Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with JEFFREY COOK!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, JEFFREY COOK, and his favorite recipe for BUTTERSCOTCH OATMEAL COOKIE LAYERS!

DAWN OF STEAM: FIRST LIGHT
By JEFFREY COOK with SARAH SYMONDS

Book Blurb

In 1815, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, two of England’s wealthiest lords place a high-stakes wager on whether a popular set of books, which claim that the author has traveled to many unknown corners of the globe, are truth or, more likely, wild fiction. Dawn of Steam: First Light is an epistolary novel, told primarily through the eyes of former aide-de-camp Gregory Conan Watts, describing the journeys of the airship Dame Fortuna and its crew through journals and letters to his beloved fiancee.

The first recruit is, necessarily, the airship’s owner: war hero, famed genius, and literal knight in steam-powered armor Sir James Coltrane. Persuading him to lend his talents and refitted airship to the venture requires bringing along his sister, his cousin, and the crew that flew with him during the Napoleonic Wars. Only with their aid can they track down a Scottish rifleman, a pair of shady carnies, and a guide with a strong personal investment in the stories.

When they set out, the wild places of the world, including the far American West, the Australian interior, darkest Africa, and other destinations are thought to be hostile enough. No one expects the trip to involve a legendary storm – or the Year Without a Summer of 1815-1816. The voyage is further complicated by the human element. Some parties are not at all happy with the post-war political map. Most problematic of all, the crew hired by the other side of the wager seem willing to win by any means necessary. Dawn of Steam: First Light follows these adventurers as they open up the world. In the process, their journey helps lay the foundations for an age of enlightenment and technology to come.

DAWN OF STEAM: FIRST LIGHT
By JEFFREY COOK with SARAH SYMONDS

BACK COVER BLURB

January 1815

My Dearest Cordelia,

I have finally secured a means to wealth and renown enough that, when this venture is completed, I might obtain your honored father’s blessing to ask you to be my wife. Two of England’s most esteemed gentlemen have made a wager regarding the contents of the darkest corners of the world. For this, I am to assemble some of the greatest heroes of the recent war. In fact, my first destination will permit me a chance to see Sir James Coltrane’s legendary war machine for myself. If we persuade him, we hope to leave for the American colonies soon in his family’s airship, the Dame Fortuna.

I know that your thoughts and best wishes go with me — and I am certain that this voyage will help to spark your ample imagination and sense of adventure. I will write whenever I have the opportunity.

All my love,

Gregory Conan Watts

EXCERPT

March 22nd, 1815

The skies of Western England

50°47’N 03°21’W

My Dearest Cordelia,

You cannot begin to imagine the views afforded by travel aboard these military dirigibles. While the first day was quite difficult in many ways, that time has passed, and now I am finding myself quite at home aboard this wondrous vehicle. I spend what time I can spare holding tight to the rails outside and admiring the grounds below, though we are now quite near the coast and can see the choppy waters in the distance. Until one has had this amazing perspective, it is hard to imagine the true meaning of “as far as the eye can see,” for there are times the ground below seems to stretch on forever. Entire villages and even towns seem tiny by comparison to the sheer scope of vision offered by being so high above our beloved home.

We were not able to travel particularly close to London, to my regret, in part because we have only so much in the way of supplies, but I can only imagine it would be particularly breathtaking seen from above and out of the crowded paths and shops. Even writing of the experience seems insufficient, for words cannot accurately capture the splendor of the greatest nation on Earth seen from Heaven’s own view of it. Still, I am striving to do it some justice if only to attempt to share this sense of wonder I feel with you, for I can never be certain that this is an experience I shall ever have when this adventure is done.

About the authors, Jeffrey Cook with Sarah Symonds….

Author Jeffrey Cook lives in Maple Valley, Washington, with his wife and three large dogs. He was born in Boulder, Colorado, but has lived all over the United States. He’s contributed to a number of role-playing game books for Deep7 Press out of Seattle, Washington, but Dawn of Steam: First Light is his first novel. When not reading, researching or writing, Jeffrey enjoys role-playing games and watching football.

Co-contributor Sarah Symonds also lives in Washington. Born and raised in Seattle, she left for college and promptly came back. Sarah has been writing for fun since high school and tends towards short-shorts or novels. When not working on her own novels, Sarah enjoys costuming, fiber arts, and making Jeff explain football.

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Links to Jeffrey’s website, blog, books, etc.

Dawn of Steam: First Light Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOC6HNU

Dawn of Steam: First Light Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/149427650X/

Book Website: www.dawnofsteam.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.cook.54390

FB Dawn of Steam Trilogy Page: https://www.facebook.com/dawnofsteamtrilogy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffreyCook74

Tumbler: http://dawnofsteam.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20939508-dawn-of-steam

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I hope you enjoy the recipe Jeffrey is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 144 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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BUTTERSCOTCH OATMEAL COOKIE LAYERS
(Courtesy of Jeffrey’s editor, Kate Perkins-Armond)

1/2 cup butter, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 and 1/4 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
8 oz. Butterscotch chips ( they come in bigger bags, so snack intermittently on the rest!)
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Lightly grease two baking sheets.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cream softened butter and both sugars together. Beat in egg and add vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Blend this mixture into the wet mixture. Add chips and nuts. Spread layer of dough over each baking sheet.

Bake for 7-10 minutes, then let cool enough to cut as desired. Store in layers of foil.