Explore Books welcomes Aspen authors for ‘Hippie, Cowboy and Novelist’

What happens when a hippie, a cowboy, and a novelist walk into a bookstore?

A special night of stories and history with local authors, as Aspen Historical Society hosts “The Hippie, the Cowboy, and the Novelist” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Explore Books.

Multifaceted community member Amy Honey, vice president of education and programming at Aspen Historical Society, will moderate a conversation with Tony Vagneur, Jill Sheeley, and T.A. (Tom) Stevens about their literary work and experiences in the Roaring Fork Valley — both past and present. The event is celebrating Aspen Historical Society’s featured shelf at Explore Booksellers this January, which includes:

• “Those Were the Days: Memories of an Aspen Hippie Chick” — by Jill Sheeley (The Hippie)
• “Aspen: Then and Now: Reflections of a Native Son” — by Tony Vagneur (The Cowboy)
• “Ida Chatfield: Aspen’s Oldest Unsolved Mystery” — by T.A. (Tom) Stevens (The Novelist) 

 Vagneur also helped edit “Those Were the Days,” Sheeley shared.

An Aspenite for 56 years, Sheeley is the author of 15 books, including the Aspen-based “Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog” series. She is president of Aspen Sister Cities and Roaring Fork Storytellers. 

Yet, Sheeley and Vagneur didn’t meet in person until “Those Were the Days” was published. Despite long histories in Aspen, the two had run in different circles. He was a ski patroller, as Sheeley worked at a mountain restaurant. 

“He did the cowboy thing, and I did the hippie thing,” Sheeley recalled.

They became friends, and Vagneur even played the accordion at her “Those Were the Days” book launch.

Born in Woody Creek to a ranching family, Vagneur is a businessman, career rancher, a columnist for The Aspen Times, and an Aspen Historical Society board member.

“We stayed in touch, and a couple of years ago, we came up with the idea for a book about a hippie and a cowboy or a cowboy and a hippie,” Sheeley said. 

Unfortunately, personal circumstances got in the way to delay the concept, but the idea later became this event.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun banter back and forth,” she said about the upcoming discussion — adding that she thinks it’s going to be a lot of talk about the old days in Aspen.

Stevens, whom she just met this summer at the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Festival, will also talk about his book — he is a fifth-generation Colorado native who writes novels, creative nonfiction, and short stories set in 19th-century Colorado mining towns.

“While researching Ida Chatfield, I saw how women’s roles were limited. Her story is about human rights, equality, and empathy,” Stevens said. “Nearly 140 years later, her voice still matters.”

The event is free, with RSVPs preferred. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Books will be available for sale and signing, and proceeds will benefit Aspen’s local bookseller and history organization. The event is at Explore Books, 223 E. Main St. 

For more information, visit aspenhistory.org/activity/the-hippie-the-cowboy-and-the-novelist/.