Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Two Jasper artists, Lisa Nantais and Jennifer Ottaway, have combined their talents to create 'Riley's Adventures with Granny in the Mountains: Pyramid Mountain and Mule Deer'.
It is a book about a youngster who explores the Pyramid Mountain area with his grandma, and the pair see mule deer as they trek up the mountain.
It is the first published book for both of them, and if their book launch on July 29 is any indication, the collaboration was both interesting and eye-catching.
"It was absolutely amazing," said author Nantais, noting the combined total of pre-ordered books and those sold at the market was 110.
She said she was overwhelmed by the response, as she was hoping for something close to 100 - and has since received many requests for the book.
Her grandson, Riley, was Nantais' inspiration for the book. He was born many miles away in Ontario in March 2018.
"It was a really hard decision to stay in Jasper when my daughter became pregnant," she said. "I struggled with it for a while. So this is a way for me to stay close and connected.鈥�
It was easy for Nantais to write about adventures she (a.k.a. Granny) and the adored Riley had on Pyramid Mountain: she loves it here. She arrived in Jasper on August 13, 2016 from Ontario to work at Jasper Park Lodge as a royal service agent.
"I probably knew within the first week that I never wanted to leave here," she said.
And being smitten with the area has led Nantais to explore many areas in Jasper National Park, including summiting Sulphur Mountain. She has taken photos of mule deer and other animals during her excursions and some of them are in the book, along with a few facts about the animals.聽
Nantais said she tried to illustrate the book herself but stalled for a year-and-a-half before running into Ottaway at a Christmas market in December 2019 - a meeting that would reignite the project.
Ottaway painted a portrait of Nantais and showed her examples of her work, and Nantais fell in love with the style. She talked to Ottaway about the project and the artist, who grew up drawing and painting, started figuring out details.聽
"I asked her about what she wanted the characters to look like,鈥� Ottaway said.
鈥淪he sent me photographs of her family members and of the deer, things I didn't know very well."
Ottaway started on the illustrations in January.
"I did most of the work during the COVID quarantine," she said. "I counted 50 hours [of work] - that's over 14 pages of illustrations. It was a good challenge."
She used watercolours to create the images, but because it was the first book she illustrated, Ottaway wasn't sure about how the printing process would affect what she had painted. Apparently, it worked. The experience has been a good one, Ottaway said.
"It's satisfying when people have confidence in you, and it's satisfying when a project gets done,鈥� she said.
Over the years, Ottaway kept diaries she wrote. She was homeless for a time and that provided clarity and direction for where she is now. Ottaway has given conferences about following your dreams too.
There are more 'Riley's Adventures with Granny in the Mountains' to come, that Ottaway and Nantais will work together.
"I have notes for about 15 books now," Nantais said.
"I'm looking into what type of animals live where, and each book will highlight a certain animal and location."
She will use the same format: Riley's Adventures with Granny, with a subtitle, first, and then key points and photos of and about animals and where they live in the park. Nantais' new grandson, Miles, about a month old now, will be in upcoming books too.
For a copy of the book, go online to or Lisa Nantais' Facebook or Instagram page. The book will also be uploaded to Amazon for use on a Kindle.
