By Turi Shaw
Sometimes the best stories begin in the most unexpected ways.
For Mooresville author Carrie Setterberg, along with husband Gary, inspiration for their new children’s book Zoom Zoom Out the Womb! arrived through a humorous misspelling in a family text message while waiting for a grandbaby’s arrival.
Like many grandparents, Carrie and Gary were eagerly anticipating the birth of a new grandchild. Their daughter had long passed her due date and was feeling anxious. In a family text thread, Gary attempted to encourage their daughter by assuring her of their prayers and focusing on the celebration to come when the baby left her “woom.”
Carrie chuckled at the misspelling and texted, “Woom?”
Their daughter, known for her quick wit, fired back with a response that would unexpectedly launch a book.
“Zoom Zoom Out the Woom…a children’s book by Grandpa Gary.”
Everyone laughed.
But, then another thought emerged.
“What if we actually did it?”
Carrie and Gary began tossing around rhyming phrases and playful ideas about a baby who simply didn’t want to leave the comfort of the womb. While the title made everyone smile, there was still no storyline or clear direction.
Then came the long-awaited news. After a prolonged and difficult labor, Carrie learned that her precious grandson had finally arrived during the night. She sat down to record the joyful event in her journal. But, instead of simply documenting the birth, something unexpected happened.
“Ideas began to come to me so quickly that I needed to grab some paper and just try to capture the words that were downloading in my brain,” Carrie recalls. “I felt like I was taking dictation…but from whom?”
The answer, she believes, came from the Creator Himself.
“It turns out the Creator of Life was highly invested in our little story getting born. He not only gave us this sweet story but orchestrated every step along the way to bring it to life.”
The result is Zoom Zoom Out the Womb!, a whimsical and heartfelt children’s book told from the imaginative perspective of a baby who is perfectly content in his cozy quarters. While Mom and Dad eagerly await the big day, the baby sees no reason to hurry. Through playful rhymes and gentle humor, readers experience the anticipation, curiosity and excitement that surround the arrival of a new child. The book’s cheeky title immediately sparks curiosity, but its deeper appeal lies in its celebration of family, love and the miracle of new life.
Zoom Zoom Out the Womb! is gaining acclaim. Podcaster and author Alisa Childers featured the book on her national podcast in May, and the response has been tremendous!
All this is building momentum for the launch of their second book coming this fall: “Zoom Zoom to Bethlehem – Joseph’s Story” – a fresh telling of the Nativity Story through Joseph’s eyes. It will arrive in time for the Christmas season but can be pre-ordered through their website at ZoomZoomBooks.com or Amazon.
For Carrie, storytelling has always been closely connected to family, faith and creativity. A mother of three and grandmother of seven, she proudly embraces her role as the family’s “fun and crazy grandma.” Her home is often filled with laughter, music, prayer and the spontaneous songs she loves creating with her grandchildren. A former praise and worship singer, Carrie still enjoys sharing her faith through music and storytelling. With her children’s books, Carrie seeks to inspire little hearts to love God and encourage families as they raise their children.
Originally from Minnesota, Carrie and Gary have lived in Mooresville for the past 13 years and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that Lake Norman offers; especially time spent with friends and family on the water. Carrie also expresses her creativity in the kitchen by cooking favorite recipes for neighborhood and church gatherings, or preserving her Scandinavian traditions with the granddaughters through making lefse, baking cookies or crafting the legendary family recipe for Swedish Rye bread.
Stories often begin in unexpected ways – even with a typo in a text message. Yet Zoom Zoom Out the Womb! ultimately celebrates something far greater than a funny family story. It celebrates the wonder of life itself!
