Employees at independent bookstores in the U.S. are up for a bonus – from James Patterson.

The bestselling author – and benefactor of booksellers and libraries – is giving away a total of $250,000 – in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Everyone is eligible to nominate a current employee – and that includes store owners and managers to authors and patrons. People just have to answer the question “`Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?”

Instructions can be found on the website for the independent bookstores’ trade group, the American Booksellers Association.

Nominations run until November 1st and Patterson will personally read and assess each nomination.

He’s already given millions to libraries and bookstores.