James Patterson has been busy spreading holiday joy. But he’s not doing it by writing books — he’s been writing checks. The bestselling author has once again gifted $500 bonuses to hundreds of the nation’s independent booksellers, including four in Northern Virginia.
For the past 10 years, Patterson has been annually awarding the bonuses — totaling $300,000 — to 600 booksellers. The recipients can nominate themselves or be nominated by employees, managers, customers, authors, or fellow booksellers. Nominees must be currently employed by an independent bookstore that is a member of the American Booksellers Association (ABA).
“I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough — booksellers save lives,” Patterson said in a statement. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season.”
The four 2025 NoVA recipients are:
- Izzy Bell, Birch Tree Books, Leesburg
- Lane Benton, Old Town Books, Alexandria
- Eileen McGervey, One More Page Books, Arlington
- Miriam Meeks, The Open Book, Warrenton
Other Virginia booksellers on the list include Sara Hudson of Book People in Henrico, Caitlyn Cox of Maple Tree Book Shop in Gate City, and Emily Motsinger of Rainy Day Reads VA in Roanoke.
“We are all so grateful for Mr. Patterson’s ongoing support of independent booksellers,” ABA CEO Allison Hill said in a statement. “His generosity is incredible, and his recognition of booksellers and the valuable role they play in the industry is especially meaningful to us.”
Feature photo of James Patterson courtesy Tribune Content Agency LLC/Alamy Stock Photo
