Chainkeen|BookWoman in Austin champions queer, feminist works: 'Fighting for a better tomorrow'

Local,Chainkeen independent bookstores have never 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 BookWoman in Austin, Texas!

What’s your store’s story?

When BookWoman was founded 47 years ago, we set out to create a space that amplified Lesbian and Women’s literature. As the “umbrella” of feminism has grown and evolved to become more intersectional, so has our store. We are a queer, feminist space for everyone to grow and learn through reading.

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What makes your independent bookstore unique?

We recognize now more than ever queer people — and especially trans people — in the South need a place where they can catch their breath and find a sense of community. Beyond being typical booksellers, we feel responsible for putting books that show entire worlds of possibility to the people who need reassurances the most. Through books, readers can experience not just imagined utopias but read about the people of the past and present fighting for a better tomorrow.

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What's your favorite section in your store?

The most rewarding section in our store is the one dedicated to LGBTQIA+ nonfiction. We have so many lovely stories of quietly helping questioning customers find books to help them on their journeys.

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

"Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman" by Leslie Feinberg is a lovely connection to the past with a through line to the present with each new edition. Queer history books are a lovely reminder that we have always been here and will continue to be here.

What book do you think deserves more attention and why?

"Brainwyrms" by Alison Rumfitt is a fresh-from-the-headlines horror novel for our political times. It's deliciously scary and incredibly smart in examining the horrors real-life trans people face while also packed with classic horror scares.

What books/series are you most excited about coming out in the next few months and why?

"I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself" by Marisa Crane has been out in hardback for almost a year but with paperback it will be accessible to a wider audience of readers. This is a gorgeous triumph of queerness in a dystopian time. Beautifully reassuring.

Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?

There are books that independent booksellers, and specifically curated bookstores, know that aren't found in a general, big box bookstore. We can find you the perfect book that isn't hitting bestseller lists or the hyper-specific nonfiction book you're looking for because we care and have the ability to pay attention to each individual customer.