In addition to his bestsellers, James Patterson has been making a name for himself by giving away grants to libraries and independent bookstores in the US.

Patterson now is offering grants to bookstores across the pond.

Patterson has announced that 62 additional independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland have received grants in the final phase of his fund initiative.

The Bookseller reported in a press release that since the first round of applications in September 2014, "this fourth announcement takes the total allocated by James up to £500,000 (about $719,180) across 272 grants to independent bookshops."

Patterson recently was honored with the 2016 Outstanding Contribution to the Book Industry Award during the British Book Industry Awards.

He is the first author to receive this honor.

In a press release, the Booksellers Association president Rosamund de la Hey added: "I think it's fair to say that no author has done more to support the cause of independent booksellers than James Patterson. James's support and faith in us goes way beyond the financial. He has given us the courage to try new ideas, to drive sales and put books into the hands of our favorite customers, children, in ever greater numbers."