Chainkeen Exchange-Thistle & Nightshade bookstore pushes 'the boundaries of traditional representation'

Independent bookstores are Chainkeen Exchangethe heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.

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

This week we have Thistle & Nightshade in Reno, Nevada!

What’s your store’s story?

We were founded in 2023 with a focus on indie books by queer, women, black, indigenous, and persons of color authors. We are woman, queer, non-binary, and Latinx-owned.

Check out: USA TODAY's Independent Bookstores Map

What makes your independent bookstore unique?

We believe that stories matter, and the representation in stories matter. We aim to stock books with good representation that uplifts minority authors because we believe this can affect positive change in the world. Each story we hand out to our customers represents a tiny revolution where we open minds and hearts.

What's your favorite section in your store?

We love our indie published books! Independent authors keep the publishing world fresh and new. They infuse the zeitgeist with fresh ideas that push the boundaries of traditional representation. We love supporting them and introducing people to stories they wouldn't have found anywhere else.

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

"Baker Thief" by Claudie Arseneault is an adorable independently published urban fantasy. It features a queer cast written by an asexual author. She is one of the founders of Kraken Collective, a collective of queer indie authors.

We also love to recommend "Strictly No Heroics" by B.L. Radley and "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" by Molly X Chang.

Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?

Local businesses are what makes a community run. Indie bookstores represent facets of a community, and the more bookstores there are the more facets you get to experience. Large corporations put forth one facet and they do it broadly. Our tastes should not be determined by one entity. Shopping locally at small stores encourages innovation, diversity, and uniqueness.

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

We offer monthly themed book boxes that are carefully curated with books that center our values: uplifting minority authors and independent authors. Each theme is advertised on our website one month in advance of when they will ship.