It’s not everyday you can say you received a check from bestselling author James Patterson. But for four Northern Virginia booksellers that became a reality when they were selected to receive a $500 holiday bonus from Patterson himself.
Out of the 600 booksellers across the country selected, Kai Olorode at Old Town Books in Alexandria, Samantha White at One More Page Books in Arlington, Amy Lane at Bards Alley in Vienna, and Caitlin King at The Open Book in Warrenton were hand-picked by Patterson to receive one of this year’s bonuses.
“Booksellers save lives. Period,” Patterson said in a statement to the Associated Press. “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.”
This year, Patterson gave a total of $300,000 to deserving booksellers. Since 2015, he has been rewarding independent bookstore employees throughout the country.
“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 American Booksellers Association, said in a statement. “It means everything to have him recognize and reward the valuable role booksellers play in the industry.”
Four additional Virginia booksellers received the bonus — Mary Lou Sheridan at Book People in Henrico, Kristin Hildum at Read Books in Virginia Beach, Grace Sullivan at Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, and Sandy Amato at Winchester Book Gallery in Winchester. Nine booksellers located in Washington, DC, were also part of the 600 selected.
Each fall, the application opens, asking nominators one simple question: “Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?” Independent booksellers can be nominated by bookstore customers, owners, employees, managers, fellow booksellers, publishing professionals, or authors — or they can self-nominate.
Feature image of Bards Alley by Robert Merhaut
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