Black and white high contrast photo of an early 20th century building set against a sky dotted with clouds.

Bisbee noir and a bit of non-news (Weekend Coffee Share #7)

September 24, 2021 /

Happy Friday, and welcome to the weekend coffee share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! I’m frantically trying to finish a short story to submit to my favorite Christmas horror anthology series, Deathlehem, so this week’s post will be short. I submitted last year and got rejected, so I’m trying again this year with a new–and scarier–story. 

Hubster and I spent part of last weekend in Bisbee, a copper mining town about an hour and a half from Tucson. It’s a fascinating place–and more than a little bit creepy after dark. We nicknamed it Stair Land, because it’s built into a hillside and has staircases everywhere–including some that seem to go nowhere.

I had fun with the noir setting on my iPhone, which enhanced the creepy factor. Take a look:

Streets

  • Black and white high contrast image of a modern road lined by early 20th century buildings
    One of the main streets in Bisbee, taken in the early morning without traffic, 2021 September 18
  • Black and white high contrast image of a narrow, cracked street between early 20th century buildings. Chevrolet pickup truck parked to the right.
    Narrow street in Bisbee, AZ, 2021 September 17
  • Black and white, high contrast image of early 20th century buildings along a narrow street
    Street in Bisbee, AZ, 2021 September 17

Buildings

  • Black and white high contrast image of an early 20th century brick hotel and adjacent bar. Cars parked along the street and overhead powerlines in upper foreground.
  • Black and white high contrast image of early 20th century brick and stone buildings in Bisbee. What looks like an old bomb hangs in front of one bulding.
    Is this where I go to get bombed in Bisbee?
  • Black and white high contrast image of columns on the front of a building
    Columns outside the old Sheriff’s Office and Justice Court in Bisbee, AZ, 2021 September 17. It’s a bar now.

Stairs

  • Black and white high contrast image of a narrow set of metal stairs with a pattern on each riser: circle, cross, circle, cross, circle.
    Bisbee has more weird staircases than any other town I’ve visited.
  • Black and white high contrast image of stairs between 2 buildings, lined with pipes and electrical meters. Black letters on each riser read, in all caps, "Let's be better humans."
    Narrow staircase in Bisbee with some good advice, 2021 September 18
  • Black and white photo of a narrow concrete staircase between 2 buildings
    One of many narrow staircases in Bisbee, 2021 September 17

In other news

  • There’s still no news on the story slated for the Storyteller Series podcast. C’mon, guys, I’m dyin’ over here.
  • It’s almost time for Pitch Wars! I submitted last year and got two full requests but didn’t manage to land a mentor. If at first you don’t succeed… 
  • It’s fall, and the forecast for the next week shows highs in the 80s. Woo hoo! It’s so nice to have a break from the triple digits. 

How about y’all? What’s happening in your corner of the world?

You May Also Like

Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

Two ways fiction writers can use AI ethically

March 5, 2024

Books, laughs, and more (Weekend Coffee Share #26, What’s on Your Bookshelf #3)

February 18, 2022

Vegas, baby! With a side order of pandemic memes (Weekend Coffee Share #29)

March 11, 2022

11 Comments

  • Scribble and Scran

    September 26, 2021 at 7:03 am

    Went to the city of Glasgow yesterday, boy do they know how to do stairs. Usually and escalator to get you into the main part of the store and then stairs to get out (usually hidden!) Great pics.

  • Gary A Wilson

    September 26, 2021 at 9:27 am

    Hi Janet. Well thanks for adding to my want to visit list, because Bisbee looks more than worth a visit. It would have been a perfect trip for one of my trips to Tucson while our daughter was attending UA, but now it’s just a long drive away. . .

    Anyway, I tried something a bit new for me. I wrote a story that was deliberately based on a current event and tried to weave some science and emotion all into one entertaining and (I hope) compelling story. So far, the feedback seems to go the right direction but I’d love to know your reaction as you have much more experience in creating stories that grab the reader.

    It’s about a 10 minute read and is posted at this link:
    https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/too-alone-for-too-long/

    In the meantime, I want to go back and explore your Bisbee photos.

    Thanks for a fun share and the virtual visit to Stair City.
    Good luck on your submissions. Sounds daunting to writers like me.

    • Janet Alcorn

      September 29, 2021 at 6:22 pm

      Sorry for the belated reply! It’s been a hectic few days around here. Bisbee is definitely worth a visit if you have the time. Thanks for sharing your story! I really felt for your main character. I was home alone as a kid whenever I was sick (though I was never that sick for that long). Unfortunately no boys ever showed up to keep me company 🙂