on Indigenous, BIPOC, and queer authors and artists in general is unique and a breath of fresh air for marginalized communities in the Adirondack region. Black Walnut Books hosts queer meetups, book events, and seven public book clubs, and also offers book-of-the-month subscription boxes that align with the Indigenous and queer book clubs. It’s a safe, welcoming space for BIPOC and queer people, and a place for folks who aren’t BIPOC or queer to learn about other people in those communities.
What is your favorite department in your store?
What I like most about the store is the way we organize the books. They are divided by subject matter, like a “normal” bookstore, into nonfiction, poetry books and collections, fiction, young adult literature, and children’s books. What’s unique is that the first shelf, which spans all of these sections, contains exclusively books by Indigenous authors, the second shelf BIPOC authors, and the third shelf queer authors. There is some overlap, but this system allows the books to be highlighted and discovered in a way that I like. You can visually see how many incredible Indigenous books there are without having to browse all of the sections individually.
Which books do you like to recommend to customers and why?
I love recommending the Never Whistle at Night anthology because it features so many incredible Indigenous authors and is a great way to discover a new author. The stories are scary enough to satisfy horror readers, but not so scary that non-horror readers would enjoy them too.
Which book do you think deserves more attention and why?
“Butter Honey Pig Bread” by Francesca Ekwuyasi is an incredibly good novel! When I read it, I was sad that I hadn’t gotten around to it sooner. The story is beautiful and the characters are so relatable. It’s a family story that I think everyone would enjoy.
Why is it important to shop at local, independent bookstores?
I have been a bookseller since 2009 and I firmly believe that an independent bookstore is the heart of a community. For many people, it is an important third place. Shopping at independent bookstores keeps them alive so that they can, in turn, support and nurture the communities they are part of.
What events, programs or partnerships do you have coming up in your business this quarter that you would like to tell us about?
The Indigenous and Lit Book Club meets on the third Sunday of every month to discuss a contemporary Indigenous author. Previous discussions have included Godly Heathens by HE Edgmon, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose, An Ordinary Violence by Adriana Chartrand and Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange.
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About The Author
