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. The promotion aims to introduce readers to the origins of her popular Autumn Trilogy, a series set in the world of professional horse racing, hidden secrets, and enduring love.
Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster serves as a prequel to the trilogy. It chronicles the early life of Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire. Despite his bleak circumstances, Landon's determination and grit lead him to a job at a local farm, which opens doors to a future he never imagined. The novel explores how his choices and experiences shape him into the master horseman featured in the later books.
In a review, Richard Prause of Readers Favorite praised the book, saying, "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. It's a perceptive exploration of ambition and loyalty, indeed. If you appreciate character-driven historical fiction, this novel is well worth your time." Another reviewer, Asher Syed, noted that it 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 free download will be available at Amazon via Blackwood's author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rusty-Blackwood/author/B0092XLBRM.
The Autumn Trilogy began with The Perils of Autumn, which was a finalist in the Fiction Romance category at the 2019 International Book Awards and the American Book Fest's 2019 awards. It also received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite. Set primarily in the early 1970s, the novel follows Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman who becomes a nurse for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, the owner of a successful Thoroughbred racing stable near Lexington, Kentucky. The story intertwines romance with a dark secret harbored by world-renowned jockey Duff Taylor.
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk, set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, which has been compared to Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook.
Information on all of Blackwood's work is available at her website: http://www.rusty-blackwood.com. Her books can be downloaded in paperback and Kindle versions at Amazon sites worldwide.
