PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two Pittsburgh-area booksellers are among hundreds getting a $500 holiday bonus from best-selling author James Patterson. 

Carolyn Pallof at White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh and Weston Millar at Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley are two of the 600 booksellers receiving a holiday bonus from Patterson, according to the list on the American Booksellers Association’s website. 

This year Patterson pledged $300,000 to be distributed as part of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, which he’s been doing since 2015, the ABA said. 

“It’s that time of year! Thank you to all the hardworking booksellers out there — and to everyone who submitted nominations,” Patterson wrote in a social media post. 

The Penguin Bookshop on Facebook congratulated Millar for winning the bonus. 

“Weston is an invaluable member of the Penguin team. You may not see a lot of him because he is managing our inventory behind the scenes. But he is always willing to step out front when need be and do whatever task might need to be done, whether it’s hanging lights, moving a heavy box or fixing a computer,” the bookstore wrote. 

James Patterson is the author of dozens of books, and according to his website, he’s donated more than 1 million books to students, $7.25 million to libraries and $2.1 million to independent bookstores and employees. 

“We are all so grateful for Mr. Patterson’s ongoing support of independent booksellers. His generosity is incredible, and his recognition of booksellers and the valuable role they play in the industry is especially meaningful to us,” American Booksellers Association CEO Allison Hill said on the national trade association’s website.   

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Fayette County mother who admitted to severely abusing her 6-year-old daughter was sentenced to at least 35 years in prison, authorities said. 

Mimi Frost, of Brownsville, was sentenced to 35 to 70 years behind bars on Tuesday after pleading guilty last week, Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The post said the 34-year-old woman pleaded guilty to 156 charges.

The Facebook post said Frost admitted to keeping this child hog-tied in a dog cage and told other children in the home on Sheridan Avenue to participate in the abuse. Aubele told KDKA-TV in February that the abuse “was a heartbeat away from a homicide,” adding it was a “miracle” the child survived.

Last week, Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Michelle Kelley told KDKA-TV that when the 6-year-old girl arrived at the hospital, her body temperature was 88 degrees. Kelley said the victim is now doing great.

“I was so happy when I saw a picture of her now,” Kelley said. “She’s living the life she deserves right now. She’s a happy, healthy little girl and we are so happy for her.”

Frost has been in the Fayette County Jail since her arrest in February. The child’s father, Jacob Weight, also faces charges in connection with the case. His trial is scheduled for next year. 

The couple’s cases were consolidated in April, but Frost went to trial first.