One of 600 nationwide to receive award
(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – The co-owner of Novel Hearts Bookshop in Versailles is receiving a gift from a best-selling novelist.
Author James Patterson has been rewarding a $500 bonus to independent bookstore employees since 2015.
Novel Hearts co-owner Laura Smart is among those receiving the award this year.
“Booksellers save lives. Period,” Patterson said in a statement released Tuesday through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company. “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.”
Smart is among 600 booksellers nationwide who were nominated by either a co-worker or customer. Patterson chose the winners from thousands of applications.
Cheryll Obendorf, co-owner of Novel Hearts, said, “Laura is very deserving of this award. She is passionate about making connections with the community we serve, and in turn, the community has welcomed our bookshop with open arms and hearts. Laura is an excellent curator of our books in the store and on our website. She is friendly, always striving to help customers find the right book or gift when they visit the shop.”
Novel Hearts Bookshop is located at 133 Tyson Street in Versailles and has been open since June.
