Canadian born Rusty Blackwood, who 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 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.

Miss Blackwood is a bronze medalist winner in the 2006 Annual International Library of Poetry, sponsored through PoetryPoem.com, for her 2005 poem, Desire.

Rusty 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. This title was chosen by ManyBooks.net Best Books for May 2020 in the category of Best Literary Fiction.

In 2013, following a previously hard fought, misguided, and misleading publishing road into the competitive world of mainstream fiction 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 with the exciting reprieve, the 4-star, heart-touching, grand scale romantic drama, “Passions In Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary.”

“Passions in Paris” was followed in 2015 with 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. Do take the time to read this riveting, in-your-face read that is certain to to open your eyes towards an “innocent” internet encounter in a chatroom, what happened, and where it led. Don’t let this happen to you!

In July 2017, Miss Blackwood released her second installment in the Derwood comedy series, titled, Derwood Returns. Rusty currently released the third installment of the Derwood Tugbottom comedy series, titled, Derwood Goes Caribbean, on January 27, 2019, and do watch for the fourth installment, Derwood Comes Home.

Rusty’s third novel, The Perils of Autumn, is a 5-star, multi-award-winning romantic drama set in the early 1970’s at the fictional Landon Lawns Stables, a 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 by Tellwell Talent Publishing.

Rusty is currently writing the follow-up novel to the 5-star-multi-awarded, The Perils of Autumn, titled, Return to Autumn, and is expected for release in late 2021.

Miss Blackwood has been a Nominee in the Authors Show yearly Top Female Author contest for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

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 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 now 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, friends, and her loyal cat, Tipper.