DES MOINES, Iowa — Some central Iowa booksellers received a special holiday bonus this year, courtesy of James Patterson.
Since 2015, Patterson has rewarded independent bookstore employees with holiday bonuses through his Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program.
600 employees from across the country received the bonus in 2023, according to the American Booksellers Association.
Rachel Ramirez-Sensouk, an employee at Storyhouse Bookpub in Des Moines, is one of six booksellers in Iowa to receive a $500 bonus this year. The Des Moines bookstore said on Facebook that Ramirez-Sensouk is known for her book recommendations, her organizational skills and her "beautiful marketing graphics."
It's the second year in a row that a Storyhouse employee has received a gift from Patterson: Last year, Storyhouse's children's coordinator Tiffany Rohe received the bonus.
"If you only knew all the work Storyhouse Booksellers do behind the scenes to make this shop run so smoothly, you couldn't help but happy-dance with us!" Storyhouse wrote on Facebook.
Other central Iowa booksellers, including Rachel Trainum at Dog-Eared Books and Aimee Moore at The Curiosity Shop, also received a bonus from Patterson.
"If you've ever stopped by our store, you've probably met Aimee and know what a true gem she is!" The Curiosity Shop wrote on Facebook. "A big thank you to James Patterson for his generosity and recognition of the important role booksellers have!"
Here are the six independent bookstore employees in Iowa to receive a bonus this year:
- Rachel Trainum, Ames, Dog-Eared Books
- Suzanne Gleeson, Iowa City, Prairie Lights Books
- Katy Herbold, University Heights, Sidekick Coffee & Books
- Rachel Ramirez, Des Moines, Storyhouse Bookpub
- Aimee Moore, Pella, The Curiosity Shop
- Joshua Langseth, Iowa City, The Haunted Bookshop
The holiday bonuses come just months before Patterson is set to visit Des Moines for the 2024 Authors Visiting in Des Moines series.
Find the full list of Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus recipients here.