Hundreds of independent bookstore workers across the country—including one in Chicago—were the recipients of a big holiday surprise Wednesday. Since 2015, bestselling author James Patterson has given out holiday bonuses to independent bookstore workers across the country.

Staffers will receive a $500 holiday bonus from bestselling author James Patterson as part of his annual holiday bookstore bonus program.

Two Pittsburgh-area booksellers are among hundreds getting a $500 holiday bonus from best-selling author James Patterson.

Every holiday season since 2015, the New York Times bestselling author awards independent bookstore employees with special holiday bonuses as tokens of his appreciation. This year, 600 booksellers from Birmingham to San Francisco will be receiving $500 gifts from Patterson for the hard work that they do.

Recipients also include Kirstin Kraig of Whale’s Tale Books in Lakewood, Colorado. Patterson chose the winners from thousands of applications.

Staffers at five Mississippi bookstores are among 600 booksellers receiving $500 holiday bonuses from James Patterson, the bestselling novelist who has been awarding independent store employees since 2015.

Davis Gustafson, a clerk at the store who also handles receiving and inventory at the book store, was among 600 people at small independent booksellers across the country to receive bonuses through the James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program.

Staffers at bookstores in Fort Thomas, Kentucky and Versailles, Indiana are among the 600 booksellers nationwide receiver a $500 holiday bonus from bestselling novelist James Patterson.