Nominate your favorite bookseller for a $1,000+ bonus from James Patterson

Booksellers are in for a big holiday bonus, thanks to James Patterson.

The bestselling author is giving away $250,000 in surprise bonuses to the people who work at independent bookstores. “I want to continue to draw attention to the fact that booksellers are heroes in our society,” Patterson told the L.A. Times via email. “That booksellers are usually underappreciated, and that booksellers are mostly unpaid and overworked.”

To make up for that, Patterson will give significant holiday bonuses -- of $1,000-$5,000 -- away to independent bookstore staffers who’ve been nominated by their fans, customers and colleagues.

Between now and Nov. 1, anyone can nominate a bookseller for the bonus by filling out this online form. Include your relationship to the bookseller, contact information for them, and why he or she should receive a holiday bonus. All the bonus-getters will be announced on Dec. 18.

Anyone who works at one of the 2,200 independent bookstores that are members of the American Booksellers Assn. is eligible.

“I hope that all booksellers have a wonderful holiday,” Patterson said.

In recent years, Patterson has made an unmatched commitment to supporting independent bookstores. Last year he gave $1 million in grants to 178 bookstores across the U.S.

The chief executive of the American Booksellers Association, Oren Teicher, said in a statement, “We are extremely grateful to James Patterson, who once again has shown himself to be a singular champion for literacy and independent booksellers.”

Because it’s not a field with significant financial rewards, most people who become booksellers are people who love to read. What, we asked Patterson, would he think if his holiday bonuses were used to buy more books?

“I expect that some booksellers will spend their bonuses on books,” he replied. “That’s what book lovers do.”

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