WILMINGTON, NC — Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced the release of her new novel, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, a prequel to her acclaimed Autumn series. The book delves into the early life of Cyril Landon, the horsemaster who becomes a central figure in the series.
The story is set in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, where Cyril Landon is born into poverty. Despite the bleak circumstances, Landon's determination and grit lead him to a chance opportunity at a local farm, setting him on a path that eventually makes him the celebrated horsemaster readers meet in The Perils of Autumn. The novel focuses on the simple, powerful moments of a man earning the trust of a stallion, offering a perceptive exploration of ambition and loyalty.
In a statement, Blackwood expressed her enthusiasm for the prequel: "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, from birth, through a difficult, poverty-stricken existence, to the acclaimed, celebrated Horsemaster you meet in The Perils of Autumn." She added that she felt compelled to give readers a detailed account of a character who provides the successful life that the entire Autumn cast cherishes.
The Autumn Trilogy begins with The Perils of Autumn, set in the early 1970s, which centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born to an unwed mother. After graduating nursing school, Autumn is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns Stables. The novel follows her romance with Cyril amidst various challenges. The Perils of Autumn was named a finalist in the Fiction Romance category by the International Book Awards in 2019 and received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite.
Blackwood's previous 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, which has been compared to Erich Segal's Love Story and Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. Both novels received critical acclaim.
The new book is available at Amazon. More information about Blackwood's work can be found on her website.
