For those who
long for the “good old days”
1972 - Vietnam, the pill, upheaval, hippies.
Wyoming rancher Cooper Byrnes, deeply attached to the land and his way of life, surprises everyone when he falls for vagabond hippie Cassie Halliday. Fascinated and baffled, he cannot comprehend his attraction—or say the words she wants to hear.
Cassie finds Coop intriguingly different. As she keeps house for him and warms his bed at night, she admits to herself she loves him but she misinterprets Coop's inability to express his feelings.
Parted, each continues to think of the other, but how can either of them reach out to say, "You were 'always on my mind'?"
Wild Women Authors welcomes author Andrea Downing and Always On My Mind, a current Vintage Rose release out of the Wild Rose Press. Andi has brought Cassie Halliday along for the ride, she'll go first.
Where are you from? Boston, Massachusetts
Tell us a bit about Always on My Mind.The story is about Cooper and me, about how we met, stayed together for nearly a year, parted and so on—I don’t want to say too much about that or I’ll give the whole thing away. But really, it’s also about how people don’t say what’s in their hearts, how they say one thing perhaps and mean another, how they hold back from fear of hurting others, and then there’s the other side of the coin, how the words one person does say can be easily misinterpreted by another person, or even just your actions can be misconstrued.
And then—because, of course, it’s called Always on My Mind—it’s also about how we may be thinking of another person, and they may be thinking of us, but neither makes a move so you don’t know. In the ‘70s we didn’t have all these things you have now, Facebook and smartphones and so on, so there really were very few ways to find someone and get back in touch.
What did you think the first time you saw Cooper Byrnes? I thought he was an oddball, very foreign to what I’d encountered at college. He was a lot older than me, which sort of worried me, and he seemed to regard me as if he were going to eat me or something.
What was your second thought? He seemed kind, he was handsome, and I liked listening to his voice, his accent.
Was it love at first sight? Gosh, no. Attraction, yes, but not love. I thought he was too old for me.
What do you like most about him? He’s steadfast and dependable and shows me a lot of kindness—when he wants to.
How would you describe him? I take it you don’t mean his looks, though he’s really kind of dishy in those cowboy clothes. Coop is a bit of a hard man; he’s very attached to his land, wants things done the way they’ve always been done, which he sees as the right way. He doesn’t stand for much monkey business and has a very dry sense of humor, but I think he’d make a great family man.
How would he describe you? He uses the words ‘airy fairy.’ He doesn’t really know what the heck to make of me, probably thinks I’m sort of aimless, but when I started keeping house for him, I think he saw a different side to me altogether.
What made you choose to be a hippie?Look, it’s the seventies. Everyone is sort of cutting loose and doing their own thing, finding themselves. So am I.
What is your biggest fear?Oh, I don’t know. Making the wrong decision, I guess. If I go on to California, will I ever see Coop again? Will I lose him permanently? And if I stay, will I be missing out on something.
How do you relax? Cooking and gardening. I’ve been told I’m very nurturing.
Who is your favorite fictional character? Hmmm. Holden Caulfield I guess.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received? To find myself. So I am.
Callie, this has been great. Having read Always On My Mind, we can attest to the fact that you are very nurturing—and you are braver than most young women of your generation. It takes guts to leave everything you've known and take off for a place on the opposite side of the continent with people you barely know. We wish you luck. Now it's time to chat with Andi.
What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Every western ever made, I guess, but particularly The Virginian by Owen Wister and Centennial by James Michener. Both were books and then TV programs.
What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? It wasn’t exactly an event in my private life, it was the actual fight between ranchers and hippies that took place in my local dance hall in Wilson, WY. Without that, the story wouldn’t have evolved. I don’t think you get two more disparate groups of people than ranchers, who are maybe third, fourth, fifth generation on their land and are very attached to it, working from dawn to dusk, and then hippies who are free-wheeling, pot-smoking and generally pretty aimless. At least the ones in the seventies were.
Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I’ve been with The Wild Rose Press since 2012 now. They’re very easy to deal with, very protective of their authors, and give us a lot of opportunities.
What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I actually don’t read an awful lot of romance because I don’t want to be influenced by other authors’ story lines, and I’ve been reading mostly literary fiction. I have Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad in paper waiting for me, and on my kindle are loads of books, a mix of western and others. I’m a Catherine Ryan Hyde fan, too.
Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I have completed an historical western romance but I’m just sort of biding my time before sending it off to my editor, so maybe you’ll see it later this year. You’ll be the first to know!!
Andi brought along an excerpt for us:
He
didn’t answer but shoved in another forkful of eggs and studied
her. “You do want to go, don’t you? You want to join them? All
I’ve heard about is dang San Francisco.”
“I
guess.”
“You
guess what, for goodness’ sake? Do you or do you not want to go
with them?” He tapped the fork three beats by the side of his
plate.
“Well,
I thought I did. I mean, everyone’s going to San Francisco.
Haight-Ashbury. It’s supposed to be where everything’s happening.
And you don’t want me.”
“Jeez,
Cassie. I’m not the only alternative. Get a job, for goodness’
sake. What was all your college education about anyway? You did go to
college, didn’t you?”
“Yeah,
but…I went to an all-girls’ college. I don’t think they
expected much of us beyond doing secretarial work and becoming
wives.”
“So
find a husband. I don’t care.” He turned back to his paper.
“I
know you don’t care. I don’t expect you to.”
He
let his fork clatter to his plate, and his gaze met hers. “Cassie,
you’re like…you’re like…” He watched as a tear made its way
down one cheek. “Oh, for gosh sake.”
He
met her sorry stare across the dinette, eggs congealing in the
kitchen warmth. Outside was the screech of tires as a car pulled up,
followed by the laughter and clatter of a group of people, sliding
doors hitting the metal of the cab, shouts of “Cassie, Cassie,
where are youuuuuuuu?”
He
pushed back from the table at the same time as she and went to the
window to look out. He swiveled to look at her, see her reaction.
Then, with a gentle hand, he pushed her toward the back door.
“There
you are!” Dave’s voice had a note of happy surprise, which faded
as he noticed Coop standing nearby. The boy stumbled as he went to
her. “We had to ask that shit Ty where this guy lived and got
directions here. Are you okay?”
Cassie
faced Coop, her bare feet curling in the dirt in front of the ranch
house as he stood on the steps and watched, arm up against a pillar,
his own socked feet crossed. Part of him wanted his peace and quiet,
his solitude back, but he already knew he would miss her, be sorry to
see her go.
She
turned back to Dave. “Of course I’m okay. I’m just—”
“Well,
get your shoes or whatever and we’ll go off. We should get to Salt
Lake City this afternoon and stop there before heading west again.”
“I…”
“She
doesn’t want to go with you.” He heard the reluctance in her
voice, came down the steps, and stood in front of Dave, challenging.
“She’s changed her mind.”
Cassie
pivoted to glance at Coop. Surprise mixed with uncertainty faded as a
small smile turned up her lips. For a moment, the others were silent,
standing there, stupefied. “I…” she began again. “I’m
staying here.” She felt bolder, more self-assured.
“You
must be joking.” Dave’s shifty glance skimmed from one to the
other. “Cassie?”
Needing
reassurance, she turned to look at Coop, then turned back to Dave.
“I’m fed up with traveling in that bus and I like it here. In
Jackson.”
“She’s
staying here,” Coop said. “At least for now.”
Perturbed
at this news, the other two friends started to turn back toward the
bus. Steve drew out a satchel, then scribbled something on a piece of
paper before handing both to her. He nodded before he disappeared
into the confines of the van.
Dave
stood there gawping. “You’re gonna stay here? With this
guy? On a ranch? You’re not coming to Frisco?”
She
glanced back at Coop for confirmation.
He
stayed stock still.
She
turned again to Dave. “Yes, that’s right. I’m staying here with
Coop on his ranch. I’ll follow along when I’m ready.”
“How
you gonna do that? You haven’t any money.”
“I
have money. At least some left. When I’m ready I’ll come. It’ll
be fine. Honest, Dave. I’ll be along shortly. I’ll hitch.”
Dave’s
face folded into a picture of doubtfulness. “I guess it’s your
choice, Cassie.” He eyed Coop, then turned back to her. “Just be
careful, Cass. Don’t fall for this jerk. He has no real interest in
you.”
She
stood next to Coop, doubt and insecurity filling her like water
flowing into a jug. The VW bus pulled out, friends waving, and she
knew she was on her own.
“Now
what?” Her voice was just a whisper. “Now what?”
Thanks for showing us a brief glimpse of Coop and Cassie.
Where can visitors to our blog find you?
Website
and Blog: http://andreadowning.com
Twitter: @andidowning https://twitter.com/AndiDowning
https://www.amazon.com/Always-My-Mind-Andrea-Downing-ebook/dp/B082S8TQD1/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/always-on-my-mind-andrea-downing/1135994904?ean=2940163058044
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49696106-always-on-my-mind
https://books.apple.com/us/book/always-on-my-mind/id1491979552
https://www.bookbub.com/books/always-on-my-mind-by-andrea-downing
thanks so much for having us, Kat. Cassie and I enjoyed our little chat but are really busy today--release day!
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you do!
DeleteVery brave of you, Andi. I remember those days, but luckily, I guess, I was still in college, which helped me from floating around. But could I really do justice to one of my romantic encounters in a book. Hmmm, I don't think I'm that brave or pragmatic. Now I understand your deep attraction for cowboys.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! Love the title, too!
This is not autobiographic, Hebby--I was in college, too--in England! LOL. the fascination with cowboys was dormant at the time, but my fascination with the seventies lives on. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI remember the 70s too, but it sounds like your story represents a different look at the world from my small town, Midwest one, Cassie. I salute your adventurous nature!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was very adventurous of me to take off from Boston. I think Andrea has done a super job of describing my travails.
Deletethanks,
Cassie.
Andrea, this sounds like an intriguing book. and I'm looking forward to that historical western you're about to send off :)
ReplyDeleteIt's with my editor now, Barb--just waiting to hear if there's a contract coming. :-) Fingers crossed.
DeleteGreat interview! The 70s saw me through high school and college, so this sounds like a story I can relate to. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering where that was, Patricia--though having said that, it doesn't really matter. In the seventies, we were all affected by the goings on as we are now.
DeleteAndi, I loved this interview! Having been lucky enough to have been an early reader of this story, I can say this talk with Cassie really captured the spirit of the book. Best wishes on your new release! It's such a unique tale, I highly recommend it!
ReplyDeletePatti, I am hoping that readers will want something new and (hopefully) fresh. Thanks again for being a beta reader.
DeleteI sure enjoyed the interview! Great characters!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kara. I think they're pretty unusual, too.
DeleteThank you Kara--so glad you did!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt! I remember the 70s and am very glad they've passed!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us are, Alina. Unfortunately, in some areas, they seem to be coming back.
Delete