[6]Over the coming weeks, booksellers are encouraged to share details at their stores about author James Patterson’s Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program [7], which invites booksellers, publishing professionals, authors, or bookstore shoppers to share why they think an indie bookstore employee should receive a holiday grant.

Last week, Patterson announced his 2018 pledge to independent bookstore employees: a personal contribution of $250,000. For the fifth year in a row, he is partnering with the American Booksellers Association to distribute the funds, which will be granted in amounts of $750 to $1,500 to individual booksellers.

This year’s campaign is open to all U.S. independent bookstore employees through September 30. All past recipients of Patterson grants are eligible, and booksellers can self-nominate. This year’s pledge brings Patterson’s contribution to date to $1.1 million.

The grant application [8] asks one simple question: “Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?” Patterson will select winners from bookstores all across the country to receive bonuses this holiday season.

In 2017, Patterson donated a record $350,000 to bookstore employees; in 2016, $250,000 to 149 independent bookstore employees across the country; and in 2015, $250,000 to 87 recipients. In 2014, he awarded $1 million in grants to 178 independent bookstores. Over the past decade, Patterson has given away more than a million books to students all over the United States and visited hundreds of schools to advocate for youth literacy.