Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster by Rusty Blackwood
Every legacy begins with a choice – Before the grandeur came the master.
The village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, offered little for its residents, and for the deprived young Englishman, Cyril Landon, born into this stricken world of poverty, the road in every aspect appeared hopeless.
A chance for success in any field appeared far removed from his grasp. But life underestimated this young man, for he was filled with determination, grit, and an endless drive to achieve much better than his station in life was offering, and he would not settle for less.
A labourer’s situation at a local farm provided a window into a possible future that he had never given thought to, as he stepped through an opened door that would open many more. Little did he know at the time how far his choice would take him.
Delve into the pages of Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Hosremaster, the edifying prequel to the thrilling Autumn Trilogy of books by Rusty Blackwood, certain to immerse you into the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and an unfaltering love that will encase your heart.
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Author Bio:
Canadian, top-ranking, 5-star, multi-award-winning romantic fiction novelist, model, and YouTube actress, Rusty Blackwood, believes the flair for fantasy is anything the mind wishes it to be, and she is a master at this. Within her expressive mind is found an endless array of romance, passion, textures, and colours to sweep the reader to exotic, faraway places where anything is possible, proving that her words really do leave you breathless. Blackwood became a professional writer in 2001 and a published Indie author in 2009.
Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, is Blackwood’s fifteenth title, and is the prequel to her applauded, 5-star-multi-award-winning Autumn series of books.
Blackwood resides in the cultural city of St. Catharines, Ontario, and when not at her keyboard, enjoys art, music, nature, gardening, and spending quality time with family, and friends.
Blackwood, whom chose her nom de plume by combining both the colour of her russet hair with her estranged husbands’ great, great, Scottish grandmother’s maiden name, grew up on her paternal grandfather’s farm in southwestern Ontario, Canada where she developed her love of writing while still in grade school, entering numerous competitions and writing exhibitions throughout her area, and attributes her love of writing to her late father, James Beecroft, and to the late Gladys Carroll, her elementary teacher. Although unprofessionally trained in the field, Rusty has always shown an affinity for the written word, a gift to express it, and has demonstrated this talent many times since becoming a serious writer in 2001.
Blackwood is a bronze medalist winner in the 2006 Annual International Library of Poetry, sponsored through PoetryPoem.com, for her 2005 poem, Desire.
She has written an eclectic array of contemporary and traditional poetry, publishing her first collection in October 2009 titled, “Feelings: A Rhythmic Journey in Thought,” that was later re-released in a second collection with additional content in 2011 under the title, “Impressions: A Poetic Rhythm in Emotion”. Feelings was followed in April of 2010 by a collection of assorted short stories for children, as well as the young at heart, titled, “Young Minds,” that was later re-released as a second collection with additional content in 2012 under the title, “Through the Eyes of Innocence.”
In March of 2012, Rusty released the comedy short, “The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom,” her first in the Derwood Comedy Series that centers on the outrageous antics of the eccentric, Derwood Justice Tugbottom, a retired London England civil servant who is forced into retirement, and decides to spend his golden years in Canada, much to the chagrin of those he encounters. This title was chosen by ManyBooks.net Best Books for May 2020 in the category of Best Literary Fiction: https://manybooks.net/articles/best-books-of-the-month-may-2020
Following a previously hard fought, misguided, and misleading publishing road into the competitive world of mainstream fiction in 2010 & 2011 with her first two-part romantic drama, “Passion in Paris” – Connections to the Past and Directions of the Heart respectively — Rusty was finally given the chance to accomplish what she had originally set out to do by writing this story in one novel, and this exciting reprieve can be found within the pages of her Amazon awarded 4-star, heart-touching romantic drama, “Passions In Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, which she released in 2013. This grand scale, heart-touching saga, centers on two star-crossed soul mates who are fortunate to meet again in 1999 Paris during the festive Christmas season, and are immediately thrown into a series of tumultuous misunderstandings, the final one threatening their lives.
“Passions in Paris” is followed by the official release of the riveting, 5-star award-winning romantic fiction drama, “Willow’s Walk.” This page turner was given a 5-star rating by Readers’ Favorite Books while still in pre-release. Willow Sutherland Crosby is a woman not to be denied her drive to find the perfect love. This search takes her down a most precarious road, one that will leave you reeling in its wake.
In July 2017, Blackwood released her second installment in the Derwood comedy series, titled, “Derwood Returns.” In this hysterical follow-up to The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom, the bubbling and pretentious Englishman, known for his staunch outlook and demanding ways, decides to return to the picturesque village of Vine-haven on the Lake, where he takes up residence in the swinging Sunset Villa Retirement Center, located directly across the road from the infamous Anchors Away, of which he hastily departed two years earlier. Now he is back, with a hard-learned lesson beneath his belt, and hopes of finding the life that escaped him on his initial try.
On January 27, 2019, Blackwood released the third installment of the Derwood Tugbottom comedy series, titled, “Derwood Goes Caribbean.” Travel with Derwood, and his best friend, Robbie, as they board The Travelling Minstrel on a swinging single’s cruise to the Caribbean. Christmas 2014 is fast approaching, and an intrepid Derwood talks Robert into taking a single’s cruise to the Caribbean with him, which sends them on another eccentric adventure. Will they find what they hope to aboard ship? Will happiness present itself in one the ports of call, or will it avoid them altogether? Find out, in this third Derwood adventure, certain to make you laugh as you cruise right along with him. Do watch for the fourth installment in the ongoing series, “Derwood Comes Home.”
Blackwood’s third novel, “The Perils of Autumn,” is a 5-star, multi-award-winning romantic fiction drama set in the early 1970’s at Landon Lawns Stables, a fictional Thoroughbred racing stable in the posh community known as The Meadows, located just outside Lexington, Kentucky. This enthralling story centers around heroine Autumn Leeves, a twenty-four-year-old newly graduated RN, who is sent on assignment to Landon Manor to care for the terminally ill wife of English equestrian master, Cyril Landon. However, once there, Autumn encounters a world filled with intrigue, wonderment, and a well-kept secret. The Perils of Autumn was released on January 17, 2019 by Tellwell Talent Publishing, and is available in paperback, hardback, and Kindle editions at all Amazons, and in Kobo at Chapters. Paperback, and Hardback editions may also be ordered at all Chapters, Coles, and Indigo.
The Perils of Autumn is a 2019 International Book Awards FINALIST in Romance, and a 2019 American Book Fest Best Book Awards FINALIST in romance.
In the fall of 2022, Blackwood released the 5-star- awarded, sequel, “Return to Autumn,” followed in 2023 with, “Return to Autumn: Part 2.”
The 5’1″ (154.94 cm) spunky redhead is often asked how much of herself is found in her heroines, and she has been noted to say a fair amount, adding that most writer’s inspiration comes from many aspects of life experience, and reaping from them all that one can to use to one’s best advantage, so in that respect she would have to say that many sides, aspects, and flavours of her heroines derive from her own personality and life.
Blackwood, whose real name is Carol Beecroft-Doan-Weir, has always loved the Arts in their many unique forms, and this is demonstrated in the two Interior Decorating and Design diplomas she holds, as well as her many years spent on the south-western Ontario stage performing with her family’s country music band, The Midnight Ramblers, and the country – rock – blues band, MIRAGE respectively as an accomplished vocalist, bassist, and rhythm guitarist.
Blackwood firmly believes in going after what she wants, doing whatever is required to make it happen, and turning a deaf ear to anyone who says it cannot be done. She has faced many challenges throughout her life, emerging more determined with each, but make no mistake about her methods, for she is a firm believer in Karma and the adage that whatever you put out in life revisits you, so be sure your intentions are proper.
Blackwood is always thrilled to hear from readers and fans, and invites all who wish to engage with her through her official website, or her listed email.