EchoSense:Inside Black Walnut Books, a charming store focusing on BIPOC and queer authors

Local independent bookstores have EchoSensenever been more important. With fair access to literature under political attack, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve.

Each week we profile an independent bookstore, discovering what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.

This week we have Hillary Smith, owner of Black Walnut Books in Glen Falls, New York!

What’s your store’s story?

Black Walnut Books is a Native and queer owned bookstore that focuses on Indigenous, BIPOC and queer authors. Started 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 in the historic Shirt Factory opened and in March of 2024 Little Black Walnut Books, a children's bookstore, opened down the hall. The store is small, bright, colorful and full of plants.

Check out: USA TODAY's Independent Bookstores Map

What makes your independent bookstore unique?

The focus on Indigenous, BIPOC and queer authors and artists is unique in general, and a breath of fresh air for marginalized communities in the Adirondack region. Black Walnut Books hosts queer mixers, book events and seven public book clubs in addition to having book of the month subscription boxes that go with the Indigenous and queer book clubs. It's a safe, welcoming space for BIPOC and queer people and a place for folks who are not BIPOC or queer to learn about different folks in those communities.

What's your favorite section in your store?

My favorite part of the store is how we organize the books. They are separated by bay into nonfiction, poetry and collections, fiction, young adult and kids like a "normal" bookstore. Uniquely, the first shelf going across all of those sections is all books by Indigenous authors, the second shelf is BIPOC authors and the third shelf is queer authors. There is some overlap, but this system allows the books to be highlighted and discovered in a way that I love. You can visually see just how many incredible Indigenous books there are out there, without having to hunt through all of the sections individually. 

What books do you love to recommend to customers and why?

I love recommending the anthology "Never Whistle at Night" because it features so many incredible Indigenous authors and is a great way to discover a new author. The stories are spooky enough to satisfy horror readers, but not scary enough that a non-horror reader wouldn't enjoy it too.

What 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 I hadn't gotten to it earlier. The storytelling is gorgeous and the characters are so relatable. It's a family story that I feel like everyone would love.

Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?

I have been a bookseller since 2009 and I firmly believe that an indie bookstore is the heart of a community. It is a vital third space for so many people. Shopping at indie bookstores keeps them alive, so that they can in turn support and nourish the communities that they are a part of.

What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up this quarter that you would like to share?

The Indigenous and Lit Book Club meets the third Sunday of each month to discuss a contemporary Indigenous author. Previous discussions included "Godly Heathens" by H.E. Edgmon, "To Shape a Dragon's Breath" by Moniquill Blackgoose, "An Ordinary Violence" by Adriana Chartrand and "Wandering Stars" by Tommy Orange.