PREVIOUSLY Dominic James has been a Jack of many trades, but never a master in one – until now.

The former barman, bookmaker, draughtsman and musician will launch his first novel on Saturday, at Waterstones, Castle Quay, Banbury, from 10am.

Called The Reiki Man, the book is a thriller based on the murder of a billionaire industrialist and the symbols of Reiki, a Japanese homeopathic healing method.

Father-of-one Mr James, also a Reiki master, said: “I decided to write a book as it’s something I’d always wanted to do, and having taken a break from trying to make it in the music industry, I needed something creative to occupy my time.

“With all the novels that were coming out a few years ago involving symbols and mysticism it just seemed natural to base a thriller around Reiki and its symbols.

“But I also wanted to put my own stamp on the genre and take it somewhere different in a literary way, making it grittier and more character driven.”

Mr James, 39, was made redundant from aluminium factory Sapa, off Southam Road, in January 2008, after working there for six years on the production line. He had started writing the book six months before he lost his job and then decided to take his destiny into his own hands and concentrate full- time on his novel.

Mr James said: “Firstly I wanted to write a great thriller, but I also wanted to put something raw out there, a spirituality that the average person in the street can identify with.

“I find a lot of people are put off practices like Reiki because they think they’re a bit flaky and somehow elitist.

“But well-being – physical, mental and spiritual – is for everyone.”

Mr James, of Briggs Close, Banbury, got a publishing contract with O Books, based in Kent. His book is available in bookshops and costs £13.99.