Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced that the ebook version of her latest novel, Before The Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, will be available at no charge on July 30 and 31, 2026, at Amazon. The book is the prequel to the thrilling Autumn Trilogy, immersing readers into the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and unfaltering love.
The novel follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England. With determination and grit, Cyril seizes a labourer's opportunity at a local farm, setting him on a path to becoming a horsemaster. The story explores his difficult beginnings during England's war years, providing context for the grandeur that awaits in the trilogy.
Blackwood stated, "Born into extreme poverty with little hope of survival, Cyril Landon's difficult beginnings throughout England's horrific war years will better assist readers in understanding the difficult journey that precedes the grandeur awaiting them in The Perils of Autumn."
According to a review by Richard Prause of Readers Favorite, the novel "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." Asher Syed noted that the book "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 trilogy, The Perils of Autumn, was named a finalist in the Fiction Romance category by the International Book Awards in 2019 and received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite. Set primarily in the early 1970s, it centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman who becomes entangled with Cyril Landon and jockey Duff Taylor, who harbors a dark secret.
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, which has been compared to Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook.
The free download is available at Amazon. More information about Blackwood and her books can be found at her website.
