“Booksellers save lives. Period,” said Patterson in a statement released Tuesday through his publisher. “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.”

Patterson has been awarding independent bookstore employees with surprise bonuses since 2015. Eleven Iowa bookstores each received $500 from Patterson’s holiday bonus this year.

“It means a lot to me,” said Theroux. “I feel recognized by my peers in the industry and by the public as this is something that’s voted on. I’m excited that others believe in me and see me as a leader in our industry.”

The Green Dragon Bookshop has been open nearly three years in downtown Fort Dodge, and this spring, Theroux started the Iowa Indie Book Tour.

“This is really validating,” said Theroux. “I try to make small positive waves in the community and it’s comforting to know that I’m being seen and that the impact is great enough that people are noticing.”

In those three years, Theroux has grown The Green Dragon Bookshop and its clientele.

“I have so many fun stories,” said Theroux. “I recommended a book series to a family and their son loved it so much that he told all of his friends. The friends loved the series so much that they started a book club, and then they had the school bring the author to the school to talk about the series. And it all started because I recommended a book. It’s nice to see that kind of an impact happening. With all of the book bans and everything, it’s nice to see a positive impact. I want people who come into The Green Dragon Bookshop to see themselves reflected in the pages of the books and to know that they are seen and are important. That really means a lot to me.”

Other Iowa booksellers receiving recognition from Patterson include Amy Zmolek, Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Susan Schafer, The Book Shoppe in Boone, Nichole Crawford, Books and Bakery in Carroll, Brandon Conrad, The Nook in Cedar Falls, Bart Carithers, Next Page Books in Cedar Rapids, Darci Tracey, Prologue Books & Wine, in Charles City, Joshua Signs, Storyhouse Bookpub in Des Moines, Sue Davis, River Lights Bookstore in Dubuque, Angela Forret, Sidekick Coffee & Books in University Heights, and Nana Burford, Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City.

“We appreciate Mr. Patterson’s financial generosity as well as his generosity of spirit. We all continue to be awed by, and grateful for, Mr. Patterson’s continuing support of independent booksellers,” Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, said in a statement. “It means everything to have him recognize and reward the valuable role booksellers play in the industry.”