Local Author Pens Book for Children
Abby Van Wormer loves kids and love cats, so it made perfect sense for her to write abook for children that features a big orange cat.
"Scrappy's Search" stars Scrappy, a charming cat who is helped by lots of folks in the
neighborhood but who longs for a real family and forever home.
"The story was inspired by a cat that came to our family when we lived in Oregon,"
said Van Wormer. "We were moving to a new house and the cat just ran into the
house. We kept putting him out but he wouldn't take no for an answer. The family
adopted Garfield, as he came to be called."
"Scrappy's Search" is inspired by that cat, but also Van Wormer's own story.
"I grew up moving around a lot, but we also made really good friends who would
take us in," she said. "I dedicated the book to a family in Colorado that gave me a
place to belong."
Van Wormer is assistant marketing manager for Baker Books, a division of Grand
Rapids-based Baker Publishing Group. She worked previously at publishing houses
in Colorado and Oregon.
Her author name for the book is Abby Van Wonderful. "I think Van Wonderful is a
fun and memorable name," she said. "Van Wormer is harder to pronounce, and a
friend gave me the nickname Van Wonderful and it stuck."
"Scrappy's Search," also illustrated by Van Wormer/Van Wonderful, includes Meow
Moments that provide adults with questions for children to deepen the meaning of
the book.
"I want kids to know that they are loved, that someone cares about them," she said. "I
want them to get the idea that no matter who you are, when you are loved you have
a place to belong and you are accepted."
She published the book through CreateSpace and it's available on Amazon. Van
Wormer is currently mom to Ninja, a big orange cat just like Scrappy. She is planning
additional books in the Scrappy Series.
