Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced the release of the hardcover edition of her latest novel, Before The Grandeur: The Making Of A Horsemaster. The book, which serves as the prequel to her multi-award-winning Autumn Trilogy, is now available for purchase on Amazon. The move to hardcover completes the collection for fans and collectors who prefer the durable format.
In a statement, Blackwood expressed her enthusiasm: "I am extremely pleased to offer, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, in hardback edition. As the prequel to my multi-award-winning Autumn Trilogy of books that are each available in hardback, having Grandeur join that select group finishes the collection perfectly, especially for the consummate collector, as well as all readers who prefer this choice of format."
The novel explores the origins of Cyril Landon, a character central to the Autumn Trilogy. Set in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, the story follows Landon's journey from a deprived childhood marked by poverty to his rise in the equestrian world. According to the press release, "Every legacy begins with a choice - Before the grandeur came the master." The narrative details how a labourer's situation at a local farm provided a window into a possible future, leading Landon to step through an opened door that would open many more. The book has received positive reviews, with Richard Prause of Readers Favorite noting, "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, called it "a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting."
For a limited time, Blackwood is offering the book at no charge. She stated, "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 offer is available through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rusty-Blackwood/author/B0092XLBRM.
The Autumn Trilogy began with The Perils Of Autumn, which was named a finalist in the Fiction Romance category by the International Book Awards in 2019 and a finalist in the American Book Fest's 2019 awards program. The first book received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite. Set primarily in the early 1970s, it centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman who becomes a nurse and is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, a middle-aged English equestrian master and owner of Landon Lawns Stables near Lexington, Kentucky. The story involves a world-renowned jockey with a dark secret and a romance that faces numerous obstacles.
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary. Information on all of Blackwood's work is available at her website, http://www.rusty-blackwood.com.
The release of the hardcover edition is significant for readers who have followed the series, as it provides a complete hardcover set of the Autumn Trilogy. It also offers an entry point for new readers to explore the backstory of Cyril Landon before delving into the trilogy. The limited-time free offer makes the book accessible to a wider audience, potentially expanding Blackwood's readership. For the publishing industry, this announcement highlights the continued demand for hardcover editions, particularly among collectors and fans of series fiction. Blackwood's ability to cross genres and her prolific output as an indie author demonstrate the viability of independent publishing in reaching niche audiences.
