Arcam by Jason Minick
Publication date: 27 March 2018
Genre: Crime & Thriller
396 pages
Today's feature is the gripping debut conspiracy thriller Arcam, penned by Jason Minick. This is the first of a series which spotlights DCI Jack Robson and his team as they tackle crime in the south west of England. I have to say I my eye was caught by the atmospheric cover artwork which sets the scene for the book very well - I do like a cover which captures the content of the book and draws me in.
Sadly my review of this book is not ready in time for the blog tour, however I do have an article from Jason, the author himself, which gives us snapshot of a day in his life as a part-time author as he juggles the demands of a family life, a day job and somehow finding time to write such an amazing debut novel. I stand in awe of you sir, you give me (and many others, I'm sure) hope that our dreams can be achieved.
Book Description:
A FAST-PACED CRIME/CONSPIRACY THRILLER THAT IS FULL OF SUSPENSE:
DCI Jack Robson believes he is hunting a kidnapper…
Away from his posting in London, Robson is asked to lead an investigation in the south west of England. But what begins as a baffling local kidnapping mystery, quickly escalates into something far more sinister.
In pursuit of the perpetrators, DCI Robson joins forces with Inspector Emma Wilson and the rest of the regional CID team. Together, they attempt to make sense of the lack of evidence or motive, eventually getting drawn to the tiny island of Steep
Holm, in the Bristol Channel.
As the investigation progresses, Robson, Wilson and their colleagues find themselves facing something far beyond normal detective work. Unthinkable connections lead them to a conspiracy, so great it could change the course of humanity. The question is, can they intervene before it’s too late to prevent the appalling future that potentially lies ahead...
Buy your copy here: https://amzn.to/2R6SX8w
Jason Minick: My life as a part-time writer
Yes, that’s correct – being a writer is my alter ego!
I have been a railway signalling engineer for twenty-eight
years. I am currently a self-employed consultant in the design discipline. I’m
pleased to say that my profession keeps me busy at the moment; but, as you can
imagine, this poses a challenge in terms of fulfilling my writing passion.
Oh, and I’m also married, with three extraordinary children.
The kids are currently aged twelve, eleven and eight. So, of course, I take my
role of husband and father seriously. All this means that I could really do
with there being just another couple of hours in a day. Something I know many
of you will empathise with.
Nevertheless; I find that if you really want to do something
enough, you will find the time. So it is for me with writing. Here’s how …
I like to get an early start. Not because I’m naturally a
morning person, don’t get me wrong. Oh no, I really, really, love to sleep. But
I want to get a head start on my day. And I don’t like having to commute in
heavy traffic!
So, my alarm sounds at six every weekday morning. I use my
phone actually – it plays a seriously annoying tune. It’s the default alarm
sound. I should change it.
Anyway, up I rise, like a graceful … hmm, well I get up
anyway. It’s just after six, so I head into the bathroom and take a shower. I’m
currently working for a client whose office is reasonably close to home.
Therefore, if I’m not working in my own office at home, it’s about 06:25 by the
time I’m in the car, having collected my packed lunch from the fridge, along
with the steaming americano, courtesy of my lovely wife.
I’m at my desk for seven. I get stuck in straight away and,
depending on how much pressure we’re under, I try to get away by about half
three to four o’clock.
My commuting schedule allows me to miss the worst of the
traffic and maximises the time I can spend with the family.
The next few hours are just as much of a blur as the first
part of the day. We all catch up on our days, have dinner together, perhaps
also have one or two homework discussions (ugh!), before letting the young ones
retire to the rooms for the evening. There are evenings where other activities
take place, such as dancing, acting, singing, or football; but I won’t bore you
with that detail!
Next is the tricky bit … I want to write. But I also want to
spend time with my stunning wife, just as she wants to spend time with me. We
make sure there are one or two nights during the week that we are together.
On the other nights, I write.
Somewhere between seven-thirty and eight, I will take a
glass of water in to my office and open my latest manuscript on the laptop. I
get in an hour and a half usually. But sometimes it’s an hour; sometimes thirty
minutes.
Early in the process, this time is almost entirely research
and scribbling ideas. But once the idea is underway and the ‘fossil’ has been
excavated, it’s all about the writing.
I don’t generally work into the night, writing. Because,
there is one final activity I must allow time for …
You guessed it – reading!
I feel it is crucial to read. I have heard authors, far more
experienced than me, state that they never read while they are working on their
own novel. The fact is, that just wouldn’t work for me – I want to be always
writing and I want to be always reading.
These days, I read not only for the enjoyment, but also to
learn, in an analytical sense. I have always been a fan of the crime genre, so
it is not a chore to read novels by legendary authors that have entertained us
with their great stories.
I enjoy reading many other genres; such as, historical
fiction, classics, almost any type of thriller and books with a psychological
theme. And I do try to ensure that I am continuing to absorb that kind of mix,
rather than only reading in the genre in which I’m currently writing.
At the time of writing this post, I have just started
reading ‘Along Came a Spider’, by the one and only James Patterson. Believe it
or not, this is my first experience of Mr Patterson’s work! The reason I wanted
to sample his writing, is that quite a few people, in their reviews, have
compared my character, DCI Robson, to Patterson’s famous detective – Alex
Cross.
I must say, I’m only several chapters in to the first Alex
Cross novel, but my goodness, I now realise how flattering those comparisons
were. Patterson is a master; I’m already in awe of his writing style.
If one day, I can manage to get close to mastering the art
as proficiently as he has, I will be happy with what I have achieved.
About the Author:
Jason Minick is an engineer living in the south-west of
England. He has a passion for the written word and reading.
Jason is a fan of many genres. His debut novel, Arcam, is a
crime/conspiracy thriller set in his favourite part of the UK.
He lives with his wife, Emma, and his three children, Lucy,
William and Sophie. The family share their home with two very small dogs, Digby
and Tizzie.
The author is currently working on the second book in the
DCI Robson series, the sequel to Arcam.
Social Media Links: Twitter: @JMinick_Author
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