James Patterson Honors Virginia Evans with Prestigious Debut Novel Award
James Patterson, the renowned author of the Judge Stone series, has announced the winner of his first-ever James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize. The award was given to Virginia Evans for her debut novel, The Correspondent.
In a post on Instagram on Monday, April 6, Patterson shared the exciting news, writing, “Congratulations to Virginia Evans on winning our James Patterson + Bookshop.org prize for 2025 debut novelists.” He added, “I may have broke the news, but you have the support of the indie booksellers to thank!”
Patterson revealed the news to Evans during a video call, which he later shared alongside the announcement. In the conversation, he explained how the selection process unfolded.
“We got together with Bookshop.org and went out to a lot of indies, which we always try to do to keep indies involved and get people more aware of books and all that good stuff,” Patterson said. “They looked at a couple hundred books in terms of people saying what they loved, what the booksellers loved, and then came down to five or so … really, really, really good books.”
He continued, “So, you’re the winner. Yay!”
A Celebration of Independent Booksellers and Emerging Authors
Evans, whose debut novel has been on the New York Times bestsellers list for 22 weeks since its April 2025 release, expressed her gratitude to Patterson for the honor. She responded, “Well, thank you! That’s so exciting.”
The James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize was created as a new literary award to celebrate debut authors who were hand-selected by booksellers at independent bookstores. The prize honors outstanding full-length debut books published in the United States within the past 12 months. All nominations and selections were made by indie booksellers who represent readers in local communities.
The grand prize winner receives $15,000, while the runner-up gets $10,000. Patterson emphasized the importance of supporting both emerging authors and independent bookstores.
“I’ve been a longtime supporter of indie bookstores—and emerging authors. Creating this award that recognizes both the booksellers that are getting books into the hands of readers and of course, the books themselves, was a no-brainer to me,” Patterson said on Bookshop.org’s website. He called independent booksellers “the real experts.”
Longlist Features Diverse and Thoughtful Works
In addition to The Correspondent, the longlist for the prize included several other notable debut novels:
- The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza
- When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
- Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle
- It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard
- The Nature of Pain by Mandi Fugate Sheffel
- My Oceans by Christina Rivera
- The Slip by Lucas Schaefer
- My Mother’s Boyfriends by Samantha Schoech
- The Lilac People by Milo Todd
Each of these works was selected by indie booksellers across the country, reflecting a wide range of voices and stories.
A Unique and Impactful Story
The blurb for The Correspondent on the Bookshop.org website describes it as “a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person.” It also highlights the themes of “the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.”
Milo Todd’s The Lilac People was named the runner-up in the competition. The novel is described as “a moving and deeply humane story about a trans man who must relinquish the freedoms of prewar Berlin to survive first the Nazis then the Allies, all while protecting the ones he loves.”
This year’s prize not only celebrates the talent of debut authors but also underscores the vital role that independent bookstores play in connecting readers with meaningful stories.
