Hello, I’m Jemma and I’d like to welcome you to my celebration of food – or more specifically, its wonderful place in literature. Nothing makes me want to live a story like the generous description of a satisfying meal woven through the plot – it’s a source of comfort and delight that has endured since childhood.

The crime-fighting, adventure-seeking youngsters of Enid Blyton’s imagination always found time to enjoy a jolly picnic of boiled eggs and sandwiches, cake and ginger beer. Roald Dahl even made our most beloved of indulgences the focus of an entire story – his fabulous chocolate factory featuring geese that lay golden chocolate eggs, ever-lasting gobstoppers, entire rooms dedicated to the making of marshmallow and fudge, giant lollipops in every conceivable flavour and a chocolate waterfall.

If you want to be more grown up about it, Charles Dickens’ Mr Pickwick had a great time travelling between old English coaching houses indulging in succulent, sizzling meats and hearty pies, with ladles of rum punch and pots of porter on the side. Indeed, Dickens’ more fortunate characters enjoyed the likes of plump, golden turkeys and rich steamed puddings aplenty. Don’t even get me started on the delicious prose of Joanne Harris, most evident in‘Blackberry Wine’ and ‘Chocolat’.

Words can do far more than set our stomachs rumbling, though. Words have the power to challenge us, to inspire us and to spark change. As a copywriter, this enthuses and compels me.

If you’ve just asked me to write about your new waste treatment facility or learning resource centre, don’t worry – I won’t liken the building to a great wedge of apple pie. It’s probable, however, that I’ll dash off for a strong cup of tea and a slab of millionaires’ shortbread as soon as I’ve finished.