Bestselling Author James Patterson and the Time Warner Book Group Announce the James Patterson PageTurner Awards

Bestselling Author James Patterson and the Time Warner Book Group Announce the James Patterson PageTurner Awards

'Authors interested in thanking literacy advocates ... typically do so on a book's acknowledgements page. However, to show his appreciation, bestselling author James Patterson is upping the ante.' - Bookselling this Week

'Long known as the king of the page-turner, James Patterson ... [invites] others to share his throne.' - The Book Standard

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- James Patterson and Time Warner Book Group announced today the debut of the James Patterson PageTurner Award, an annual cash prize intended to single out and support the people, companies, schools and other institutions who find original and effective ways to promote the excitement of books.

The total cash prize of $75,000 will be divided as follows:

* $25,000 to a person, company, or institution that presents books to the
public in an exciting and original way

* $25,000 to an elementary school, middle school, or high school that
inculcates the joy of reading for pleasure in its students. The winning
school will also win a visit from James Patterson for a day of reading,
signing, and talking about books.

* $25,000 in the form of twenty-five $1,000 merit awards to individuals
and institutions who have made notable contributions to promoting the
excitement of books.

Government studies confirm that reading is at risk, while educators, librarians, booksellers, publishers, and all who champion the importance of books and reading find themselves with fewer and fewer resources. Too many school libraries are under-stocked, too many public libraries are under- funded, and too many bookstores are closing. With the PageTurner Award, James Patterson will shine a spotlight on those who get people excited about books and reading and successfully transform non-readers into lifelong page-turners.

Patterson says, "Book lovers know that books can be even more exhilarating than TV shows, movies, video games and other entertainments. My goal in creating this PageTurner Award is to support the people who create new book lovers, or who remind people that they will enjoy a great book even more than whatever's on the screen right now. This country is full of heroes who spread the fire about reading. I hope we can find them, thank them, and help them communicate their ideas far and wide."

Time Warner Book Group Chairman Larry Kirshbaum says, "At every public event I've been at with James Patterson, I've seen a stream of people come up to thank him for helping them enjoy reading for the first time-or for getting their husband, wife, or child interested in reading. James Patterson cares deeply about the importance of reading and books in the fabric of our lives, and we are thrilled to join him in announcing The James Patterson PageTurner Award to support those who support reading."

The winner of the 2005 James Patterson PageTurner Award will be announced in November, 2005. Details about the award and the nomination process can be found at http://www.pattersonpageturner.org/. Nominations must be received by or on October 15, 2005.

In honor of the two $25,000 winners, First Book, a national nonprofit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books, will donate 1,000 books to programs serving disadvantaged children in cities of the winners' choosing.

http://www.pattersonpageturner.org/

To learn more about First Book, please visit http://www.firstbook.org/.

And for more about the Time Warner Book Group, visit http://www.twbookmark.com/.

Source: Time Warner Book Group

CONTACT: Michelle Aielli of Time Warner Book Group, +1-212-522-1631, or
michelle.aielli@twbg.com

Web site: http://www.twbookmark.com/
http://www.pattersonpageturner.org/
http://www.firstbook.org/

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