How to Be Wild and Free

by Amber Fossey

A NAUTILUS BOOK AWARD SILVER WINNER

Because adults need picture books too!
In Amber Fossey’s (AKA @Zeppelinmoon) beautiful first book, we are each reminded to listen, to look, to feel, and to remember what it is that makes us human.

This beautiful illustrated guide to life tells the reader how to become wild and free again, through a mash-up of poetry, fables, comic fiction and whimsical watercolour illustrations. Using the characters of sloth, bear, manatee, blob fish, and many more, we are shown that we no longer need to surrender to negative thoughts nor those who drag us down, and are prompted to ponder the beauty all around, reminding us how to simply love one another, and ourselves, again.

Do you ever hear the beasts scratching at the door? They want to be let out, to be wild & free!
They were sleeping too long, and now they’re getting feisty. Don’t be afraid, they’re pretty lovely inside, and never did i see a more lovely beast than you…

So come inside. You might be surprised, to remember how to feel alive!
With a heart to feel, a mind to learn & hands to build extraordinary things.
Go forth, fiercely, bravely.

A former NHS doctor and forensic psychiatrist, Amber’s work with severely mentally ill patients in hospitals, prisons and the community inspired her to write messages of finding hope amidst adversity in Be Wild Be Free. She encourages us to have compassion for those that society rejects, mistreats and ignores and for those suffering mental anguish. We are prompted to ponder the beauty all around, reminding us how to simply love one another, and ourselves, again.

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

128 pages, ebook

Published January 26, 2021

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)]

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]

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

[Cassandra]

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)]

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]

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

[Terry]

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

[Bella Peardon]

humankind is safe with books like this. 🥹

[Deborah]

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]

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]

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

[Mia]

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

[Crystal]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[J]

***Does come with language and suggestive text based on wordplay***

Be Wild, Be Free is a mash-up of self-help advice, inspirational encouragement, offhand stories, real life wisdom (even the ones that come from bad choices), the truth and sometimes a combination of two or more of the previous styles. Paired sometimes with pop trivia, snark and irreverent language, this book's poetic flow is sure to have a bit of something for everyone.

The illustrations are surely lacking and not like Kate Allan but even in their primitiveness, it works for this book. Mostly anthropomorphic and like a beginner's first attempts, there are a few more realistic gems tucked into these pages.

All in all it was a rather different book and one that truly stood out in its message in a genre where bad books are a dime a dozen.

[Hasan Abidi]

" 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.]

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]

SOBS IM SO SOFT

[Kathryn Pearson]

Oh! The book I wish I'd written ❤

[Vind Vargasong]

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

[amanda]

”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]

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

[Diyanah Idris]

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]

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

[Julia M]

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

[Imogen]

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]

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

[Larissa Saliba]

WOW.

[Margarita]

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