A whimsical grandmother whose medication takes up all the medicine cabinet space, a dryer that eats socks, and a dog nipping at her heels make up the world of single mom Dotty.

Park Tudor graduate Wendy Stout O’Brien brings these characters to life in her “Frazzled” comic strip. Her dream is to become a syndicated cartoonist, and she has self-published her first book, “On the Spin Cycle.”

Some events and characters are based on personal life events, such as living as a single mother and having a Springer spaniel named Pockets, but “Frazzled” is a fictional comic strip.

“It’s pointed humor for ages 18 to 90,” O’Brien said, “I’m finding people of all ages like it. I didn’t anticipate the oldsters would like it so much, but I think it’s because the grandmother in the book is playful and joyful.”

O’Brien, who lives in Michigan, writes under the pen name Wendy Stout. She grew up in Indianapolis, attending the Orchard School through eighth grade and then Park Tudor for high school. Her family runs the locally owned Stout’s Footwear, which has locations in Downtown Indianapolis, Brownsburg and Carmel.

O’Brien made an appearance and did a book signing at Marquette Manor retirement community on the Northside where her dad, Harry, lives.

“It’s relevant,” said Carol Crichlow, resident services director at Marquette Manor. “It shows the hectic schedule that women keep, but it’s heartwarming as well.”

The 30 residents at Marquette who listened to O’Brien in mid-October also enjoyed the book, asked many questions about her book and life, and bought several copies of “Frazzled,” said Crichlow, who bought copies for Marquette Manor residents and gifts.

Crichlow, who works in the independent living area of Marquette frequently, invites authors to speak with residents who have a book review club, creative writing group and a library committee.

“She was very engaging with the residents,” Crichlow said. “This gives them a chance to meet the author. They were out to meet her and also to support Harry. We’d definitely have her back if she writes a second book.”

O’Brien has drawn comic-strip style work since 1989 when her first characters were aliens.

“It took me 10 years to get the characters and the concept I wanted and another 10 years to get my cartooning where I want it,” O’Brien said.

Peg Sharples was O’Brien’s first-grade teacher and made an appearance at her pupil’s book signing at Charles Mayer and Co. in Broad Ripple.

“Wendy was always really creative artistically,” Sharples said. “That was nothing I taught her.”

Sharples, who helped O’Brien learn to read and write, bought a book and had it signed. “I thought it was lighthearted and wonderful,” Sharples said.