Jeffrey Cook’s
early-era Steampunk novel, Dawn of Steam: First Light, is Now Available in paperback and Kindle.

New Release: Dawn of Steam: First Light, by Jeffrey Cook and Sarah Symonds

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. 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.

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.

Find out more and purchase this new novel

Dawn of Steam Trilogy on Facebook

Interview with Author, Jeffrey Cook