Wild Egg: A story of one woman's search for her childfree life (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781913590567)

How do you learn to trust yourself and hear your own truth?

Based on a true story, Wild Egg explores one woman's struggle to break the deadlock of ambivalence to decide whether becoming a biological mother is her wholehearted choice, or simply what she has been programmed to believe. When her usual rational approach to problem solving fails, Hollie Hardwick finds herself tumbling down an existential rabbit hole, unearthing more questions than answers in a bid to avoid future regret.

Confused and frustrated, Hollie resorts to increasingly desperate measures to achieve a breakthrough and, in the process, opens a spiritual Pandora's Box that cannot be closed.

By the time she chooses to be childfree, Hollie is left with a burning question: now what ...what does a meaningful childfree life look like? Her search for an answer takes her on a wild ride, from mindfulness circles with a motley crew of characters, to a Scottish island full of Buddhist monks and nuns. Through her journey, Hollie digs deep into her soul where she confronts a gnawing feeling of emptiness, and eventually finds the courage to become her most powerful, unapologetic and joyful childfree self.

Author, Jennifer Flint, was (like Hollie) a successful but unfulfilled HR Director. During lockdown she signed up to a writing course determined to fulfil her dream of writing a novel inspired by her father's life. To her surprise, Wild Egg showed up.

"Nine years ago when I was in maybe-baby hell, I felt so alone, and desperately wanted to find an intimate account of another woman's journey to hold onto in the dark. I read some great books but was left unsatisfied; it felt like nibbling on tapas, when I wanted to feast on a relatable shame shit story. When Wild Egg began downloading, I realised I was being invited to share my story and write the book I had longed for."

Jennifer describes writing Wild Egg as a graduation from her 'vulnerability apprenticeship' that began the moment her own husband unexpectedly confronted her with wanting a baby. "I finished the manuscript on the eve of my fiftieth birthday and it felt like putting a beautiful big full stop at the end of my first half of life. Wild Egg has become not only a reflection of my journey, but a marching order to live my most unbound life. I hope it may inspire other women to trust themselves enough to do the same."

Marcia Drut-Davis, author of "Confessions of a Childfree Woman" and "What? You Don't Want Children?" and childfree pioneer says "Wild Egg is a powerful story and page-turning must read novel for women feeling the pronatalistic push/pull of motherhood as an expected choice ... Along the way, Wild Egg will have you wondering if you're happy or joyful and if you're the egg or the eggcup. Brava!"

Merle Bombardieri, MSW, LICSW, author of 'The Baby Decision: How to Make the Most Important Choice of your Life', psychotherapist, and international decision coach said "This book is beautiful, brilliant, serious and funny. Flint gives us the gift of Hollie, a lovable, courageous role model for the childfree choice. Flint also uses original language and metaphors to depict the frustration, determination and creativity of parenthood/childfree decision-making. Readers will feel seen, heard and less alone in their own decision-making."