"Orca Oceans", My Upcoming Book Project

I am working on a book, believe it or not! ^_^ It is called Orca Oceans and focuses on the Japanese 8-year-old Nishi the killer whale as she faces the many dangers of the ocean. Whether it's being captured for aquaria, finding the devastating effects of illegal bomb fishing or drowning in abandoned nets, my book has a kind of conservation theme. And yes, it may appear to be anti-captivity, but it's actually more like anti-capture. I got the idea from three main things: Morgan, the orca that was captured as part of a rescue but instead of being released, was sent to Loro Parque when she was perfectly healthy and her pod had been found; Narnia, who was captured off the coast of Russia in August this year; and two dolphins named Hope and Faith (formerly Sad and Lonely), because they spent ages in the a tiny indoor pool (much like the one Nishi lives in) and were eventually put into a sea pen after protests (this is again, what happens to Nishi in the story).

So that is my inspirations for Orca Oceans! There may also be some sequels, set in locations beside of Japan. I've had ideas for the locations, including Indonesia, New Zealand and perhaps even Antarctica. Either way, I'm on to Chapter II so far, and I have completed the overall storyline. Tell me what you think! ^_^

Nishi is a young killer whale who lives Anzen'na Cove, Japan. While swimming with her sister Kita in Himitsu Cove, she discovers the wreck of a submarine and a small black box which is identical to the one features in her worst nightmare where the pod is destroyed. Nishi vows never to enter that cove again, however after her other sister Arashi announces some shocking news, she finds herself there again. She dives down at a random point, and finds herself back at the wreck of the sub and the black box. Nishi panics and flees Himitsu. On her way back to her home cove, Nishi gets lost and ends up in Taiji Cove, where she is captured and taken to Tanoshi Aquarium. Here, she is placed in a large but shallow sea pen with her trainer Hayako in charge of looking after her. Nishi is trained to do tricks, but being unusually weak, she cannot perform and is placed in a tiny indoor pool with no light and fresh air. Only able to swim in tight circles and float at the surface, Nishi is reduced to a tiny, thin form of herself. However, Hayako realizes that she cannot look after a killer whale in these conditions and protests for Nishi to be moved back into the sea pen. It is successful and while in the sea pen one night, Nishi manages to leap over the net and escapes. Back in the ocean, she searches for her pod but is unable to find them. After seeing a large and potentially dangerous fishing boat, she looks in Anzen'na Cove, only to find it has been wrecked from what is was as a result of illegal bomb fishing. In despair, Nishi tries every cove nearby- Taiji, Kriken and Yushocku- only to find them empty. Eventually, she goes to Himitsu Cove where she finds her entire pod in the abyss with the submarine and the black box. Her pod are overjoyed to see her, but ignore Nishi's warning as they then try to open the box, which they believe will sort out their food shortages. Unaware of the fishing boat directly above the pod, Arashi manages to open the box. However her calf Wakai, who has now been born, swims off to the surface. The pod follows, only to find Wakai trapped in the fishing boat's nets. The humans on board abandon the nets, and in their fury, Arashi and Kita try to attack the boat. They are both sucked into one of the propellers in the process and although they both survive, Arashi is horribly mutated and loses one tail fluke and her dorsal fin, and Kita has deep wounds all along her body. Arashi then tries to rescue her drowning calf with the help of Nishi and Kita. The rest of the pod leaves, not realizing that Nishi is missing and presuming that Arashi and Kita are dead. Kita rushes into help Arashi, who is now tangled herself and with the combined effort of the three whales, Wakai finally swims free. Nishi guides him to the surface, where he hurries off to join the pod. Meanwhile, Kita has helped Arashi to get untangled, but is now stuck herself. She tells Arashi and Nishi to leave, and although the former does go, Nishi refuses to leave her sister's side. Realizing it it too late to help, as Kita is now fully unconscious, but still not giving up, Nishi lifts her sister to the surface, and although Kita makes one last attempt to survive, the cuts in her body are bleeding too badly for her to stand and, as she looks at Nishi for the last time, Kita dies. Nishi lets her body sink down to join the submarine which she discovered, and realizes that her nightmare was more than just a dream.