LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two Louisville bookstores are being recognized again by one of the world's best-selling authors.
James Patterson released the list of honorees on his annual "Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program." Over the past 20 years, he has donated millions of dollars to schools, libraries, literacy programs and others in the book community. For the past several years, he has made a tradition out of sending $500 checks to 600 independent booksellers who have been recommended by peers or patrons.
The list for 2025 was posted by the American Booksellers Association. It includes two employees from Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, Emma Aprile and Sarah Cottrell. Kelly Nusz from Louisville's Foxing Bookstore was also recognized. The list includes a long list of people on the front lines of literature from nearly every state.
“I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough—booksellers save lives. What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season,” Patterson said on social media. "This year I’m continuing the tradition of bookseller bonuses—join me in celebrating each of these booksellers."
One of the world's most popular and prolific authors, Patterson received an honorary National Book Award medal in 2015 for his “Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.”
Patterson's best-known books come from his flagship Alex Cross series, starting with Along Came a Spider and include Kiss the Girls, Roses Are Red and more. He has also co-written books with Bill Clinton (The President is Missing) and Dolly Parton (Run, Rose, Run).
Here is a list of honorees for Kentucky and Indiana.
Kentucky
Emma Aprile, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Sarah Cottrell, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Stephanie Staton, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
Kelly Nusz, Foxing Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Kathy York, Plaid Elephant Books, Danville, KY
Indiana
Melissa Schmidt, Fables and Fairy Tales, Martinsville, IN
Chet Atchison, Main Street Books, Lafayette, IN
Ben Strawn, Morgenstern Books, Bloomington, IN
Sarah Stevens, Novel Nook, Angola, IN
nicholae cline, Redbud Books, Bloomington, IN
Zach Hannel, Second Flight Books, Lafayette, IN
Rahe Bergman, The Bookshelf, Batesville, IN
Alexis Blevins, The Next Page Bookstore & More, Decatur, IN
Grace Hicks, Tomorrow Bookstore, Indianapolis, IN
Suzie Van Osdol, Wild Geese Bookshop, Franklin, IN
To see the complete list of Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus recipients, click here.
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