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 explores the early life of Cyril Landon, the horsemaster central to the series, tracing his journey from a poverty-stricken youth in Gloucestershire, England, to the celebrated figure readers meet in The Perils of Autumn.
Set in the village of South Wood Chester, the story follows Cyril Landon, born into a world of poverty where opportunity seemed out of reach. However, his determination and grit lead him to a laborer's job at a local farm, which opens a door to a future he never imagined. The novel focuses on the simple yet powerful moments of earning a stallion's trust, offering a character-driven exploration of ambition and loyalty.
In a review from Readers' Favorite, Richard Prause noted, "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." Another reviewer, Asher Syed, stated, "Overall, this will be a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting."
Blackwood expressed her enthusiasm for the prequel, saying, "It gives me great pleasure to bring you, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster. 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." She added, "A prequel usually precedes a story that is told over a series of books instead of following, but I felt the need to give the readers, and supporters of the well-received Autumn Trilogy, a detailed account into a character that provides the successful life that the entire Autumn cast cherishes."
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. The story follows their struggles until they meet a kind shopkeeper, and later Autumn's assignment as a nurse to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon. The novel earned Blackwood a finalist spot in the Fiction Romance category at the 2019 International Book Awards and a 5-star rating from Readers' Favorite.
Blackwood's previous works include Willow's Walk, a gripping tale set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, a romantic fiction novel compared to classics like Love Story and The Notebook. Both have received numerous 5-star reviews.
Before The Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster is available at Amazon at Amazon Author Page. More information about Blackwood's work can be found on her website at Rusty Blackwood's Website.
