Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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Open House serialized on Substack (free)

My suburban gothic horror novelette, Open House, is serialized on Substack this week. I’m posting one part each day, with the finale dropping on Halloween. All parts will be free…

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October 26, 2026

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

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
  • Arizona,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Saguaro National Park East during a wet monsoon

    August 26, 2022 /

    A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that we’ve had lots of rain, and the mountains are greening up. Well, we’ve had more rain, and the mountains are even greener, and Long-Suffering Husband and I finally made time to get out and enjoy them. And you, lucky reader, get to tag along. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Lace up your hiking boots and grab your water bottle–we’re going to do some Sonoran Desert hiking!

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Desert flowers and the monthly book roundup

    April 21, 2023
    Looking down on the US-Mexico Border, a black fence across a desert basin

    2024 is off to a strong start: the January recap

    January 27, 2024
    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
  • Arizona,  Books and Reading,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Risking my life for new bookcases

    August 19, 2022 /
    Cars on freeway heading into wall of clouds and dust

    Last week I shared that I was planning to spend a long weekend installing new bookcases in my home office. Friday morning I ordered 2 Billy bookcases from the Tempe IKEA, and Long-Suffering Husband and I headed out on I-10 in my pickup to get them. The first thing to note here is that neither of us thought twice about driving 100 miles to buy bookcases. Well, he probably did, but he’s lived with me for over 35 years, so he didn’t bother to argue. The next thing to note is that the weather forecast called for dust storms and thunderstorms. Our solution? Pack a tarp and go anyway. I…

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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
    Yellow building with cream arched doorway and brown door with brick walkway and garden in front, national park shield on outside wall, labeled Tumacácori National Historical Park

    Tumacácori National Historical Park (Weekend Coffee Share #5)

    September 11, 2021
  • Arizona,  Photos,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Summer in Tucson part 2: more rain, more sunsets, more bats

    August 12, 2022 /

    Monsoon season is in full swing down here in Satan’s Anus. We’ve had rain almost every night this week, including a wall shaker of a thunderstorm Monday night. The mountains are greening up, the weeds are taking over, and we even have mosquitoes and humidity. It’s like Georgia down in here–but with cactus. I love it (well, except for the weeds and mosquitoes). Look at all that green! The Santa Catalinas don’t look like Mount Doom anymore! And there’s even grass! Water truly is life. And then there are the sunsets. These were taken last night in the Catalina foothills. It was a little too dark for my iPhone camera,…

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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
    Pueblo ruin, stacked red sandstone, showing multiple rooms and windows

    The Ancient Pueblo Ruins of Wupatki National Monument

    July 6, 2021
    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
  • Arizona,  Weekend Coffee Share

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

    August 5, 2022 /

    Today I’m going to introspect about late summer and take you on a visit to a local bat colony. Feel free to skim past the narcissistic navel gazing and go right to the bats. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat and let’s go bat-watching!

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Hot rocks and cool coatis: a visit to Chiricahua National Monument

    August 25, 2023
    Two-lane, curvy road surrounded by green grass and trees, headed into green mountains topped with storm clouds

    A Photo Safari Through Madera Canyon, Arizona, After a Very Rainy Summer

    August 15, 2021
    Hillside studded with prickly pear, saguaros, and other Sonoran Desert vegetation with a dark tan rock formation in the background and a hillside rising on the right

    The desert is in the details: Tucson Mountain Park (Weekend Coffee Share #11)

    October 23, 2021
  • 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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    California Delta Part 2: Mossdale Crossing Regional Park

    January 27, 2023

    Sunset on the Santa Catalinas

    September 15, 2023
    Hillside studded with prickly pear, saguaros, and other Sonoran Desert vegetation with a dark tan rock formation in the background and a hillside rising on the right

    The desert is in the details: Tucson Mountain Park (Weekend Coffee Share #11)

    October 23, 2021
  • 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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    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

    Seeking new holiday traditions (Weekend Coffee Share #16)

    November 26, 2021
    Wreath-shaped ornament on Christmas tree, silver painted with eucalyptus berries glued on. Bottom of candy cane ornament in upper left corner.

    My earliest Christmas memory: meat trays, cardboard, and Krylon

    December 25, 2021
  • 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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    Snow in Tucson and the monthly book round-up

    February 17, 2023

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

    May 21, 2022

    Writing news and the monthly book post

    December 16, 2022
  • 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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    More Snow in Tucson!

    March 3, 2023

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

    May 21, 2022
    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

    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    What if I stopped writing?

    June 6, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Where do I get my writing ideas?

    July 5, 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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    A walk in the garden on a spring morning

    May 5, 2023

    Paying the price for my procrastination

    June 3, 2022

    Website woes, garden pics and books

    April 24, 2022
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