PageTurner Awards Recognize Independent Booksellers

Several independent bookstores, as well as one regional booksellers association, are among the winners of the 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Awards. Created and funded by bestselling author James Patterson, the awards recognize individuals, companies, schools, and other institutions that find original and effective ways to promote the excitement of books. Among this year's 39 winners are Mary Yockey of Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois; Emma Rodgers of Black Images Book Bazaar in Dallas; Elaine Petrocelli of Book Passage in Corte Madera, California; The Poisoned Pen in Phoenix, Arizona; Paul Ingram of Prairie Lights in Iowa City, Iowa; R.J. Julia Bookshop in Madison, Connecticut; and the Southern Independence Booksellers Alliance. Each won a $5,000 PageTurner Award.

This year, the PageTurner Awards distributed $500,000 with one $100,000-prize winner, four $50,000-prize winners, and 28 $5,000-prize winners.

"I was just elated," said Emma Rodgers of Black Images Book Bazaar. "It came out of nowhere." The PageTurner Awards cited Rodgers as a "constant force in spreading the joy of reading to those around her" and as a founder of Romance Slam Jam, an annual conference that features black romance writers.

Rodgers plans to donate her winnings to Earning By Learning, a program that encourages children to develop a joy for reading, and to The Coalition to Save Darfur, among others programs.

Book Passage was recognized for its "outstanding community relations," for its travel and mystery writer conferences, and for hosting more than 600 author events annually. Co-owner Elaine Petrocelli was credited for her "behind the scenes" work to "keep books and bookselling exciting, as well as effective" and for working with local community groups and charities, including Litquake and the Marin Education Fund.

Petrocelli told BTW that she was "especially honored to be recognized with such outstanding booksellers." She added, "I think James Patterson's idea of recognizing those who are working to make books exciting to people of all ages is a really good thing."

At Anderson's Bookshops, Mary Yockey emphasized the team effort involved in winning the PageTurner Award. "It's reflective of all the staff at Anderson's," she said, "particularly Becky and Tres [Anderson], the co-owners."

Yockey was honored for her 15 years of bookselling at Anderson's and her "dedication to getting interesting and much loved books onto the shelves -- and authors in the stores." The PageTurner website also noted Anderson's participation in the Book Angel Project, which brings books to disadvantaged children in local communities.

Also recognized for bringing authors to the bookstore and to the attention of readers was Paul Ingram at Prairie Lights, which was described as a "beacon of literary events." Ingram was honored for the decades he has spent drawing national and international authors to Prairie Lights, as well as for broadcasting the events on "Live from Prairie Lights," a local radio program.

The long-time buyer attributed the bookstore's excellence to Prairie Lights' wealth of smart booksellers and its being located in a city that loves to read. "We have found a way to fit into the community," he said.

At R.J. Julia, Manager Karen Corvello, speaking on behalf of the bookstore, which won the award as a whole, said, "We are so pleased and proud.... What an honor to be included among a list of such dedicated and diverse reading advocates and educators!

"And the fact that James Patterson is such a favorite among our bookselling staff makes the award even more special. How fabulous, that he has chosen to use his success in this way, to spread the love and excitement of reading throughout the world."

R.J. Julia was honored, in part, for its free programs that include author series, writing workshops, and children's events, as well as for its cafe that serves as a gallery of local artists' work. Owner Roxanne Coady was noted for her regular appearances on Connecticut Public Radio to discuss books and authors.

The Poisoned Pen, which has one store in Phoenix and one in Scottsdale, was celebrated for its role as a book and author resource, as well as for its active book clubs and hundreds of author events.

"I am very pleased that The Poisoned Pen is a winner. It's a practical as well as an emotional boost for a bookstore," said owner Barbara Peters. "And the timing is (accidentally) brilliant, since I'm in the process of orchestrating some changes that will enhance our opportunities to encourage reading in our community. Raising our profile in Phoenix ... will help us accomplish our goals."

Peters added that she was "impressed with James' Patterson's decision to fund an award that encourages reading where such a diverse number of organizations and individuals can be singled out."

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) was recognized for bringing "together independent booksellers throughout the South, creating a network of ideas, creativity, and bookselling," said the PageTurner website.

"The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance is honored to be recognized by the Patterson PageTurner Awards," said the organization's executive director, Wanda Jewell. "Both the recognition and the prize money are welcome and a wonderful reminder to keep up the good work and press on behalf of independent bookstores in the South. We will use the money to further our outreach to the public on behalf of our independent bookstores."

To learn more about this year's $100,000 winner, The Washington Center for the Book in Seattle, and all of the other winners, visit www.pattersonpageturner.org. --Karen Schechner