Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced the release of her latest novel, Before The Grandeur: The Making Of A Horsemaster, a prequel to her acclaimed Autumn series. The book delves into the early life of Cyril Landon, the horsemaster who plays a pivotal role in the series, tracing his journey from a poverty-stricken childhood in Gloucestershire, England, to becoming the celebrated horsemaster readers meet in The Perils Of Autumn.
According to Blackwood, the prequel was inspired by a desire to provide fans with a detailed account of a character who is central to the world she created. 'It gives me great pleasure to bring you Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster,' Blackwood said. '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, from birth, through a difficult, poverty-stricken existence, to the acclaimed, celebrated Horsemaster you meet in The Perils of Autumn.'
Set in the village of South Wood Chester, the story follows Cyril Landon, a young man born into poverty with seemingly limited prospects. A laborer's job at a local farm becomes his gateway to a future he had never imagined. The novel focuses on the simple, powerful moments of a man earning the trust of a stallion, as noted by reviewer Richard Prause of Readers Favorite. '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. If you appreciate character-driven historical fiction, this novel is well worth your time,' Prause said.
The prequel serves as an introduction to the Autumn series for new readers and a deeper exploration for existing fans. Reviewer Asher Syed noted, 'Overall, this will be a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting.'
The first book in the series, The Perils Of Autumn, set primarily in the early 1970s, centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born in 1946 to an unwed mother. Shunned by society, mother and daughter find peril until they meet a kind shopkeeper. By 1970, Autumn graduates nursing school and is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, a middle-aged English equestrian master. The novel 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, along with a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite.
Blackwood's previous works include Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, both of which received critical acclaim. Willow's Walk is a gripping tale set in Ottawa, Canada, in 2003, while Passions in Paris has been compared to Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook.
Before The Grandeur: The Making Of A Horsemaster is available at Amazon. More information about Blackwood's work can be found on her website.
