Bookstores Featured in Media Coverage of Patterson Grants

Author James Patterson kicked off a campaign to give $1 million to independent bookstores in February by distributing $267,000 to 55 bookstores across the country. An additional 43 grant recipients receiving a total of $268,000 were announced at BookExpo America on May 28.

Now, armed with grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, the recipients are making headlines from coast to coast, talking to local media outlets about the new programs, store upgrades, and employee bonuses they are arranging with the Patterson funds.  

With just over half of the funds distributed to date in his $1 million campaign, Patterson is continuing to accept nominations for grant recipients via his website. Grants are available to viable bookstores with a children’s section, as Patterson is looking to bring attention to indie bookstores and strengthen their efforts to inspire children to become lifelong readers.

Local news coverage of booksellers celebrating Patterson’s giveaways includes:

“Moe’s Books gets $7,000 from author James Patterson” (Berkeleyside)
berkeleyside.com/2014/06/11/berkeleys-moes-books-gets-7000-from-best-selling-author-james-patterson/comment-page-1/

“Waterville bookstore receives $5,000 grant from writer James Patterson” (Bangor Daily News, on The Children’s Book Cellar)
cultureshock.bangordailynews.com/2014/06/09/out-and-about/waterville-book-store-receives-5000-grant-from-writer-james-patterson/

“Seattle Mystery Bookshop gets a James Patterson grant” (The Seattle Times)
blogs.seattletimes.com/artspage/2014/06/09/seattle-mystery-bookshop-gets-a-james-patterson-grant/

“Delaware bookseller gets grant from author James Patterson” (The Columbus Dispatch, on Fundamentals)
dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2014/06/03/bookseller-in-delaware-gets-grant-from-author.html

“James Patterson gives money to Annie Bloom’s Books, rips Amazon” (Oregonlive)
oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2014/05/james_patterson_gives_money_to.html

“Lemuria among recipients in author’s $1M pledge” (The Clarion Ledger)
clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/06/08/lemuria-among-recipients-authors-m-pledge/10211899/

“Northvale bookstore owner Kenny Sarfin bringing teenagers back to reading with donation” (NorthJersey.com, on Books & Greetings)
northjersey.com/opinion/northvale-bookstore-owner-kenny-sarfin-bringing-teenagers-back-to-reading-with-donation-1.1021482

“Burlington summer reading program gears up” (Burlington Free Press, on Phoenix Books)
burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2014/05/28/burlington-summer-reading-program-gears/9675955/

“Baltimore Children’s Bookstore wins grant from James Patterson” (The Washington Post, on The Children’s Bookstore)
washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/02/20/baltimore-childrens-bookstore-wins-grant-from-james-patterson/

“Two SD bookstores get Patterson grants” (U-T San Diego, on Mysterious Galaxy and Yellow Book Road)
utsandiego.com/news/2014/Feb/21/james-patterson-bookstore-grants/

“Okemos bookstore gets one of first James Patterson grants to promote reading” (Lansing State Journal, on Schuler Books & Music)
lansingstatejournal.com/article/20140220/NEWS01/302200041/Okemos-bookstore-gets-one-first-James-Patterson-grants-promote-reading

“Author James Patterson rewards Topsham bookstore as part of $1 million giveaway” (Bangor Daily News, on Percy’s Burrow)
bangordailynews.com/2014/02/20/business/bestselling-author-james-patterson-awards-topsham-bookstore-as-part-of-1-million-giveaway/

“Brazos Bookstore receives grant from James Patterson’s $1 million giveaway” (Houston Chronicle)
blog.chron.com/bookish/2014/02/brazos-bookstore-receives-grant-from-james-pattersons-1-million-giveaway/

“James Patterson gives money to 7 Massachusetts bookstores” (Boston Herald, on Andover Bookstore, Brewster Book Store, Broadside Bookshop, The Odyssey Bookshop, Porter Square Books, The BookLoft, and Wellesley Books)
bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2014/02/james_patterson_gives_
money_to_7_massachusetts_bookstores

“Malaprop’s Book Store in Asheville gets $7,500 James Patterson grant” (Ashvegas)
ashvegas.com/malaprops-book-storein-asheville-is-recipient-of-a-james-patterson-grant

“Page and Palette among bookstores receiving checks from author James Patterson” (AL.com)
al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/02/page_and_palette_among_booksto.html

“Decatur Bookstore Gets Boost from James Patterson” (90.1 WABE, on Little Shop of Stories)
wabe.org/post/decatur-bookstore-gets-boost-james-patterson

“Santa Cruz Bookstore To Receive Funds From Patterson” (WJCT News, on Bookshop Santa Cruz)
news.wjct.org/post/santa-cruz-bookstore-reveive-funds-patterson

“Bank Street Bookstore receives Patterson cash” (Columbia Spectator, on Bank Street and Book Culture)
columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-entertainment/2014/03/07/bank-street-bookstore-receives-patterson-cash

“Area Bookstores Awarded In First Round Of James Patterson’s Giveaway” (WAMC, on The Bookstore Plus and The Odyssey Bookshop)
wamc.org/post/area-bookstores-awarded-first-round-james-pattersons-giveaway

“Checks In The Mail For Two Local Bookstores” (Vermont Public Radio, on Phoenix Books and The Norwich Bookstore)
digital.vpr.net/post/checks-mail-two-local-bookstores

“Author James Patterson gives grants to local book stores” (The Intelligencer, on Doylestown Bookshop and Booktenders’ Secret Garden Children’s Bookstore & Gallery)
theintell.com/news/local/author-james-patterson-gives-grants-to-local-book-stores/article_af3a2cdc-78c6-5cc4-934b-713dd81cb9c0.html

“Red Balloon, Wild Rumpus get grant from author James Patterson” (TwinCities.com)
twincities.com/entertainment/ci_25190860/red-balloon-wild-rumpus-get-grant-from-author

“Book Revue in Huntington gets boost from author James Patterson” (Newsday)
newsday.com/lifestyle/book-revue-in-huntington-gets-boost-from-author-james-patterson-1.7676546

“Rockford Bookstore Receives Grant From Best-Selling Author” (Northern Public Radio, on Wonderland Books & Toys)
northernpublicradio.org/post/rockford-bookstore-receives-grant-best-selling-author

“Park Road Books floored by thriller writer James Patterson” (Charlotte Business Journal)
bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2014/02/park-road-books-floored-by-thriller-writerjames.html

“Subterranean Books grateful for author Patterson’s giveaway” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/book-blog/subterranean-books-grateful-for-author-patterson-s-giveaway/article_c00e1a8c-039f-5379-a680-7be6d39515a8.html

“Author James Patterson giving $1 million to bookstores, including Austin’s BookPeople” (Austin American-Statesman)
statesman.com/news/entertainment/celebrity-news/author-james-patterson-giving-1-million-to-booksto/ndWPD/

Nearly 100 bookstores have been the recipients of grants from James Patterson; if your store has been featured in local media after receiving grant as part of Patterson’s pledge, please let us know.