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What can I say about a book whose full title is 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Life In A Word from an Olde London Writing Site Slave who lives in Amsterdam with Jesse, two frogs, and a friend around the corner called Evelyn'?

Well, quite a bit as it happens – first the practicalities. The author also happens, as many reading this will know, to have founded the International creative writing website known to many of us as UKAuthors. She is now concentrating her efforts on the publishing arm of this enterprise, UKA Press. The proceeds from this book will go entirely to help support the various projects of UKAuthors and so it is hoped will prove to be an extremely successful fundraising venture.

The book, as described on the cover, is a collection of ‘simple, plain and nutty rhymes to go with tea’. Many of them came into being as a result of Andrea’s participation in the UKAuthors online workshop challenges which is indeed testament to the inspirational qualities that the website affords. The poems address a startling array of topics, all with one-word titles and arranged in alphabetical order, from 'Absinthe' to 'Zen'.

So, starting with the first of these, we are led into the simple plain and nutty rhymes;

Wormwood, green anise and spand,
was called the holy trinity.
The French artistes, they thought it grand,
it led you to infinity!

Then on from here to an almost infinite span of ideas to make you grin, smile, chuckle and indeed laugh out loud over the requisite tea, though I’m sure the author would have no objections if you were to choose something stronger!

The book reminds me of two things; first a book of Spike Milligan poems that has accompanied me through life ever since I discovered it in my early teens and is guaranteed to cheer me up or bolster good humour – this will do the same.

I like a bit o’ smelly cheese,
the pongier the betta.
There’s nothing like a piece o’ toast
smothered in thick feta.

(Cheese)

The second is what I can only describe as a sort of Music Hall tradition (which you might expect from someone from Olde London) as I can imagine a lot of these poems set to music and performed on the stage of an old theatre deep in the heart of Shaftsbury Avenue.

Adam said to Eve, ‘My dear,
let’s eat the apple, hang the cost!’
From that day forth ‘twas crystal clear
that Paradise was truly Lost.

(Lost)

Added to this recipe are a whole host of equally nutty illustrations, a mixture of line drawings, collages and photos gleaned from who knows where. These contribute to the anarchic mood of the book and make it a visual picnic as well as a verbal one.

'In A Word' is a joyous and abandoned foray into the world of comic verse and I have no doubt that it will entertain and delight everyone who wisely chooses to own a copy. I can do no better than leave you with a few more words from the author to be sure to tempt you – as if you needed it!

‘Gardening Forever, Housework Whenever’
it says on the mug for me tea.
I think this inscription incredibly clever,
I hate bloody housework, you see.

(Housework)

In A Word is published by UKA Press, price £4.99