Interviewed for the Mysterious Goings On podcast + trip to Las Vegas – the October recap

October 27, 2023 /

I had two big events in October: I was interviewed for the Mysterious Goings On podcast about using short stories to launch a writing career, and Long-Suffering Husband and I drove to Vegas to meet up with a friend (*waves at Laurel*).

But before I get to all that: This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Natalie the Explorer and What’s Been on Your Calendar hosted by  Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb. 

Talking writing and short stories on the Mysterious Goings On podcast

I’m excited to announce that I was interviewed for Alex Greenwood’s Mysterious Goings On podcast! In the episode, which will post on November 29, I talk about launching a writing career later in life and using short stories to kickstart that writing career. I’ll share more details once the episode is up because the interview went by super-fast, and I can’t remember a thing I said 🙂 . In the meantime, check out the podcast. Alex is doing a series on classic horror movies for Halloween–great stuff.

Vegas, Baby!

In last week’s post, I shared my first batch of Vegas pics–pics of the amazing Sphere, my new favorite building. This week, take a look at these incredible floral sculptures in the Bellagio conservatory. The installation is called Enchantment: The Magic of Fall. I’ve seen several of these displays over the years, and this one is my favorite so far. All the images in the gallery below are clickable in case you want to see more detail.

Colorful fantasy scene made of plants and flowers, including a gnarled tree with orange leaves, mushrooms, a curved footbridge, and a woman with butterfly wings
Two giant mushrooms made of red and yellow flowers with a giant pumpkin between them and plants and flowers around their bases.
A colorful scene with floral sculptures recreating a fantasy scene. It includes a structure made from a fake tree trunk, giant fake sunflowers, mushrooms covered in real flowers, and the back of a mannequin wearing butterfly wings.
Owl and crescent moon with female face above giant butterfly on fake tree with autumn leaves
Blue and purple ball gown decorated with flowers. More flowers at its base. Giant spools and rolls of fabric to the left.
Mannequin of a Black woman in a floor-length peach-orange gown studded with huge fake sunflowers and butterfly wings on her back. A flying woman with butterfly wings is above her on the right. Above her on the left is a fake tree with red and orange fall leaves.
Black woman mannequin in a floor-length ball gown studded with giant sunflowers, wearing butterfly wings on her back. The dress has a train made of real plants and flowers. To her left is a giant sunflower. Over her right shoulder is a flying white woman mannequin with butterfly wings.

Besides Vegas and the podcast interview, October was a routine month. The weather cooled down more (yay!), which meant more evening walks and improved general wellbeing (by which I mean, I didn’t complain about the heat 27 times a day).

Coming in November

Lots planned for November!

November Travel

  • I leave for a work trip to Seattle next week, which means I’ll spend this weekend tearing the house apart to find my rain gear. I lived in Seattle many years ago and haven’t been back there in a decade. It should be fun if I don’t die of hypothermia.
  • I’ll get another chance to die of hypothermia at the end of November, when Long-Suffering Husband and I will fly to New York for his cousin’s wedding. They’re getting married in a small town an hour south of Montreal. We got a deal by flying into Burlington, VT, so we’ll get a short road trip and a chance to see some countryside in a place we’ve never been. Should be a blast–if we don’t freeze to death.

November writing news

Skeleton sitting on bench with text, "Me waiting for responses to my submissions"

I’m waiting to hear about 3 submissions, and I should hear about at least 2 of them in November:

  • Arizona Authors Association annual literary contest: My poem, “Mourning Doves,” is a finalist. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet on Nov. 4. I can’t attend because I’ll be in Seattle, so I’ll have to wait for the official announcement on their website.
  • Arizona Mystery Writers annual short story contest: I entered a story called “The Fourth Man.” Winners should be announced sometime in late November, just prior to the awards celebration in early December (which will probably happen when I’m in New York).
  • A full request from an agent for my first novel, Vanishing, Inc. I sent it in early October, and she says she’s running about 2 months behind, so I might (but probably won’t) get news in November.

The Memery

The memes are back! It’s almost Halloween, so that’s our theme this week.

Found on BlueSky this morning:

I presume that place sells fava beans and Chianti.

That pumpkin looks like me when I get home after a long workday.

Also the only day it’s acceptable to attend a work meeting dressed like a vampire. Gives new meaning to the idea of meetings being soul-sucking.

And finally, speaking of vampires:

How was your October? Doing anything fun for Halloween?

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23 Comments

  • Joanne

    October 27, 2023 at 10:31 am

    The Bellagio conservatory is always my favorite thing to explore when we visit Vegas. Those floral sculptures are beautiful.

  • Debbie

    October 27, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    Wow those photos from Vegas are amazing! Well done on being interviewed and sharing some Halloween memes. Halloween is something that seems to have taken hold here in Australia in recent years, but I’ve never had pumpkin spice anything. Thanks for joining us for WBOYC this month and good luck with your submissions.

  • Jo

    October 27, 2023 at 3:11 pm

    Oh wow re the podcast! That’s so cool. Good luck with the waiting and looking forward to reading November’s recap with your pics from November travels. Thanks for linking up.

  • Jennifer Jones

    October 27, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    Well done about the podcast. I can imagine your excitement and nervousness. I’m being interviewed on the radio tomorrow and yes, I am quite nervous. Bellagio is my favourite to visit when we are at Las Vegas. That sounds like we go often. No, it’s only been a few times.

  • trentpmcd

    October 28, 2023 at 6:22 am

    No, no, don’t invite them in!! Oh well, too late. At least I know where baby vampires come from. Cool about the podcast. Hey, you’ll be in my neck of the woods! Well, give or take a couple of hundred miles, but compared to the Southwest… Yep, you will be shivering and thinking hypothermia, but you’ll see locals with shorts on guaranteed.
    Have a great week!

    • Janet Alcorn

      October 28, 2023 at 8:56 pm

      LOL at locals in shorts. That was a standard sight in Flagstaff in the winter. 25F outside and some yahoo is running around in shorts and a plaid shirt. Always plaid. Reminded me of Seattle in the early 90s.

  • Natalie

    October 28, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    Thank you for your weekend coffee share. The Enchantment installation looks amazing. Congrats on the podcast and safe travels in November!

  • Retirement Reflections

    October 28, 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Hi, Janet – Thank you for the catchup and the Hallowe’en memes. I love Hallowe’en — especially now as an adult. In the past several years, our house (which is very much in a retirement area) has literally received over 100 trick or treaters for Hallowe’en while neighbouring housing have only received 20 or so. I may need to consider downgrading my treats! <3

  • Marsha

    October 28, 2023 at 3:19 pm

    The Bellagio is always so gorgeous. I love the colors and all the new displays. You make me want to hurry over there. Congratulations on all your awards and hard-won fame. I can’t wait to hear your podcast. That last story is so funny! Have you read Janis’ story on Story Chat? You would love it. It’s very Halloween. 🙂

  • alexgpr

    October 29, 2023 at 9:37 am

    So great having you on Mysterious Goings On, looking forward to listeners meeting you November 29. Though I was so caught up in everything I didn’t ask you about Jeopardy! Next time.

  • Sue from Women Living Well After 50

    October 29, 2023 at 3:49 pm

    Congratulations on appearing on the Podcast, Janet. Who doesn’t love Vegas – so over the top and I loved your photos. We have visited three times on our visits to the US and have enjoyed each time. Thanks so much for sharing with us at #WBOYC? and have a great November x

  • Kirstin Troyer

    November 1, 2023 at 6:04 am

    How exciting about the podcast. I’ll have to mark my calendar to listen. THe Bellagio displays are always so spectacular. Haha…yep definitely bring your rain gear. I live about 2 1/2 hours south of Seattle, but grew up about 30 minutes east of it. I hate rain but love the PNW. haha!

    • Janet Alcorn

      November 9, 2023 at 7:51 am

      Hate the rain but love the PNW – that’s me exactly! It’s so beautiful up there, but the gray days get to me. We were in Seattle for 5 days, and by day 4 I was missing the sun.