With online behemoths like Amazon accounting for so much of the book business these days, it’s probably discouraging to work the register at a good old-fashioned independent bookstore.

Knowing this, best-selling author James Patterson is doing his part to make the holidays happier for dozens of bookstore employees across the country, including several in Massauchusetts. Patterson (inset), who’s best known for his series of novels featuring fictional psychologist Alex Cross, has doled out bonuses of between $1,000 and $5,000 to 149 workers. If you’re wondering how the author chose the recipients, he apparently based his decisions on recommendations from fellow writers, bookstore owners and staffers, and others. In all, Patterson cut checks totaling $250,000.

In a statement released by his publisher, Hachette Books, Patterson said the knowledge of bookstore employees is “intrinsic’’ to nurturing new and enthusiastic readers. In Massachusetts, nine workers at seven independent booksellers received bonuses. They include Valerie Arroyo at The Brewster Book Store in Brewster, William Carl at Wellesley Books, Emily Crowe at Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Katelyn Eelman at Papercuts J.P., Deb Handy at Newtonville Books, Brad Lennon, Serena Longo, and Benjamin E. Newcomer at Harvard Bookstore, and Sarah Rettger at Porter Square Books.

“It was thrilling,’’ said Crowe, of the Odyssey Bookshop. “It couldn’t have come at a better time because my car broke down last week. It is really saving me.’’

Carl, at Wellesley Books, said he’s grateful for the recognition. “It’s everything that we, at independent bookstores, work for. To have someone out there anonymously recognize me is an incredible feeling,’’ he said. “This was an incredibly heartwarming feeling this time of year. It’s going to help me pay off a medical bill that’s been hanging over my head for several years.’’

“It’s really humbling,’’ said Eelman, of Papercuts J.P. “For me, I love what I do so much. I think I have the best job in the world. Yesterday, to celebrate, I did stop by Brookline Booksmith and I did buy a couple of books because leave it to a bookseller to spend all their money at independent bookstores.’’