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 serves as a prequel to her acclaimed Autumn Trilogy, immersing readers in the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and unwavering love.
The story follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire. With determination and grit, he seizes an opportunity at a local farm, setting off a chain of events that lead him to become a horsemaster. 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."
Critical reception has been positive. Richard Prause of Readers Favorite 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." Asher Syed added, "Overall, this will be a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting."
Blackwood's 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 awards program. That novel, set in the early 1970s, centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman who becomes entangled with Cyril Landon and jockey Duff Taylor, whose dark secret threatens their world.
Blackwood is also the author of Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, both of which have received 5-star reviews. Her work spans romantic fiction, short stories, poetry, and children's books.
Readers can download Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster for free on July 30 and 31 at Amazon. More information about Blackwood and her books is available at her website.
