Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

 

Today’s good news story comes from The Good News Network and is about a best-selling author.

James Patterson Gives $300,000 in Holiday Bonuses to 600 Bookstore Employees

By

Andy Corbley –

Believing that books save lives, international best-selling author James Patterson is taking the reins for dozens of American booksellers this year and giving their employees a $500 holiday bonus.

To protect the beloved industry and its bottom line, Patterson’s donations totaled $300,000 this holiday season and were divided between 600 bookshop workers.

According to the American Booksellers Association (ABA), workers either submitted an application for the bonus or were nominated by their colleagues, friends, or perhaps even an author.

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

People Magazine reports that Alabama’s Thank You Books, Iowa’s The Nook, and San Francisco’s City Lights Books are just some locations that have witnessed Patterson’s gifts.

“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 ABA, also said in a statement.

“It means everything to have him recognize and reward booksellers’ valuable role in the industry.”

This is just one of many large donations offered by Patterson to bookstores, totaling over $1.5 million of personal wealth over the last 20 years. This included a $500,000 donation during the opening salvos of the COVID-19 pandemic when enforced lockdowns and business closures threatened small businesses in many states.

“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 at the time.

“I believe that books are essential. They make us kinder, more empathetic human beings. And they can take us away momentarily from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and scared.”

The good news in this story is that an author who has significantly benefitted from bookstore employees is willing to give back in recognition of those benefits. Today’s JohnKu talks about payback. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Gratitude by John W. Howell © 2024
We all owe someone,
For helping us on life’s path . . .
How do we pay back?
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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

75 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  20. How impressive! I don’t think I’ve read any of Patterson’s thrillers, but I’m inclined to read one now. Thank you for sharing this info, John. Your Johnku is perfect and leaves us with an important question. Happy New Year to you and yours! 🎉🎊🎉

    Liked by 1 person

  21. It’s sad to me that bookstores are becoming harder to find. Much like a treasure hunter, I loved going into a used book store and searching.

    Long live literacy!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. You make a great point with “an author who has significantly benefitted from bookstore employees.” Those employees have surely helped build the huge business that is James Patterson. I’m glad he’s giving back with donations — and to help put a focus on independent bookstores in the news.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. An excellent piece of good news, thank you John!

    You JohnKu asks a question; “How do we pay back?”

    Many helped me in my career, and I have mentored several designers into the film industry.

    As a matter of fact, I will be hooking up in the new year with an Arts student currently studying at one of our universities. He is majoring in theatre arts, and wants to be a costume designer.

    We met at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

    Several others have reached out to me via LinkedIn. I need to check them out a bit first, but there is one girl who seems wildly talented.

    Thank you James Patterson!

    OX OX

    Liked by 1 person

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