VICTORIA, Minn. — James Patterson is one of the best-selling authors of our time, with books sold in places ranging from Amazon to Barnes and Noble and independently owned bookstores like Chapter One.
"One of my most recent reads of his, he partnered with Dolly Parton," owner Angie Ross said.
Ross opened her store in Victoria just a few years ago.
"I was an elementary teacher for 15 years," she said. "I taught through the pandemic and then while I was teaching from home kinda had all this extra time to think about other things I maybe wanted to do."
The new chapter involves a full calendar of events including weekly story time for kids and a monthly book club for adults.
And members of that book club, like Julie Pint, are the reason Ross has a special connection to that best-selling author she reads.
"Yeah, she's amazing," Pint said. "One of our members sent out an e-mail saying, 'Hey nominate Angie for this.'"
The club nominated her not just this year, but three years in a row.
"Since we've been open, each year my fabulous customers have taken it upon themselves to nominate me for the James Patterson Holiday Bonus Award," Ross explained.
She's won every year.
Since 2015, Patterson has given holiday bonuses to independent bookstore employees, with bonuses ranging from $500–$5,000.
This year, Ross is 1 of 17 in Minnesota, and 600 nationally, to get the award.
"For him to kind of recognize that there's something different about an independent bookstore and that you do get that relationship with people and you get community out of it … is a really huge honor," she said. "It's exciting especially when you know that it's customer driven."
Bonuses can be used on personal expenses, and Angie hasn't yet decided how she'll spend hers. But next up, in-store, she'd like to host more meet and greets with authors. All have been from Minnesota so far.
"We'll take you, James Patterson," Ross said.
A note for next year, booksellers don't have to be nominated by customers. They can also self-nominate, or be nominated by employees, publishing professionals and authors.
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