WILMINGTON, NC — Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced the release of Before The Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, a prequel to her popular Autumn series. The novel delves into the early life of Cyril Landon, the horse master who plays a pivotal role in the series. Set in the impoverished village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, the story follows Landon from birth through a difficult, poverty-stricken existence to his rise as a celebrated horsemaster.
The book is available at Amazon. Blackwood stated, "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."
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." Another reviewer, 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."
The prequel provides background for the character that anchors the Autumn Trilogy, which begins with The Perils Of Autumn. That novel, set primarily in the early 1970s, centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born in 1946 to an unwed mother. After graduating nursing school, she is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, an English equestrian master. The story follows her romance with Landon amid challenges and tragedy.
The Perils Of Autumn earned Blackwood finalist status in the Fiction Romance category by International Book Awards in 2019 and a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite. Ray Simmons praised the novel, saying, "Romance and good writing come together perfectly." Trudi LoPreto added, "This book has it all and more."
Blackwood's other works include Willow's Walk, a 5-star rated romantic fiction novel set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, a sweeping saga compared to Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. Information on all of Blackwood's work is available at her website.
The new prequel offers fans a deeper understanding of Cyril Landon, a character Blackwood said "has come to mean so very much to me." By focusing on the simple, powerful moments of a man earning the trust of a stallion, Before The Grandeur provides a perceptive exploration of ambition and loyalty, making it a valuable addition to the series.
