The Bow Valley’s most famous adventurous feline duo, Nuptse and Lhotse, have taken another adventure and will share their stories of exploring Iceland with readers in a new book set to be released in October.
Nuptse and Lhotse Go To Iceland will be released on Oct. 19 and author and illustrator of the brother and sister cat travelling team Jocey Asnong couldn’t be more excited.
“It is just a dream come true,” she said. “I have a lot of pinch me moments.
“When I left art college, my biggest dream was some day I would be a contract illustrator. I never dreamed I would be working with a Canadian publisher where I get to travel, write the story, pitch the idea and illustrate it and it is fully supported. I never in my wildest dreams would have come up with that as a possibility.”
The creative spark for the cat characters came to Asnong in 2003 while she was travelling in Nepal. The two mountains on either side of Everest are Nuptse and Lhotse and the idea of naming two cats after them took hold in her creative mind.
“I really did only think it was going to be a one off, Nuptse and Lhotse in Nepal,” she said. “I never dreamed people would love these cats so much they would want to follow more adventures.
“I am overwhelmed by that.”
But they did, and while the first book was self-published, soon after, Rocky Mountain Books signed Asnong up for Nuptse and Lhotse Go To The Rockies and now Iceland. In addition to the new book being released, the publishing company is re-releasing the first adventure and offering both in hardcover as well.
Asnong was already planning to visit Iceland when she mentioned it as a possible story to the publisher and they were excited as well.
“I love frozen places,” she said. “I love ice, I love places that are remote and places I can travel to and wear my mittens.”
Iceland captured Asnong’s imagination several years ago and last fall she travelled there for over two weeks on her own to immerse herself in the location. Her Westjet boarding pass from the flight home bears the initial notes about the adventure Nuptse and Lhotse would take as well.
“It is part of my process,” she said. “I have to really feel a place first hand. Not only how it looks, but how it smells, how it feels, the colours and textures. Researching things in books doesn’t give you the same feeling of being there. Because I was alone so much, I absorbed a lot of what Iceland has to offer, but I was already processing the ingredients for the book.”
A Canmore resident for almost 20 years, Asnong said she is keen to take her cats on more adventures as “there are all kinds of places I want to send them.”
She will be at the upcoming Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival with Café Books and her new book. There will also be a celebration for the launch of the book in November.
The book launch for Nuptse and Lhotse Go To Iceland is Nov. 14 at Good Earth Café at 7 p.m. and the original illustrations will be on display and for sale. The book will be available for purchase at Café Books beginning Oct. 19 for $12.
