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
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.”
Fiction Favorites 
That is amazing. The world needs more folks like James Patterson.
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A lot more. Thanks, Darlene.
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Absolutely lovely!
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Thank you, Lori.
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I’ve seen so many bookstores go out of business – this is great to see!!
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I think so too. Thanks, GP.
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That’s what it’s all about! ❤
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It is, Annette. 😊
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PS. I hope those tornadoes aren’t affecting you.
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Haven’t seen any here. Thanks, GP
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Glad to hear it!
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😁
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Very generous man. And your JohnKu asks a very good question.
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Thanks, Steve.
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That’s very kind of Mr. Patterson.
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Yes it is. Thanks Tim.
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Really cool. Wish stuff like this happened more often. That or everyone made enough money to not need it. Either works.
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Either does work.
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I love this Good News story! Your JohnKu is spot-on!
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Thank. you, Liz. It is a good story.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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Very kind of a world famous author to recognize book sellers!
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I think so too. Thanks, Noelle.
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‘Booksellers save lives.’–Amen to that. Great TGIF, John.
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I agree. Thanks, Lois.
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What a wonderful thing to do.
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I agree, Greg. Thanks.
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What a generous thing to do.
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I think so too. Thanks, Craig.
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He’s famous for doing things like that. He also wrote a fascinating nonfiction book about the Secret Lives of Librarians and Book Sellers.
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He has my respect. Thanks, Pat
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That’s definitely a feel good story! I’m just beaming at the thought of Patterson’s generosity. Thanks for sharing. Happy Fri-Yay.
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I like the fact that he is giving back. Oops didn’t mean to rhyme.
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That’s so cool. A wonderful Johnku, and an author who understands that we’re all connected. Good for Patterson. Happy New Year, my friend.
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I agree, Diana.
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This is so nice and thoughtful. One of my all time favorite authors for such a long time, too!
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I agree, Laura.
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What a fabulous man. And I am positive he doesn’t do it for the exposure, either. Wonderful JohnKu!
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I think you are right, Dale. This is the first I’ve heard of his giving profile.
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I like to believe it is the case.
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Yes, me too.
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That’s awesome! We can’t afford to lose any more brick and mortar book stores en mon avis.
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I agree, Deborah. Too many gone so far.
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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! 🎉🎊🎉
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I’ve read a few and enjoyed them.Happy New Year to you, Gwen. Thanks for the wish.
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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!
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I agree, Pete. So many have gone.
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What a generous human and wonderful boon for independent bookstores! They deserve the recognition. Thank you, John.
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I agree with you, Michele. Thanks.
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It certainly was very nice and unselfish of James Patterson to do that.
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He has been doing a lot over the years.
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Hi John, it’s wonderful to see this support for book shops.
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I agree, Robbie.
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WOW! He is right about independent bookstores. What a great story, and an even greater guy.
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Yes indeed.
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😀
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😊
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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.
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I agree, Dave. I think he has a good grasp on what is important.
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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
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I think that is a wonderful way of paying back, Resa. Thanks for sharing. 🐂 🐖
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Thanks for bringing it up!
OX 🐂
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😁X
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Here’s to Mr. Patterson and his beautiful gift.
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He is quite a guy
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Truly
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😊
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That is so great. What a good guy. And I agree with him.
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So true.
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What an amazing gift. We should all be able to sell as many books as Patterson so we too could do that. 🙂
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You’ll have to speak with the book god about that.
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Lol 🙂
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What a brilliant thing to do, thanks for sharing the story John..hugsx
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I agree. 😊
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