NEW YORK — A total of 600 booksellers will receive a holiday bonus of $500 each from bestselling author James Patterson. Notable recipients include staff members from Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama, City Lights Books in San Francisco, and The Nook in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This initiative, which began in 2015, aims to appreciate independent bookstore employees.
Patterson expressed his sentiments in a statement shared through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company, emphasizing the crucial role booksellers play in society. “Booksellers save lives. Period. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season,” he stated.
The selection of awardees was based on nominations from coworkers and customers, highlighting the dedication and service of individuals like Davis Gustafson from Thank You Books, Erin Messer from City Lights, and Brandon Conrad from The Nook, among others. Noteworthy mentions also include Gina Marx from The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida, and Kirstin Kraig of Whale’s Tale Books in Lakewood, Colorado. Patterson’s choice came from a pool of many deserving candidates.
Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, praised Patterson for his altruism, stating that his actions inspire deep gratitude within the independent bookselling community. “We appreciate Mr. Patterson’s financial generosity as well as his generosity of spirit. We all continue to be awed by, and grateful for, Mr. Patterson’s continuing support of independent booksellers,” she mentioned, underscoring the vital contributions booksellers make to the literary landscape.
In addition to his holiday bonuses for booksellers, Patterson has also generously contributed millions to various educational and literary initiatives, including schools, libraries, and literacy programs. His impact on literature was recognized in 2015 when he received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, honoring his exceptional service to the American literary community.
