Meet Me at the Finish Line Book Celebration and Donation Event

 This is a 21+ event, as the winery is serving alcohol. 

Are you ready for a little Sunshine After the Rain Party? Then grab a glass of Rainy Day Red, and let’s dance amongst the fireflies!!

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

Noon to 4 PM at Point Lookout Vineyards

Tickets are $55, limit 2 (150 available)

Ticket Sales & T-Shirt/Hoodie Preorder:

Friday, October 18th at 10am EDT

 

THE INVITE

My Dearest Ravens and Readers,

I’m so excited to invite you to an exclusive celebration of all three of the Original Ravenhood novels officially being on US shelves!  In celebrating this with me, we’ll also be doing our RAVEN THING by being the someones who did something!!

We have teamed up with my friends at Point Lookout for multiple events over the next few weeks to help our community after the devastation left by HELENE. They have generously offered to host our little soiree, which will benefit those affected by hurricanes in both NORTH CAROLINA and FLORIDA (Helene and Milton)!!

 

How this works

By purchasing a ticket and attending, you’re done! Any proceeds from purchases afterward—whether it be from a t-shirt, a candle, or any of the other book-themed goodies we will have for sale—will also be going to the relief fund. However, just by simply buying a ticket, you’ve helped the fundraiser!!

So, while the ticket itself is considered your official donation—it comes with PERKS!

* All tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE — This is a charity-based donation celebration, not an official singing, with VERY limited space so please know we will not be offering refunds. Please make sure you can make the event before you purchase. We will allow you to transfer your ticket up to TWO days before the event via email, but transfers will cut off on October 30th.

*Also, we will not be opening a group page for questions as we are also organizing an essentials donation drive and won’t be able to monitor like we typically would a signing group page. Again, we’re treating this more like a party/fundraiser than an official signing.

*This is being *hosted by Point Lookout* as their event.

 

What’s included with your ticket?

#1 Entry to the party from Noon to 4:00!  (Line up begins at 10:45am)

#2 A signed copy of The Kensington Edition of The Finish Line (the new cover with the bonus chapters) – This can be personalized with your name at my signing table.

You can also bring TWO additional books for signature only. This is so I can spend a little time with each of you as well as give us a chance to snap an optional selfie. Your included hug is optional, but I’m bringing my lovin’ arms!

**What if I already own The Finish Line? – We’re sorry, but if you already own or have pre-ordered a copy of The Finish Line, we won’t be able to offer a substitute book, so we’re hoping it might make a nice Christmas gift for a reader friend who might want a copy.

#3 Your book will come in a little thank-you bag that includes:

  • A ticket to enter all raffles. I will be drawing winners throughout the signing. There will be at least two raffles but there may be more by the time you pull up.  
  • A “Send My Therapy Bill to Kate Stewart” pen, and a “We are the Someones Who Did Something” sticker.
  • Delicious nibbles will be available thanks to our friends at The Grafted Olive and are also included in your ticket price.
  • There will be a celebration cake slice with your name on it as well, and we’re going to eat it, too!

 

What will be available for sale at the event?

While we won’t be taking pre-orders for books due to the time crunch, and this being more a shindig than signing, we will be offering:

Raven Relief T-shirts and Hoodies will be available for pre-order on the ticket sale date for pickup at the signing!  A photo of the shirts will be available on Friday as well. 

Please make sure that you have a ticket BEFORE you order a shirt, as they are not yet available on our website!

* If for some reason you pre-order a shirt but end up unable to make it to the signing, we will ship your shirt to you for an additional shipping fee. Again, please do not order a shirt until you have secured a ticket.

 

Parking for the event

Parking will be first come, first serve. Rest assured Point Lookout’s parking is sufficient for the headcount we’re expecting, along with the public. However, if you are unable to secure a spot within the gates on signing day, there is overflow directly across from the winery and a Point Lookout shuttle that will run you up to the main tasting room where the party will be.  

 

Checking in for the event

Attendees will be directed to the party entrance by staff the morning of. Once your ticket is scanned, you will be given a bracelet with a group number which will gain you entry. The earlier you arrive, the sooner your group will be called to my table, but all can hang out and sip and nibble until you’re called. Trust me, the scenery is still breathtaking.

I fully expect to be able to see each and every one of you during the allotted signing time. Famous last words, I know—but it’s the hugs, I swear!

I will be signing bottles of Rainy Day before the event, and will make sure to sign enough for each attendee to purchase at least one bottle. I may try for two, but I have lots to do before you get here.

There will also be a table for Ravenhood and other book-themed merch to purchase.  These will be available on a first come, first sold basis and ALL PROCEEDS from these sales will be going to the Raven Relief fund.

 

So where do we stay if we’re planning to overnight?

Due to the shortage of time in organizing this party, and as it’s not really an official signing, we are unable to offer a room block. We recommend everyone attending be within a day’s drive. I apologize, but again, this is not an official signing, it’s more a small release party and fundraiser.  

We recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express near I-26 as they are in good shape and are up and running, although there are a few other options on both sides of the highway.

The hotels near the highway I-26 would be best for overnight stays, in my opinion, since we can’t know what issues you may have getting to BNBs or off-the-map places.

 

Getting to the event

There is one road to the winery that I had no issue driving up to get there, and that’s Gilliam Mountain Road. So please, choose that road via Waze or your navigation app to get to the winery that way.

(Exit 53 off I-26 (the Bat Cave Exit.) to Chimney Rock Road via US-64)

IS HENDERSONVILLE TOO DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL TO? Will it be hell getting there?

Honestly, I recommend all those who get tickets to research their access to the area. Right now, it’s entirely dependent on where you’re coming from. If you’re coming from the TN border into NC, I-26 is no longer available and it’s now an additional THREE HOURS to make it into the NC border. I took that drive two days ago and it was so sad to see the devastation, but safe enough to travel. I can’t guarantee this for all, as I can’t predict the weather or traffic, so please do your research. I suggest trying a navigation app to see what routes are available. I know that Waze has altered its directions around the damage and road closures.

ARE HENDERSONVILLE ROADS SAFE?

In truth, some are, and some aren’t. Most are marked as such and closed if deemed unsafe by the city. Hendersonville is as up and running as it can be. Some businesses are still closed, and sadly, some are now closed forever. Gas and food are easily obtainable for the moment, and I don’t foresee that changing. 

* What you should expect to see is the gorgeous town that I love with lots of trees and debris piled on the sides of the road but that could change within the weeks before you get here. I can happily report that a majority of the main roads in town are clear and running as usual—it’s a lot of the rural areas most prone to rock pile-ups or fallen trees at this point that are not, and are being cleared by the day, but I do not recommend any reader stay in any of these areas.

 

Please do NOT go to great lengths to get to this party. There will be more signings in the future. I want you to go through ZERO fiery hoops to get here. If there is a clear, safe route for you to get here, and you grab a ticket, I can’t wait to hug you…otherwise wait. “I’ll be back”…said in my best Terminator voice.

 

BEFORE YOU GO—

I want to tell you a little about what Point Lookout has done since Helene hit. Please take the time to read this last little bit, because they won’t tell you their secret, because it’s just how awesome they are—but I will. 

As Point Lookout lost an incredible amount of business after the storm due to damage and power outages, they kept their doors open and offered hot showers, food, and water to those misplaced, as well as their beautiful location as a refuge for people who suffered at the hands of Helene that needed to reflect and take a deep breath.

Point Lookout has only recently opened their doors for business again—THREE DAYS AGO—and even so, they have already started collecting food and other goods to help those who lost everything to Helene with some sort of distribution day in mind. THIS IS THE VERY TYPE of selfless giving I consider Ravens would be a part of, and that is why I’m so very proud to call Michael and Sabrina (the owners) my friends as well as Cindy (our goddess and guru organizer), who has helped me set up both the Distribution Day for relief coming up on October 27th, as well as this little party to help even more people.

Toss in the incredible staff at Point Lookout, who is now not only running Point Lookout on the day-to-day as they try to get back to some semblance of normal but is also accepting donations daily to make sure we have a successful distribution day in the next few weeks. WoW. Just WOW!

So, in the spirit of acknowledging them for their selfless contributions to the community we love so much, I would be forever grateful if you would grab a glass of wine at the signing to show your support, or maybe share a bottle with a reader friend. Might I suggest a glass of Rainy Day Red? WINK. WINK.  

Please keep my secret in asking this of you, but they deserve the recognition and boost in morale. Even if you skip buying a glass or bottle and simply give them a “thank you,” it’s so deserved. They truly are the someones who did something, as are you for buying a ticket.

It is my promise to you that I will use every dime we raise on signing day (minus the fees and costs of the fundraiser) to help those who lost so much during these two nightmare hurricanes. By simply purchasing your ticket, we can send some birdies to help Floridian organizations like Samaritan’s Purse or reputable Churches that we are certain will get the donations to those who truly need it. We’re doing this the RAVEN way, and that’s DIRECT, as we have during this fundraiser so far.

I love you all dearly and know that this one is small, but as you amazing Ravens know, even a small flock of us is MIGHTY!! 

So if you purchase a ticket for this event, THANK YOU SO MUCH for aiding in helping the victims of both Helene AND Milton and helping celebrate our boys of summer hitting shelves nationwide!

Can’t wait to hug you!

XO

Kate