PREVIEW: Indie Book and Comic Expo at The Shirt Factory
09/27 @ The Shirt Factory, Glens Falls
“That building is so cool and it's gone through lots of iterations, and the fact that it's seen so many artists and so many small businesses and so much of a boom in creativity where everyone can work together is amazing.”
Black Walnut Books and Beldame Books are partnering once again to bring another excellent showcase of independent literature to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls this Saturday, September 27th from 10AM to 5PM.
The event includes a full schedule of events that will include Storytime with Batman, a Zine-making workshop, a make-your-own bookmark station, and multiple author panels. It’s the third leg of a series of events that the neighboring independent bookstores have partnered on this year, with plans to continue into the future with a Book Expo in February, a Comic Expo in March, and a combined Expo in September. In addition to the planned schedule of events, there will also be over 30 vendors including authors, illustrators, artists, publishers and even a food vendor (Arepa Hut, in case you were wondering).
The goal of this event relative to the other two tentpole expos is to merge the worlds of comics and graphic novels with what might be considered more “traditional” literature. “I think one of our big things is to get people who read comics to read books, and people who read books to check out comics,” said Kyle Welch, the owner of Beldame Books who specializes in comic books and graphic novels as well as traditional literature (especially horror, sci-fi and fantasy). “It's kind of like a celebration of creativity and literary exploration, however you want to tell your story and across whatever medium.”
In addition to Black Walnut and Beldame Books, a large support team has emerged from the tight-knit artistic and independent business community that has formed at The Shirt Factory in recent years. Contributions from Goldenrod Studio combined with a community that includes Sweet Side Records, Rock Hill Bakehouse, Barn and Brick Co, Noir Star Emporium and Manic Media just to name a few have been instrumental in garnering support for independent arts in the area.
“I think that people who live here can sometimes take that for granted,” Hillary Smith of Black Walnut Books told me. “That building is so cool and it's gone through lots of iterations, and the fact that it's seen so many artists and so many small businesses and so much of a boom in creativity where everyone can work together is amazing.”
Another major focus of the event is keeping it accessible and, above all else, fun. Tabling fees are kept low so any sales vendors make are worth their while. “Ultimately, it's supposed to be just like hanging out,” Smith said. “I think that's what's nice for the vendors and the people who come; you genuinely can just go chat with people.” Speaking on the tabling fees further, Welch added, “We like to make it a low, low risk [situation]. We talk to all the vendors, and usually if someone's having a rough day, we might not take their vendor fee that day. We really want it to be productive for the people who come out and to be an enjoyable experience. Even if they come out and only sell one thing, especially when it’s a lesser-known vendor, we want that to feel like a big deal.”
It’s more than just independent authors getting the chance to strut their stuff, though. There will be a handful of traditionally published authors in attendance who have also put out indie presses as well. Among them is Rob Costello who, for example, has a book out from Running Kids Press but has also put out many independent works in the past. With weather looking like it will clear up just in time for the weekend, much of the event is planned to take place outdoors on the grounds of the Shirt Factory, including the author panels, which will include discussions on things like worldbuilding in stories and using writing as a tool to cope with modern existence.
With such momentum building at The Shirt Factory thanks to the creative community that calls its various shops and studios home, the Indie Book and Comic Expo this Saturday promises to be a true celebration of artistic expression through every form of the literary medium. With a stacked lineup of more than 30 vendors and a schedule packed with entertaining events, it’s surely something every fan of independent bookstores would not want to miss.
For more information on the 2025 Indie Book and Comic Expo, visit them at https://glensfallsindie.webflow.io/.
