Australian and New Zealand bookshops will share in $100,000, part of Patterson's pledge to give away some of his personal fortune to his twin passions of assisting child literacy and supporting bookstores.

Patterson has announced similar giveaways in the UK and his home of the United States. Eligible bookstores with dedicated children's sections can apply for grants of up to $5000.

'I'm open to all sorts of ideas," says Patterson in a statement. "From an after-school book club, to an emailed newsletter.

"From a spot bonus to a valued employee, to funds to create a storytelling tent. Send me your ideas and I will read them. For me, making the pledge is the easy part. The tricky task will be deciding which shops to help."

The donation was announced on the day of Patterson's arrival in Sydney for a series of Writers' Festival events and promotion of Rafe's Aussie Adventure, a pre-teens collaboration with writer/illustrator Martin Chatterton.

Along with the likes of Margaret Atwood, Ali Smith and Neil Gaiman​, Patterson has been passionate in his defense of libraries and the important role of reading in shaping child literacy.

He is also one of the loudest voices in the book world warning about the pressure of online discounting and e-book retailing on the local bookstore.

Patterson fears far too many children are living without books and is concerned that this translates to a world "run by the self-centred, the short-sighted and the glib". "The apathetic and the narrow-minded."

"There is no doubt in my mind that bookshops play an essential role in the community in getting kids reading," says Patterson.

The 68-year-old author is a writer of action thrillers, of which the Alex Cross detective books is his best known, but has lately brought his stripped-down prose and fast paced plotting to the genre of young-adult and children's fiction, collaborating in six children's book series: Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, Daniel X, Maximum Ride and House of Robots.

Patterson's passion for child literacy began with his son's reluctance to read. One summer he cancelled Jack's chores and told him his only obligation was to read for one hour a day.

"Give them stories that they'll gobble up like chocolate pudding and ask for more," says Patterson of the secret to enthusing reluctant readers. He has established the website ReadKiddoRead.com.

Patterson cited research showing that the number of books in the family home can add up to three years to a child's reading level. A 2014 study across 42 countries by Australian National University researchers found the number of books in the family home enhances the academic performance of  all children, irrespective of the parent's own education.

A home with books encourages children to read for pleasure and encourages discussion among family members about what they have read, the researchers found, "providing children with information, vocabulary, imaginative richness, wide horizons, and skills for discovery and play".

Joel Becker, chief executive of the Australian Booksellers Association, applauded the act of generosity for a local industry which has seen significant growth in sales of books for younger readers.

The gesture is timely payback for the millions of books Patterson has sold through book stores. Patterson holds the Guinness Book of Record for Number One New York Times Bestsellers. Total sales exceed 300 million. In 2011, it was estimated that one-in-four of all hardcover suspense/thriller novels sold was written by Patterson.

What is the One book that made you want to write? Mrs. Bridge and Mr. Bridge [Bittersweet novels of mid-American conservatism written by Evan S Connell and made into a Merchant-Ivory Film starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.]

What is the one fictional character to which you personally identify? Alex Cross.

What is the One idea you wished you had had? Ulysses - the entire manuscript.

What is the One idea that made you what you are now? Remember that there's a reader out there who you're talking to – one reader at a time.

What is the One book you wished you'd written? One Hundred Years of Solitude [by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez].

Who is your One God? That's between me and my one God.

Name the One Day of his life you would like to repeat over, and over, again? The day Jack [Patterson's son] was born.

What is your One curse/vice? The occasional need to curse.

What is the One trick to get kids reading? Give them stories that they'll gobble up like chocolate pudding and ask for more.

What is the One Word that sums you up?  Conscientious.

Patterson will be appearing at Sydney Town Hall, May 8 and The Melbourne Wheeler Centre May 6.