Canadian Indie author, Rusty Blackwood, has a unique flair for imagery in words, that of which she has demonstrated through the fourteen titles she has published, beginning in 2009 up to the present. Return to Autumn Part 2 is her fourteenth title and the concluding novel in her 3-part Autumn Trilogy, beginning with the multi-award-winning romantic fiction drama, The Perils of Autumn, followed by Return to Autumn. Rusty is currently writing the prequel to her Autumn series, titled, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster.

Top ranking romantic fiction author 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.

Canadian born Blackwood, who chose her nom de plume by combining both the colour of her russet hair with her estranged husband’s 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 she 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 by PoetryPoem.com for her 2005 poem, Desire.

She has written an eclectic array of both 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 2012, Blackwood released the comedy short, The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom, her first in the Derwood Comedy Series, based on the multidimensional character Derwood Justice Tugbottom, created by her brother Rick, and gifted to her to do with as she wished. This title was chosen by ManyBooks.net Best Books for May 2020 in the category of Best Literary Fiction.

Following a previously hard fought, misguided, and misleading publishing road into the competitive world of mainstream fiction with her very first romantic fiction drama, told in 2 parts, Passion in Paris: Connections to the Past, published 2010, and Passion in Paris: Directions of the Heart, published 2011, Blackwood was finally given the chance to accomplish what she had originally set out to do, and this exciting reprieve can be found within the pages of her 4-star, heart-touching romantic fiction drama, Passions In Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, published 2013.

Passions in Paris was 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.

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, that 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. Blackwood released the third installment of the Derwood Tugbottom comedy series, titled, Derwood Goes Caribbean, on January 27, 2019. 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, 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.

Blackwood’s fifth 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.

The Perils of Autumn is both a 2019 International Book Awards, and American Book Fest Best Book Awards FINALIST in Romance.

Perils was followed by the 2-part sequel, Return to Autumn, Published by Rusty Blackwood through KDP for Amazon, © 2022. Cover Design by Don McCauley & Rusty Blackwood © 2022, and Return to Autumn: Part 2, published by Rusty Blackwood through KDP for Amazon. © 2023. Cover Design by Don McCauley & Rusty Blackwood © The riveting conclusion to this outstanding series is found in the 5-star awarded, Return to Autumn: Part 2. Will Duff Taylor finally pay the piper? Will Autumn & Cyril finally find peace? The answers awaits in this applauded conclusion.

Blackwood was also a nominee for Top Female Author for the consecutive years, 2017, 2018, and 2019 by The Author’s Show.

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 writers inspiration comes from many aspects of life experience, and reaping from them all that one can 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 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, 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.

Blackwood resides in the picturesque city of St. Catharines, Ontario, and when not at her keyboard, enjoys art, especially the disciplines of watercolour, pastels, and pen & ink, gardening, interior design, specifically adopting white wicker and wrought iron into her designs, music, walking in nature, horses, and spending quality time with my family, and close friends.