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 for free on September 10 and 11, 2026, at Amazon. This prequel to the thrilling Autumn Trilogy offers readers a deeper understanding of the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and an unfaltering love that defines the series.
Every legacy begins with a choice - Before the grandeur came the master. The novel transports readers to the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, where the deprived young Englishman, Cyril Landon, is born into a world of poverty. The road ahead appears hopeless, and a chance for success seems far removed from his grasp. However, life underestimated this young man, for he was filled with determination, grit, and an endless drive to achieve much better than his station in life was offering. He would not settle for less.
A labourer's situation at a local farm provided a window into a possible future that he had never given thought to, as he stepped through an opened door that would open many more. Little did he know at that time how far his choice would take him. This narrative of ambition and loyalty is a perceptive exploration, as noted by Richard Prause of Readers Favorite, who said, "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." 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 promotion: "I am pleased to offer, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, at no charge during this timeframe. 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. For fans of Historical Fiction, this page-turner is a must read." The new book is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rusty-Blackwood/author/B0092XLBRM.
The significance of this free offering lies in its potential to expand the readership of the Autumn Trilogy by providing an accessible entry point. The prequel enriches the backstory of Cyril Landon, a central figure in the series, and allows readers to appreciate the depth of his character and the challenges that shaped him. This move also highlights Blackwood's commitment to engaging with her audience and attracting new fans to her work.
The first book in the series, The Perils Of Autumn, was a finalist in the Fiction Romance category at the 2019 International Book Awards and the American Book Fest's 2019 awards program, 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 born in 1946 to an unwed mother. By 1970, Autumn graduates nursing school and is sent to care for the terminally ill wife of middle-aged English equestrian master, Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns Stables, a successful Thoroughbred racing stable near Lexington, Kentucky. The story weaves romance and peril, with a dark secret held by world-renowned jockey Duff Taylor.
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, both of which have received rave reviews. Information on all of Blackwood's work is available at her website at http://www.rusty-blackwood.com.
