Bestselling novelist James Patterson is already well known for paying bonuses to independent booksellers across the US (since 2015). New this year, Patterson is offering more than $200,000 to Barnes & Noble booksellers, using the structure of a contest—although it looks like an innovative form of advertising spend to us. He will give $300 to a bookseller in every store who comes up with the best holiday book display, including some of Patterson’s books, as judged by their store manager.
Patterson said in the release, “I’m excited about all of the recent changes at Barnes & Noble and to see where they go next. But I’ve always been immensely grateful to the many booksellers at B&N stores across the country for their dedication to books and reading—and these holiday bonuses are my way of acknowledging their hard work.” The winning holiday book displays can be seen in B&N stores now.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
