Award-winning and bestselling 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. This prequel to the Autumn Trilogy delves into the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and unwavering love, demonstrating how determination can turn uncertainty into triumph.
The story follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire. With little hope for success, Landon's life takes a turn when he takes a laborer's position at a local farm, opening doors to a future he never imagined. The free download period offers readers a chance to understand the difficult journey that precedes the grandeur in the subsequent books of the series.
Blackwood expressed her excitement about the promotion, stating, "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." The prequel has already garnered praise from reviewers. 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."
The first book in the series, The Perils of Autumn, was named a finalist in the Fiction Romance category by 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 born to an unwed mother, who later becomes a nurse and is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of equestrian master Cyril Landon. The story weaves romance and peril as Autumn and Cyril navigate their relationship amid secrets and challenges.
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated Willow's Walk, set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, which has been compared to classics like Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. All her books are available at Amazon, and more information can be found on her website.
