James Patterson has pledged $250,000 to independent bookstore employees as part of his 2019 Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program. Bookselling This Week reported that the bestselling author is partnering for the sixth straight year with the ABA to distribute the funds, which will be granted in amounts of $500 to 500 individual booksellers. For the first time, a specific number of bonuses are being set aside for children's booksellers.
The campaign is open to all U.S. independent bookstore employees through October 12. The grant application asks one question: "Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?" Bookstore employees, publishing professionals, authors, and bookstore shoppers can all submit nominations on behalf of any current employee of an ABA member store. Patterson will select winners from bookstores all across the country. Past recipients of Patterson grants are eligible, and booksellers can self-nominate. Bonuses will be distributed in December.
"For five years, James Patterson has demonstrated again and again just how strong his support is for the independent booksellers who introduce readers of all ages to the authors and titles that are most likely to spark and deepen their joy of reading," said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. "Nobody puts their money behind their words more than he does, and this extra financial support for more booksellers than ever--including more children's booksellers--will be much appreciated by all the hardworking booksellers who are recipients of his generous holiday bonus program. We can't thank him enough."
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In the U.K., Patterson is funding "Buy a Book, Give a Book," a campaign to encourage reading in children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds through an initiative between Penguin, supermarket chain Asda and the National Literary Trust. The Bookseller reported that one new Penguin title, from a range of genres, will be donated to the NLT for every one of Patterson's book sold by Asda, in store or online, until December 31. A minimum of 250,000 books will be donated to the NLT regardless of how many books are sold. The aim is to "get everyone reading more so there is no upper limit to the amount of books donated," Penguin noted.
"It is my mission to prove that there is no such thing as a person who does not like to read, only people who have not found the right book," Patterson said. "Penguin, Asda and the National Literacy Trust are each dedicated to inspiring the reading habit and this initiative would not be possible without each of their contributions. These books will help to give disadvantaged communities in the U.K. access to books."
Jonathan Douglas, NLT director, commented: "Too many children living in the U.K.'s poorest communities are missing out on the transformative power of reading because they don't have a single book of their own at home. When children enjoy reading and have books of their own, they are more likely to do better at school and go on to lead happy, healthy and successful lives, so we must do everything we can to inspire children to fall in love with reading for a lifetime."