How James Patterson Supports Bookstore Workers Each Holiday

Bestselling author James Patterson is once again spreading holiday cheer by recognizing the hard work and dedication of independent bookstore employees across the United States.

Known for his philanthropic efforts in the literary world, James Patterson is gifting a total of $300,000 in bonuses to 600 bookstore staffers this holiday season.

Independent bookstores have long been cornerstones of their communities, offering not just books but also safe spaces for creativity, learning, and connection. Patterson, through his publisher Little, Brown and Company, emphasized the profound impact of booksellers, stating: “Booksellers save lives.”

“Booksellers save lives. Period,” Patterson said, per ABC News. “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.”

The 600 bookstore employees selected for the bonuses either applied themselves or were nominated by a coworker, author, or friend through the American Booksellers Association (ABA). This year’s recipients include Davis Gustafson from Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama; Erin Messer from City Lights in San Francisco, California; Brandon Conrad from The Nook in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Gina Marx from The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida; and Kirstin Kraig from Whale’s Tale Books in Lakewood, Colorado.

Others include Ada Denenfeld Kelly from Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, Massachusetts; Ana Guimil from Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts; Julia Zephir from Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven, v; Debra Horan from Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster, Massachusetts; Kenyatta Ingram from Riches in Reading in Abingdon, Massachusetts; and Janice Holmes from Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse in Annapolis, Massachusetts.

“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,” Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), said in a statement. “It means everything to have him recognize and reward the valuable role booksellers play in the industry.”

While the $500 bonuses provide financial relief during the holiday season, the gesture carries a deeper meaning. It’s a reminder that the work of booksellers is not only seen but deeply valued. These employees aren’t just selling books—they’re connecting readers with stories that can inspire, educate, and even change lives.

This isn’t Patterson’s first act of generosity toward booksellers. Over the years, he has consistently championed independent bookstores, believing they play an essential role in fostering literacy and building vibrant communities.

In March of this year, the ABA announced that the thriller novelist would contribute $600,000 to be distributed among booksellers. Earlier, in 2020, Patterson donated $500,000 to independent bookstores across the U.S.

“The White House is concerned about saving the airline industry and big businesses — I get that. But I’m concerned about the survival of independent bookstores, which are at the heart of main streets across the country,” Patterson said in a statement. “I believe that books are essential. They make us kinder, more empathetic human beings. And they have the power to take us away-even momentarily-from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and scared.”

“I hope that the funds we raise keep bookstores alive at a time when we need them the most,” he added.

Plus, in 2014, Patterson contributed $1 million to bookstores, distributing it in $15,000 grants per store.

“It ranges from Andover Bookstore, where a son and daughter wrote and their father hadn’t had a raise since 1988,” he told NPR at the time. “Children’s Bookstore in Baltimore, they give books to schools and they want the kids to be able to keep the books. Book Passage out in California will do more book fairs with it. Little Shop of Stories down in Decatur, Ga., they’re buying a bookmobile.”

James Patterson stands as one of the most celebrated and prolific authors of our time, known for his gripping thrillers, unforgettable characters, and extraordinary ability to captivate readers of all ages. With over 400 million copies sold worldwide, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers by a single author.

Patterson made his literary debut in 1976 with “The Thomas Berryman Number,” earning the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. However, it was the release of “Along Came a Spider” in 1993, which introduced the iconic Detective Alex Cross, that solidified his status as a literary powerhouse.