Boulder Book Store has landed a no-strings donation from bestselling author James Patterson.
Patterson, the author of the “Alex Cross” mystery series, this month completed his third round of grantmaking, dividing $473,000 among 81 independent bookstores in the U.S. This wraps up his pledge to distribute $1 million in 2014 among independent bookstores with dedicated children’s sections.
Patterson’s organization doesn’t break down the individual amounts, but even a simple divvying up of this cycle’s amount among latest recipients makes for a tidy $5,839.50 per store.
Store founder and owner David Bolduc said his plan for the money is to update the shop’s phone system.
“It’s very generous,” he said. “It’s really something how authors support physical bookstores. This is a guy who puts his money where his mouth is.”
Bolduc opened Boulder Book Store in 1973. Located on the Pearl Street Mall, the 20,000-square-foot store is a sprawling three stories. The store carries about 140,000 titles, and harbors a good-sized children’s room on the first floor. Bolduc enjoys seeing parents and grandparents reading to their kids and buying books for them.
“It’s one of those rare recreational interactions,” he said.
Earlier this year, Patterson grants went to The Bookies in Denver and Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins.
