WHEN Nick Fawcett, local author and resident of Wellington for the past 25 years, was diagnosed with the blood cancer multiple myeloma back in 2010 and told he probably had a handful of years to live, it came as a massive shock to both him and his family.

Some might have sunk into defeatism and self-pity, but Nick’s response has been the opposite.

Determined to live every day to the full, he has - alongside his busy schedule as an editor and proofreader - pursued his many hobbies with renewed vigour.

Now - years on and with his prognosis probably more encouraging than it’s ever been - his fascination with words and word games is about to bear fruit through the publication of Can I Have a Word? - the first of what he hopes will be many books aimed at enhancing the experience of word-games everywhere.

Already, he has two more books - Weird Words and That’s a Bonus! - nearing completion and since January of this year he has been developing his website www.canihaveaword.home.blog which offers daily tips for word-game success.

Nick makes no claim to be a world-beater or even an expert player; In his own words he writes as ‘one of you: someone who loves playing word games - driving me crazy, though they might - and who is constantly looking to improve in whatever way possible’.

His aim is to help players improve their vocabulary and skills but the emphasis in all his writing is on fun: enjoying games, and words, for their own sake.

Can I Have Word? is a book that will inform, intrigue, amaze and entertain, as well as, without question, help you to enjoy your games more and become a better player. Quite simply, you can’t afford to be without it.