Book Launch Party Doubles as Fundraiser for Homeless to Home

A note from the desk of your newsletter editor...

who also happens to be the Operations Coordinator of The Woods.

Most weeks, I sit down to write The Whisker Weekly as a reporter, organizer, and storyteller—sharing updates from our events, fundraisers, and the incredible lives we’re helping change through Homeless to Home Animal Rescue & Cat Sanctuary. But this week’s story is a little more personal. This is my own letter—not just to our readers, but to the community that has supported me, believed in me, and stood beside me in ways I will never forget.

On Saturday, May 17, the pavilion at The Woods Park & Pavilion transformed into something truly magical—a celebration of storytelling, community, and compassion. As many of you know, this was the official debut of my first novel, Marked by Fate, written under the pen name K.B. Riley. But more than that, this was a day filled with heart, purpose, and the people who’ve made it possible for me to chase a dream I once kept tucked away.

This job—serving as the Operations Coordinator for The Woods—has changed my life. The connections I’ve made through this role have given me the confidence to write again. To believe that my stories have a place in the world. And to stand (nervously, but proudly!) before all of you, book in hand, surrounded by support I could never have imagined when I first began this journey.What made the event even more meaningful was that it gave back to the cause that brought us all together: Homeless to Home Animal Rescue & Cat Sanctuary.

As guests got their books signed, browsed themed merch, sipped fresh Kitty Town Coffee, and enjoyed Crumbl Cookies, they were also helping animals in need. A beautifully curated raffle basket—featuring a bag of Kitty Town Coffee and our current fundraiser catalog—raised $91 in ticket sales for the rescue. And Crumbl Cookies is donating 12.5% of the day’s profits to Homeless to Home as well. (We’re still waiting on the final total, but we know it was a good day for cookies—and for compassion.)

None of this would have happened without the love, labor, and faith of the amazing owners of Homeless to Home and The Woods, who trusted me with this role and have continued to encourage every step I’ve taken since. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the space to grow, the opportunity to give back, and the courage to dream a little bigger.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you to everyone who came, who donated, who entered the raffle, who shared a kind word, and who made me feel seen not just as a writer, but as someone trying to make a difference. The Marked by Fate launch party was more than a book event. It was a love letter—to this community, to second chances, and to the animals who continue to remind us what it means to be brave.

With gratitude,

Kimberly Bryant

Operations Coordinator of The Woods Park & Pavilion

(aka K.B. Riley)

If you would like to see more about this event, or are interested in finding out more about the book, you can visit the author site, www.kbrileybooks.com.