pat on back from Patterson!
I love this news, courtesy of Bookselling This Week: Houston's Murder By The Book is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award in the amount of $2,500. The awards were created in 2005 by author James Patterson to recognize individuals, companies, schools, and other institutions that find original and effective ways to promote the excitement of books.
"What we love about this recognition is how Patterson targets individuals and organizations that spread the excitement of reading and books," said David Thompson, Murder By The Book's assistant manager and the founder of Busted Flush Press. "And we couldn't be more honored to be considered part of that group."
Other honors for the 28-year-old bookstore, owned by Martha Farrington, include a Mystery Writers of America Raven Award and nominations for the Publishers Weekly Bookseller of the Year Award. Murder By The Book's inventory is mostly American and British new and used mysteries.
Thompson said he thought Murder By The Book was selected for the award because, like many independents, "We pride ourselves on our knowledge of the stock ... and helpful and passionate employees. It is our goal with each sale to share our excitement for books -- mysteries and thrillers, of course! -- and to give people a reason to support independent booksellers and local businesses. We try to make it fun and we hope our passion is contagious."
Murder By The Book is planning to use some of its award money to throw a small party for its loyal customers.
The winner of a $50,000 PageTurner Award is Literacy Partners, which provides free, community-based adult and family literacy programs to more than 25,000 New York City residents. First Book Marketplace, a subsidiary of the award-winning nonprofit organization First Book, an online store that sells high-quality children's books at deeply discounted prices to organizations serving children from low-income families, won $25,000. And One More Story, Inc., an online library of the best of children's classic and contemporary literature, also won $25,000. The full list of winners is available on the PageTurner website.
