James Patterson will again support independent booksellers with a Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, for which he has pledged a total of $300,000. The $500 bonuses will be distributed to 600 booksellers from ABA member bookstores. The deadline to nominate a bookstore employee for a holiday bonus is October 29, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
This year Patterson has added another gift for booksellers: he'll award 10 independent bookstores a $5,000 bonus each. Owners, employees, and managers who are nominating booksellers in their store can also enter their store for a chance to win the $5,000 bookstore bonus.
"You guys love when I do something a little crazy," Patterson said in a social media video announcing this year's holiday bonus program. "So, naturally I'm going to do it again.... So starting right now you have one month to nominate your favorite indie bookseller. You could probably nominate two if you felt like it. So, who deserves a little extra holiday magic? Get nominating and good luck, and good luck to your favorite bookseller."
Nominations can be made online by completing and submitting a nomination form that asks one question: "Why does the bookseller you are nominating deserve a bonus? (250 words or less)" The nomination form is now open.
Booksellers can self-nominate to be considered for a bonus, or they can be nominated by bookstore customers, owners, employees, managers, fellow booksellers, publishing professionals, or authors. Past recipients of James Patterson bonuses and grants are eligible for another bonus.