Be Wild Be Free

by Amber Fossey

Do you hear the beasts scratching at the door? They’ve been sleeping too long, and now they’re getting feisty. Do you ever wonder how to be wild and free again?

Through a mash-up of poetry and comic fiction this book weaves a narrative of how we can all become wild and free again. Looking at life through the eyes of Sloth, Bear, Koala, and even Blob Fish, these animals tell the stories of the raw beauty of life on our planet, encouraging us to let go of fear, stick our fingers/paws up at societal pressure, and accept our beautifully flawed bodies and minds to empower us to love ourselves and one another with abandon.

Genres: Poetry, Graphic Novels, Animals, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Art, Self Help

Audible Audio

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

Amber Fossey is the NHS-doctor-turned-artist behind Zeppelinmoon, the hugely popular Instagram account and Etsy store with 200k followers. As an expert in mental health, her uplifting and wickedly funny illustrated stories of weird and wonderful creatures are inspired by her experiences with all the dark & glorious facets of the human spirit and a fascination with animals.

Throughout Amber's 12-year career in psychiatry she worked with severely mentally ill patients in hospitals, prisons and the community, and encountered the grey areas of sanity. She is driven by a deep-rooted compassion for those that society rejects, mistreats and ignores and for those suffering mental anguish. She believes all souls, human and animal, deserve to be loved and treated as equals. This manifests in her art where she often champions the unloved, the feared and the endangered.

In her debut book, Amber brings together many of her favourite characters from the Zeppelinmoon Instagram account. They tell a story about love and compassion, making us laugh along the way with her trademark cheeky style.

Reviews

[Bailey Marie (she/her) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book I hugged it and had a small cry. It is truly a gift. I want to rip out all the pages and paste them all over my walls but then I wouldn’t have the book so I can’t do that. Instead I’ll just keep reading it in all it’s perfection until it’s soft and worn from all of the love coming through my fingers.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laugh. I cry. My tits will not be calmed.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS. I WILL DISCUSS LATER LOL

Okay it's later. This was picked up because it was so slow at work and I just couldn't help flipping through it. It's not a long read and there are few words on each page, so it's easy to fly through but!!!! it is so cute. SO CUTE. The art is lovely and the message is so feel-good. I think it has very little you could dislike about it, in all honesty.

Maybe if you hate joy and puppies you'll hate this one?

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to keep around for when you need positivity and some good laughs. I really appreciated the random curse words. I couldn't stop laughing and smiling. The artwork is so darn adorable. Sloth lovers who like the f word need this! Lol

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want prints of every page. “My tits will not be calmed!” Whimsical and wise.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is beauty in being human. With a heart to feel, a mind to learn and hands to build extraordinary things.”

[Bella Peardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

humankind is safe with books like this. 🥹

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great watercolors of creatures unleashing the wild within to roam free. The whimsical drawings are frank and graphic, sweet and sassy, and glad and sad. It’s about living. The artist’s work can be found on Instagram as zeppelinmoon. I recommend.

[Shweta Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved zeppelinmoon on IG; it's like a little burst of happiness every time I scroll. Her book was just as adorable. There's something so pleasant and uplifting about everything she creates. Delightful.

there is beauty in being a human.
with a heart to feel, a mind to learn and hands to build extraordinary things.
you are a gift, dearly beloved soul, a child born unto wilderness.
go forth, fiercely, bravely. kiss the future.

[Teresa Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I’d written this beautifully weirdly gorgeous little manifesto to living life. Do yourself a favour and get it.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS MADE ME SO HAPPY.
Go read it please and thank you.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. THIS BOOK. A friend of mine shared with me the wonder that is zeppelinmoon’s Instagram and I fell hard for her words, her artwork, and her messages. I loved everything about this book, my only regret is that I wish I had read it slower and savored it more. I love Amber’s message and the images that go along with them. Amber was once a doctor working in forensic psychiatry and as the end of the book notes she often champions for those with mental illness, the feared, the endangered and the unloved. I felt her love pouring off of these pages and would recommend this to book to absolutely anyone. There is a teeny bit of foul language (which doesn’t bother me one bit, but wanted to note this in case it bothers others). Truly a terrific book, and I hope she releases many more.

[Teya Diya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humankind is safe with books like this. I laughed and aww-ed, and was deeply touched by the empathy oozing from of all the beasts drawings. Self-care at its best.

[Shruthi Jothsana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to go to if you want a reminder that you are present and you can be worry-free. Such cute and adorable drawings that match with the quotes on the pages.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful, colorful, light, simple, powerful illustrations and encouraging words. This is an illustrated book for adults, with adorable wild animals as the literary vehicle. Must read when you need an emotional boost and a smile.

[Hasan Abidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

" there is beauty in being a human.
with a heart to feel, a mind to learn and hands to build extraordinary things.
you are a gift, dearly beloved soul, a child born unto wilderness.
go forth, fiercely, bravely.
kiss the future."


I lovvvedddd this oneeee!
This book motivates you to love yourself, along with your flaws. Accept yourself, and the world will accept you.❤️

[Ghazaal B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

it all comes,’ frowned donkey, ‘of being surrounded by dickheads.’
“
‘well, it is true that in the great dickdom of dickishness, there are many lieutenants.’

This was mindblowingly, amazingly, sickeningly beautiful. I didn’t stop smiling even for. Sec while reading this. So simply creative, so kind, so deep and so very fucking meaningful and faith-awakening. Just loved it.

[v · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOBS IM SO SOFT

[Kathryn Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh! The book I wish I'd written ❤

[Vind Vargasong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant, adorable, heart warming and hilarious. A book of pure joy, everyone should read this!

[amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

”he couldn’t be sure
what tomorrow held,
but he had survived today!
and that was good.”

I loved this!!! I laughed and cried and it was just super fun and snarky and adorable.

[Jess Muschett · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a cute, funny, and emotional book!! I loved it so much!! 🥺🥺

[dyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

coooomeeel! feels like a big warm hug from all those adorable animals. love the illustrations. sloth, you are just like me fr. we literally share the same to-do list: nap, nap, nap, world domination and nap. and yep, i love yoga too

[helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my i-can’t-face-the-world-today book.

[Julia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply fabulous. I’m going to buy more copies now for everyone I love and laugh with xx

[Imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful collection of illustrations all connected revealing an underlying message. From the beginning, it spread hope and joy with conversations about mental health and the struggles that come with it. It was so motivating, beautiful, and often quite funny. Definitely, something I will go back to and something I know could cheer me up on down days.

TW: references to mental illness (most commonly depression and anxiety)

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars plus all the stars in the universe. The best book ever

[Larissa Saliba · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful, touching picture book. Made me laugh and cry. Thank you!

[Renée L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is incredible.