Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced the release of Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, a prequel to her acclaimed Autumn series. The novel delves into the early life of Cyril Landon, the horsemaster whose legacy shapes the series. Set in the poverty-stricken village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, the story follows Landon from birth through his rise to become the celebrated horsemaster featured in The Perils of Autumn.
According to Blackwood, the prequel offers readers a detailed account of a character central to the Autumn Trilogy. “This trip down memory lane was a journey thoroughly enjoyed on my behalf, as it opened a well-defined observation into Cyril Landon's early life,” she stated. Blackwood noted that while prequels typically precede a series, she felt compelled to provide fans with deeper insight into the character whose success the entire Autumn cast cherishes.
Early reviews praise the novel’s character-driven narrative. In a review from Readers Favorite, Richard Prause wrote, “It doesn't depend on manufactured plot twists to drive the story. Instead, it focuses on the simple, powerful moments of a man earning the trust of a stallion. It's a perceptive exploration of ambition and loyalty, indeed.” Another reviewer, Asher Syed, described the book as “a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting.”
The Autumn series began with The Perils of Autumn, which earned Blackwood a finalist spot in the Fiction Romance category at the 2019 International Book Awards and the American Book Fest’s 2019 awards program. That novel centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born in 1946 to an unwed mother. After graduating nursing school in 1970, Autumn is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns Stables. The story unfolds as Autumn and Cyril navigate a romance fraught with obstacles, including a dark secret surrounding jockey Duff Taylor.
Reviewers have lauded The Perils of Autumn. Ray Simmons commented, “Romance and good writing come together perfectly in Rusty Blackwood's 'The Perils of Autumn'. A great read.” Trudi LoPreto added, “This book has it all and more. Please do not pass up 'The Perils of Autumn' - you will not be sorry.”
Blackwood’s other works include the 5-star-rated Willow’s Walk, set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, a romantic fiction novel compared to Erich Segal’s Love Story and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. Both have received critical acclaim.
Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster is available at Amazon. Information on all of Blackwood’s work can be found on her website.
