Author Bio:
Canadian born Blackwood, whose brand is ‘images in word that will leave you breathless’, chose her plume de nom 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, and to the late Gladys Carroll, her elementary teacher. Although unprofessionally trained in the field, Rusty has always had 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.
Miss 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 of 2009, entitled, “Feelings: A Rhythmic Journey in Thought,” which 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, entitled, “Young Minds,” which 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 short-story comedy, “The Misadventures of Derwood Tugbottom”.
Following a previously hard fought, misguided, and misleading publishing road into the competitive world of main-stream fiction with her first two-part romance 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, and this exciting reprieve can be found within the pages of her grand scale, 4-star, heart-touching romance drama, “Passions In Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary,” which she released in 2013.
“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 has been given a 5 star rating by Readers’ Favorite while still in pre-release, so be sure to check it out.
In July 2017, Miss Blackwood released her second installment in the Derwood Tugbottom comedy series, titled, “Derwood Returns”, and currently released the third installment in the series, entitled, “Derwood Goes Caribbean”, on January 27, 2019. Do watch for the fourth installment in the ongoing series, “Derwood Comes Home”, expected in early 2020.
Rusty’s third novel, “The Perils of Autumn”, is a 5-star 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 Lawns 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 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 now a 2019 FINALIST in both the International Book Awards, and American Book Fest Best Book Awards. Rusty is currently writing the follow-up novel to the 5-star awarded “The Perils of Autumn”, entitled, “Return to Autumn”, and is expected to release in the late spring of 2020.
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 different 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.
Rusty 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.
Rusty 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.
Miss Blackwood is also a 3-time Nominee in The Author Show’s Top Female Author for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
What inspires you to write?
Actually it can be anything, ripples on a pond, sunsets, a rainy day, or simply letting my mind wander to certain times in my life or experiences I've had. I often draw from happenings in my life and the way they have affected me. I love to write; to me it's not only a pleasure, it is a passion.
Tell us about your writing process.
I can be both an out-liner and fly-by-the-seat writer as I go, but first I create my characters and then the outline of the story I wish to immerse them into. In the past I have sketched characters in the way I perceive them, which I did for "Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary", and I do believe it helped at different intervals throughout that story, but normally I have them in my head and let them play out on the screen as I write their story.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Of course I talk with them and interact in many ways. I find they do the same with me, and it's a great re pore to have. The author of their work must see their characters in the flesh, their history, and their personality in order to bring them to life in the story they are creating.
Who are your favorite authors?
I don't read as much as much as I should, and I rarely read someone else's work when working a title of my own. However, I very much enjoy the work of St. Catharines romance novelist, Gina IaFrate, and of course well-known authors Stephen King, Kathryn Stockett, Emily Brontë, V C Andrews, Nora Roberts, and Margret Mitchell. I love many children's authors; Laura Ingalls-Wilder, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Louisa-May Alcott, Anna Sewell, and Mark Twain. I adore expressive writing in any genre, which is the way I love to write as well.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I self published my first title, "Feelings", a collection of traditional and contemporary poetry in 2009, but I had been researching the road of self-publishing for quite some time before choosing the publisher I used. I had also researched traditional publishers, but I chose the independent route because I could maintain the Rights and Direction of my work and not have to sign them away in order to obtain a contract. This I would not do, nor will I do to this day, as I will not have my work altered in any way while my name remains on the cover as the content of a writer's title is what they are judged upon, not someone else's idea of what it should be. My opinion on this remains unaltered.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I believe there will always be publishers, both traditional and independent, but online book outlets are continuing to gain in popularity and I cannot see that changing anytime soon. Self-published books can be obtained at any book and mortar bookstore by using their order desk or kiosk. If you obtain a good re pore with store managers, you can always secure copies of your work on their shelves, and some self publishers like Tellwell Talent in Canada, whom I used to publish "The Perils of Autumn" and will again be using for the follow-up, "Return to Autumn", supply bookstores that order copies. I believe it's a personal choice, and one that each reader must decide upon.
What genres do you write?
Romance, Fiction, Drama, Suspense, Comedy, Children's short stories, and Poetry.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Rusty Blackwood Home Page Link
Follow Rusty Blackwood On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
