TRAVEL/FOOD

Where Every Road Leads to a Story

AWARD-WINNING TRAVEL & FOOD WRITER · AUTHOR OF 17 BOOKS

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On the Road and At Home

I am a freelance writer, author, columnist, and photographer who specializes in travel, food, book reviews, personalities, culture, history, architecture, wine, spirits, traditions, and lifestyles. I have two blogs, my Travel/Food blog and my book review blog Shelf Life, which also features my interviews with authors. My travel and food podcasts are available on Spotify.

Jane Ammeson at Fox 32 News studio

It’s always about food and fun.

Jane Ammeson with celebrity chef Jeffrey Zakarian

What I Cover

Travel

Road trips, hidden gems, and destinations across the Midwest and beyond.

Food & Dining

Restaurant reviews, chef interviews, and weekly food columns.

Books

17 titles on travel, food, true crime, ghosts, and regional history.

True Crime

Gilded Age murders, serial killers, and Indiana’s most infamous cases.

Credentials & Recognition

Award-Winning Author

Lowell Thomas Bronze Award for Best Travel Book and multiple Mark Twain Awards for feature articles.

17 Published Books

Non-fiction spanning travel, food, restaurants, historic true crime, ghosts, and regional history.

Trusted Authority

Former James Beard Great Lakes Region Judge and Citizen Judge for the Taste Awards and Design Den.

An engagingly written, personable, and intimate portrait of a president that walks in his footsteps and creates a cultural contextual lens through travel.

Library Journal, review of Lincoln Road Trip

Areas of Expertise

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Travel Destinations

International and domestic travel features covering culture, history, architecture, and off-the-beaten-path experiences across Europe, Latin America, and the American Midwest.

Food & Restaurant Coverage

Restaurant reviews, chef profiles, food culture stories, and culinary travel pieces. Former James Beard Great Lakes Region Judge with deep expertise in Midwest dining.

Book Reviews & Author Interviews

Author of 17 published books with experience reviewing and interviewing fellow writers across non-fiction genres including travel, history, and true crime.

True Crime & History

Narrative non-fiction exploring historic murders, unsolved cases, and the darker side of American history with meticulous research and compelling storytelling.

Photography

Travel and food photography accompanying editorial features, with images published in magazines, newspapers, and books.

What Readers Say

Book Reviews

This is fabulous! I love all the trivia. As a lifetime Illinois resident and Lincoln fan, this was a real eye opener.

Lincoln Road Trip

Tracy, Good Reads

Minnie Wallace Walkup Ketcham’s criminal career as an unsung triple murderess and black widow is told in rich detail and with pleasingly dark wit.

How to Murder Your Wealthy Lovers

Keven McQueen, author

Stories of the runaway slaves who left their spirits behind. An easy read and an odd collection of tales of murders, mayhem, madness, and sadness.

Hauntings of the Underground Railroad

Folklore

Jane Ammeson in Cuba

Always Open for Assignments

Looking for a freelance writer to cover travel, food, culture, or history? I’m available for feature articles, columns, restaurant reviews, and book-related content.

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