Rusty Offers Her April Newsletter 2020 …

• Posted on 28th April 2020
• in Newsletters, Return to Autumn, Romantic Fiction Author Rusty Blackwood, The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom, The Perils of Autumn
• by admin

---

Rusty Offers Her April Newsletter 2020 …

Greetings everyone, and welcome to my April Newsletter 2020. Hope you all are in good health and keeping your spirit high during this continued provincial lockdown. I am getting antsy and bored, like many, I am sure, but it will not last forever. I feel it has taught us to appreciate what we have and cherish it much more than we did. I think too many people worry about what they do not have instead of giving thanks and appreciation for what they do have. Maybe it takes something like what has happened to make us realize this simple fact.

Because of the continued lockdown I have not been doing any public events as bookstores are closed. I am scheduled still for June 7^th at Pen Center Coles in St. Catharines and neither I or the store have cancelled it as yet because the extension of the lockdown is supposed to end May 31^st with the economy re-opening, but of course that may change. But as it presently stands, I will be doing the event, and if it requires cancellation, I will post a notification message on my website as well as my assorted social media sites.

It has been difficult concentrating on writing since this all began, but I am managing progress on the upcoming romantic drama, Return to Autumn, the follow-up to The Perils of Autumn. I must say that I am enjoying this story as it continues to its end. Of my three novels thus far, this story happening at Landon Lawns Stables in the posh thoroughbred community known as The Meadows located outside Lexington, Kentucky, is my favorite. If it existed, I would love to spend my days there and hang out with Cyril Landon, his wife Autumn, their daughter Abby, their staff of colorful characters, and the magnificent horses.

Since the celebrated Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled for September 5^th I hope to be able to release Return to Autumn to coincide with that applauded race, but I am not promising as I will have to see how production goes, however it is a date to work towards. In the meantime, I shall share an excerpt from Chapter 34: A Troubled Mind Working Overtime

 Duff Taylor had not been able to get the presence of Bluegrass Acres’ new trainer out of his mind. The fact that this man now lived so close foreshadowed his every thought. Ever since that summer day when he had crept through the back pasture to the dividing line between Bluegrass Acres and Landon Lawns to see if their new trainer was, in fact, Andy Wilson, his every step since had been made as if on thin ice about to give way at any second. The very thought of that nineteen sixty-four incident being brought into the open was forever heavy on his mind. He had watched intently the day of Autumn’s September party to see the guests file in, park their vehicles in the stable yard, before exiting and milling about. His eyes watered from the strain put upon them, scrutinizing each guest as they moved towards the manor. He thought he spied, who he believed to be Andy Wilson, walking with Daniel Maddox and Tom Brennan, but he could not be sure. A tremendous amount of time had gone by since that horrid day in Aintree. Faces had faded into obscurity; in fact, he had found it hard to believe he was even looking at Andy Wilson that summer morning. If it had not been the fact of what he had seen and overheard as he skulk behind that storage shed, he would have never recognized him.

Duff had again felt that sinking feeling when he’d noticed the Bluegrass Acres’ van parked beside the main stable this very morning, and later observed Manfred and William appearing like men on a mission as they strut with intent to the mansion. Wonder what that is all about? he thought in quandary, his mind working overtime. The Dandy and the Dude consider themselves above me, always have; then they wonder why I react as I do. Old Willy is like a junk-yard dog, latched onto my ankle with incessant obsession to find out stuff that is none of his damn business. I just wish I knew if they have found out more. Seems they paraded to the mansion not long after that van left — Awe, I am just grasping at straws, they do not know any more than they ever did. Still, what if they have somehow connected the dots — furthermore gotten to Wilson – but with what? There is no proof, I saw to that. They are barking up the wrong tree if they think they can prove anything. Still, I must find out.

He stood at the apartment window, his mind racked with unsettling thoughts, unable to put them out of his mind. He realized that Andy Wilson must be continuing to keep that intrepid incident a secret, he must be; if he were to divulge it to anyone throughout The Meadows, Duff knew he would have heard about it from someone. Throughout his years at Landon Lawns, he had managed to build what could be considered a decent connection with a few of the stable owners. He projected a false front, never once letting his actual personality show through, and so far, it appeared to be working for stable owners respected him during the equestrian events he attended.

A successful jockey’s career was followed by all horse masters who were active in the racing field. One never knew when a top-jock’s services would be required as situations change, jockeys leave or are let go. This explains the importance of maintaining an explicit record, exempt from accidents, injuries, and misdemeanors. Duff’s record was top of the line, always had been, because he had managed to sidestep the issues that would have severely altered that record. He could not allow what he had worked so hard to maintain be blown apart by two mere stable hands whom he felt had nothing better to do than cause trouble for others.

He realized that dwelling on what might or might not be said was a waste of time. There was no proof; even if Andy Wilson were to state what he knew it would still not prove anything. Duff knew that he was the only one who knew what he intentionally did. He could not change it. However, aside from the horrible outcome, if he had it to do over, he would repeat it. He could not help the way he felt. He had worked long and hard, scraping out a living however necessary while working his way up the equestrian ladder. He felt he deserved better than what he had been receiving. He had watched the hot jocks, like Wilson, whom he personally felt had never paid the price in return for what he had been receiving, nor the accolades bestowed upon him. Duff felt that he as a jockey was worthy of so much more than the few scraps thrown his way, until he finally proved himself worthy of better horseflesh, and tougher races. He had run his first Grand National in nineteen sixty-one at the age of twenty-one, and though he finished third, it instilled the drive he had been lacking. He continued to battle for top horses, a plight he had long grown accustomed to, until at age twenty-four, won his first Grand National. He had finally proven himself worthy of the title he now held. From there his road to success was paved in gold.

 

I hope you enjoyed that, and I also hope you look forward to reading Return to Autumn when it is released. I will be using Tellwell Talent Publishing again, as I was impressed with them when I had used them for The Perils of Autumn, so hopefully I will feel the same this time. No press releases as yet, as it is not close enough to the novel’s release, however that will precede and introduce the novel’s expectant date of release.

Last month, I did a FREE KINDLE GIVEAWAY for Willow’s Walk & Derwood Goes Caribbean, and I am happy to again offer this feature, this time for The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom, the first installment in my ongoing Derwood Comedy Series. This online event is happening at amazon.com starting May 4th through May 8th. I hope you take advantage of a great opportunity to laugh.  Take this secure link for further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/668648273707676/

 

My end of month Newsletters are certainly different than normal, but at least I can keep in touch with all of you who have kindly supported me throughout my long journey in writing and publishing, and continue to do so. Please know it is greatly appreciated, and never taken for granted.

As I close this Newsletter, I want to wish each of you wellness, strength, and safety. God’s Blessings to each of you, and I shall see you again soon.

Cheers!

Rusty B

Please Like me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter, and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

Tags: Canadian Indie Romance author Rusty Blackwood, drama, fiction, Indie author Rusty Blackwood, literary news, media, newsletters, Return to Autumn, romance novelist Rusty Blackwood, romantic fiction author Rusty Blackwood, The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom, The Perils of Autumn