Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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  • About
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  • Contact Janet Alcorn

Short story “Proof Text” published in Kings River Life

My short story, “Proof Text,” was just published in Kings River Life! “Proof Text” is a short suspense piece about an exhausted farm wife who must finish one essential chore.…

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March 11, 2025

“The Fourth Man” won a prize!

My short story, “The Fourth Man,” won second prize in the Arizona Mystery Writers annual short story contest! The Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest recognizes short mystery, suspense, and…

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December 22, 2023

Writing Your Own Destiny (interview on the Mysterious Goings-On podcast)

Want to learn how to start writing fiction and use short stories to further your writing career? In a recent interview I did for the Mysterious Goings-On podcast, I talk…

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December 10, 2023
  • Weekend Coffee Share

    No serial killers this week, because that would be too exciting

    July 29, 2022 /

    This week’s update will be short and serial-killer-free (unlike most of the rest of my July posts–apparently it’s serial killer month here at Camp WTF). I could make a bunch of exciting-sounding excuses: I’m flying to Fiji in an hour! I need to prepare for a call with an agent who wants to represent me! I have an appointment with a financial advisor to help me figure out what to do with my lottery winnings! Right. Uh huh. Here’s the sad truth: Exactly two exciting things happened this week. We bought a new freezer. It rained. Kids, that’s what you have to look forward to when you hit middle age:…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Creosote, teddy bear cholla, ocotillo, and saguaros in foreground with rust-brown colored mountain in background in late afternoon light

    New story published, Organ Pipe Cactus trip, blog recap, recap, and New Years memes (Weekend Coffee Share #20)

    January 8, 2022
    Black greyhound with white and grey muzzle curled up asleep on a dog bed

    Bisbee pics and saying goodbye (Weekend Coffee Share #10)

    October 15, 2021

    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022
  • Personal,  Weekend Coffee Share

    A bomb threat and more serial killers

    July 22, 2022 /
    Black background with white text reading, "I wonder how the meteor that was supposed to hit us back in 2012 is doing and if it's interested in hitting us now.

    The title of this week’s post–A Bomb Threat and More Serial Killers–makes my week sound waaaaayyyyyy more exciting than it actually was. In fact, Long-Suffering Husband, Son, and I have all felt lousy all week, so we haven’t done much. Plus–and I know this will come as a huge shock–it’s seriously hot here in Arizona in July, so my goal has been to do as little as possible and avoid going outside. Part of that goal–the not going outside part–was thwarted big time earlier this week, unfortunately. I’ll get to that in a minute, but first: welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! It’s also What’s…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Closeup of red and white striped rosebud with part of an open striped rose to the right

    New story coming out, bird rescue drama, and more (Weekend Coffee Share #2)

    August 21, 2021
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Writing through the seasons of life

    June 4, 2024
  • Books and Reading,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Of books and serial killers (with gratuitous complaints about the Arizona heat)

    July 15, 2022 /
    Black text on white background: "Boyfriend: Why do you watch so much murder stuff? Me: Just in case you slip up.

    No, this post isn’t about our resident backyard serial killer of tomatoes. That little beast has disappeared, because it’s now too hot here in Satan’s Anus for the tomatoes to produce fruit. Instead, they’re wilted and sad, hoping desperately for temperatures below 100F. Kind of like me. But the plants and I shall hope in vain, because our forecast for the weekend looks like this: At least we might get some rain. Maybe. But don’t worry, I’m not going to spend the rest of this post complaining about the weather. I’m saving that topic for next week. This week it’s time for the monthly What’s on Your Bookshelf Challenge, hosted…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022

    Website woes, garden pics and books

    April 24, 2022
    Text reads: Tucson Sisters in Crime Anthology Writers Panel on Big Blend Radio: Eva Eldridge, Elaine A. Powers, Cheryl Ryan, Lynn Nicholas, Conda Douglas, Amber Leffler, Kris Neri, Minerva Raz, Janet Alcorn." Graphic includes Trouble in Tucson book cover and photos of the authors.

    Catch me on the Big Blend Radio podcast

    June 15, 2023
  • Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,  Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Gambel’s quail family returns to my backyard

    July 8, 2022 /

    After last week’s excitement, this week has been quiet. After scrambling to meet a couple of submission deadlines, I’ve been slacking recovering this week and focusing more attention on a work-related writing project (a colleague and I are editing a book). I also co-hosted the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop this month. My post is called, No, I Don’t Want to Live in a Fictional World. I think it’s funny, but I’m one of those dorks who laughs at her own jokes, so… Another bit of news: I’m starting a newsletter to support my nascent author business. To subscribe, drop your email in the subscription box at the top…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    The weekly update: bobcat sighting, books, garden pix, and a small batch of memes

    May 21, 2022

    More Snow in Tucson!

    March 3, 2023
    Cardboard box sealed with strip of plastic tape

    My poem won a prize!

    November 12, 2022
  • IWSG

    No, I don’t want to live in a fictional world

    July 5, 2022 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    I’m so excited to be co-hosting the IWSG monthly blog hop, along with my wonderful co-hosts, J Lenni Dorner, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton! Please stop by their blogs and show them some comment love. Also, this is my 30th IWSG post. How the heck did that happen? (If you’re really bored, you can go here to read the first 29). In this month’s post, I’ll answer the optional question, If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose? But first, a couple of things. I have a newsletter! After spending several quality hours with MailerLite, I have a newsletter! If you’d like to see my nonsense witty commentary…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Two ways fiction writers can use AI ethically

    March 5, 2024
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    7 things I love about reading (and writing) crime fiction

    October 4, 2022
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    New year, new writing progress

    January 31, 2023
  • Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    Long-Suffering Husband catches a backyard serial killer, and I meet some deadlines

    July 1, 2022 /

    It’s been a busy week here at Camp WTF. Long-Suffering Husband caught a serial killer* in the act, and I met a couple of writing deadlines. But before we get to those thrilling tales: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, pull up a seat, and let’s chat. * Note: a nonstandard definition of, “serial killer,” is used in this post.

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Website woes, garden pics and books

    April 24, 2022

    Gambel’s quail family returns to my backyard

    July 8, 2022
    Closeup of Camille Pissarro rose, red and yellow stripes toward the center, red and pink stripes toward the edges.

    Camille Pissarro Rose (#FOTD)

    October 17, 2021
  • Arizona,  Photos,  Short Stories,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    Lockett Meadow, writing news, memes, and more

    June 25, 2022 /
    meadow of dry grass in front of forested hills

    Good afternoon, and happy Saturday! It’s a balmy 100F here in Satan’s Anus, which is a helluva lot better than the 108 we endured yesterday. In this week’s missive, I bring you some pretty pictures of Lockett Meadow in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, my writing progress (such as it is), a few interesting dribs and drabs I found on the internet when I should have been writing, and a fresh batch of memes I also found on the internet when I should have been writing. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, pull up a seat, and let’s get…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Sentinel Peak, Enchanted Hills, and Valentine’s Day nonsense (Weekend Coffee Share #25)

    February 11, 2022

    Late summer in Tucson–it’s hot and there are bats

    August 5, 2022
    Neon sign that reads BOOZE BEDS FOOD

    Gratitude, wins and losses, and weird Bisbee (Weekend Coffee Share #9)

    October 10, 2021
  • Books and Reading,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022 /

    As some of you know, I used to live in the country outside Flagstaff, Arizona. We lived on 2.5 acres a half mile or so from the Coconino National Forest, with a view of the San Francisco Peaks from our driveway. It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. This week my former neighborhood was evacuated because that beautiful place is on fire. This fire, the Pipeline Fire, is the second major fire in the area. The Tunnel Fire blazed through in April. According to the current map, this fire burned to within about a half mile of our former home. So far the neighborhood has been spared, but…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    The weekly update: bobcat sighting, books, garden pix, and a small batch of memes

    May 21, 2022
    Black text on white background: "Boyfriend: Why do you watch so much murder stuff? Me: Just in case you slip up.

    Of books and serial killers (with gratuitous complaints about the Arizona heat)

    July 15, 2022
    Cars on freeway heading into wall of clouds and dust

    Risking my life for new bookcases

    August 19, 2022
  • Arizona,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    Wupatki National Monument + the usual nonsense

    June 11, 2022 /

    While the rest of the US is going to the beach and planning picnics and lounging outside in hammocks, I am cowering in my house, afraid to open the front door. Why? Because this is what awaits me outside: And if I go out there, this will happen: So I don’t have any current pictures of, well, anything (can’t risk the camera melting along with my face), but I do have a collection of pictures from summers past that I can trot out, so we’ll do that today. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Pull up a seat, grab a treat (I recommend…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum + how the hell did I get this old? (Weekend Coffee Share #28)

    March 4, 2022
    Cars on freeway heading into wall of clouds and dust

    Risking my life for new bookcases

    August 19, 2022

    Tucson Botanical Gardens + April review + a fresh batch of memes

    April 30, 2022
  • Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    Paying the price for my procrastination

    June 3, 2022 /

    Good morning and happy Friday! June is shaping up to be a hectic month, and it’s all my fault. I have a couple of major deadlines this month, which I’ve known about for many months. But did I get the pieces written ahead of schedule? Nope. Did I even start them at a reasonable time? Also nope. So now here I am, doing the authorial equivalent of writing the term paper the night before it’s due. Why, oh why, do I do this to myself? Because of my sloth–and because it’s been too hot to go outside and take pictures of interesting stuff–this post will be shorter and duller than…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    We love our striped roses (#FOTD)

    August 11, 2021

    Survivors of the first frost

    December 18, 2021

    New Orleans and Spring in the Garden

    May 7, 2022
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