Inspired by Santa Cruz’s Pesky Otter, CSUMB Alumnus Writes Children’s Book

By Mark Muckenfuss

The infamous Otter 841 has been in the news again recently. It might not be the best thing for Santa Cruz surfers, but at least one of them might be happy about it.

Luke McLelan, a graduate of Cal State Monterey Bay, is a surfer, former surf instructor and, most recently, an author. He wrote a children’s book, “Amelia Otter’s misdeeds in the water”, based on the escapades of the trouble-prone 841.

The otter was first recognized last year when it attacked the boards of several surfers in the Santa Cruz area. These attacks were unusual but not unprecedented. Experts speculated that the otter was protecting its territory and may have been pregnant.

McLelan, who works as an emergency room nurse, said he wrote the book for his three children.

“It turned out a lot better than I thought it would,” McLelan said. “I didn’t think it would turn out like this.”

The idea for the book came to him one day while he was working, he said.

“One of the doctors said the otter bit a man and he was trying to catch it,” McLelan said, noting that the otter didn’t actually bite anyone. “I thought, what if the whole city of Santa Cruz was trying to catch the otter?”

In the book, Amelia the otter spends her youth at the Monterey Bay Aquarium before being released into the ocean. She begins to hang out with local surfers and is adopted by them, even getting her own board. But a grumpy wave catcher objects to her presence and a hunt ensues to capture Amelia.

No spoilers here, but keep in mind that this is a children’s book.

McLelan said he had an affinity for otters, even as a surfer.

“I met a lot of otters,” he said. “It happened several times that I fell off my board and offered it to one of them, but none of them ever accepted it. »

The response to his illustrated story has far exceeded his expectations, he said. He has donated copies to pediatric units at local hospitals. And he hopes it will become more widely available, in part through his classes at CSUMB.

“I really put my business degree to good use in this area,” he said. “The things I learned (at CSUMB) and my knowledge of the business world were very helpful to me. »

One of those writing classes might have helped a little too.