Best-selling author James Patterson is giving away $1 million of his own money to independent bookstores.
On Wednesday, Patterson announced the first round of 55 stores to receive over $267,000 in funds. The remaining $750,000 will be given out in stages throughout the year.
Patterson's publisher, Hachette Book Group, released a statement saying the author feels that bookstores are vital to communities and that they leave a lasting love of reading in children and adults.
The bookstores can do whatever they want with the grants, which range from $2,000 to $15,000.
Patterson's books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, making him among the world's most prolific and popular writers.
Some of the stores, according to the New York Times:
- Percy's Burrow in Topsham, Me.
- Page & Palette in Fairhope, Ala.
- A Whale of a Tale in Irvine, Calif.
- Bank Street Bookstore in New York City
- Hicklebee's in San Jose, Calif.
- Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, N.C.
- Book Passage in San Francisco, Calif.
Article Comments