Community Corner

Altadena Author Adds to Orca Captivity Debate in California

Local author Linda Peters delves into the mind of a captive killer whale in her Blackfish-inspired novel "Way of the Whale."

As ex-SeaWorld trainer John Hargrove prepares to testify Tuesday in favor of a California bill to ban orca entertainment, Altadena-based author Linda Peters announces the publication of Way of the Whale, the first work of fiction to explore the anti-captivity issues raised in the controversial documentary film, Blackfish.

Inspired by the stories of ex-SeaWorld trainers, Peters’ Way of the Whale traces the life of a captive orca hidden in the rear pool of a theme park. When a baby killer whale is placed in the holding tank beside him, the elder whale has just one night to pass down all the lessons of his experience and to seize a sudden chance for redemption.

“The orca in my story is more than just an employee and performer for a profit-driven corporation,” says Peters. “He is a spiritual teacher tasked with spreading ancient truths.” The author believes that socially complex animals like killer whales should not be kept in captivity.

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California’s Orca Welfare and Safety Act (AB 2140), introduced by state Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D – Santa Monica, would ban orca performance in California, stop the use of artificial insemination and block the import of orcas or orca semen.

SeaWorld is lobbying against the proposed legislation claiming that their mission is to provide an enriching educational and entertainment experience. But ex-SeaWorld trainer and bill supporter Jeffrey Ventre, MD, has a different viewpoint. “There’s no educational value in killer whales doing bows to Madonna music,” says Ventre.

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The book’s trailer sets the stage for the unusual journey into the mind and emotions of a captured orca: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciB1JI08jw

Linda Peters is a healthcare writer and a certified Ayurveda Wellness Counselor. She blogs at The Aspie and the NT with her husband, GRAMMY-nominated artist Tom Peters, about their experiences with marriage and Asperger’s Syndrome. Way of the Whale is available on Amazon in both print and electronic versions.

—Press release


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