HELENA, MT, July 20, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Raylynn Van Oort has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who in recognition of her contributions as an author, speaker, and advocate dedicated to helping others transform adversity into resilience, purpose, and hope. Individuals featured in Marquis Who's Who are selected based on professional achievement, leadership, visibility, and the meaningful impact they have made within their fields and communities.

Van Oort is the author of the memoir, From Sh*t to Sunshine, a candid account of surviving nearly three decades of coercive control, physical, psychological, sexual, and spiritual abuse. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her future, she transformed them into a message of resilience, purpose, and hope that resonates with readers from all walks of life. Her memoir is more than a personal story—it invites readers to recognize unhealthy control, confront shame, embrace healing, and discover that even life's darkest chapters can become the beginning of something new.

Today, Van Oort shares that message through keynote presentations, author events, podcast interviews, libraries, churches, civic organizations, and community programs. Drawing from lived experience and practical insight, she encourages audiences to build resilience, recognize their worth, and believe that while hardship may become part of a person's story, it does not have to become the end of it.

She is also the founder of A Sprig of Hope, the platform through which she shares her writing, speaking, and educational resources dedicated to helping people transform adversity into purpose while rediscovering hope. Friends and readers affectionately know Van Oort as the "Hope Hooker," a nickname inspired by her passion for "hooking people's hearts to hope"—a phrase that has become synonymous with her message of resilience, healing, and hope.

Before becoming an author and speaker, Van Oort built a career advocating for individuals with disabilities, helping people access essential resources, develop self-advocacy skills, and live more independently. Throughout her professional life, she has remained committed to empowering others to recognize their value, overcome adversity, and live with confidence and purpose. That same commitment continues to shape her work today.

As interest in her story continues to grow, Van Oort is expanding her speaking platform and connecting with audiences across the country. Her presentations blend authenticity, practical wisdom, humor, and hope, creating meaningful conversations that continue long after the event has ended.

Reflecting on this recognition, Van Oort shared, "Hope changed my life. If sharing my story helps one person realize they aren't trapped by their past, then every difficult chapter has been worth it. I want people to know their story isn't over yet."

Through her writing, speaking, and the work of A Sprig of Hope, Raylynn Van Oort continues to encourage others to discover that resilience is more than surviving hardship—it is finding the courage to live with purpose, joy, and hope again.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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