Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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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
  • Photos,  Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

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

    October 27, 2023 /
    Promo image for my interview on an episode of the Mysterious Goings On podcast called "Janet Alcorn on Writing Your Own Destiny." Available at www.mgopod.com and on Apple Podcasts. Air date: November 29, 2023. Episode length: 54 minutes, 8 seconds.

    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…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Hosting a write-in and trying to finish a book

    October 14, 2022
    Brick path through trees with iron sculptures on either side

    Tucson Botanical Gardens and a few laughs (Weekend Coffee Share #15)

    November 21, 2021

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

    April 30, 2022
  • Books and Reading,  Photos,  Travel,  Vanishing, Inc.,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Pics of the Las Vegas Sphere – and books

    October 20, 2023 /
    Las Vegas Sphere lit up like a yellow emoji with a surprised face

    I bailed on blogging again last week, and it wasn’t even for a boring reason like work or a writing deadline. I went to Vegas! And you know what that means: I’m so broke I have to sell my plasma to survive. I have new photos to fill space on my blog! This week we’ll visit Sphere, the newest Las Vegas attraction and my latest obsession. But first: it’s the 3rd Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge, hosted by Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb. I’ve been getting back into a regular reading groove and finished a nice mix of books since my last book post…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

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

    October 4, 2022

    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022
    Stack of books to help you write better, including Bird by Bird, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Thanks, But This Isn't For Us, Structuring Your Novel, Stephen King's On Writing, and Revision & Self-Editing

    Books to Help You Write Better: A Writer’s Reading List

    October 28, 2023
  • Vanishing, Inc.,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    Successful pitch session and more writing news

    October 8, 2023 /
    Sepia-toned photo of a stone house amid ponderosa pine trees.

    I’m happy to report I survived my pitch session at the WriteNow conference! As a result of that session, I disappeared from the face of the earth–and this blog–for about 3 weeks. Details below. But first: welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get this party started. Writing News How my pitch session went In my last post, I mentioned I’d signed up for the WriteNow conference, including submitting the first 30 pages of my suspense novel in progress, Delta Dawn, for professional editing and pitching my time travel romance, Vanishing, Inc., to an agent. I should get…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Vintage houseboat on slough tucked behind twisty branches

    How my novel, Delta Dawn, got its name (#IWSG)

    March 31, 2026
    Round-headed cartoon person staring angrily at computer

    Blurbs, pitches, loglines, and other book marketing necessities I suck at (#IWSG)

    November 3, 2021
    Las Vegas Sphere lit up like a yellow emoji with a surprised face

    Pics of the Las Vegas Sphere – and books

    October 20, 2023
  • Personal,  Photos,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Sunset on the Santa Catalinas

    September 15, 2023 /

    A short post this week, just a few pretty pictures of the Santa Catalina Mountains at sunset, a bit of personal and writing news, and (of course) a fresh batch of meme-y silliness. But before we get to all that: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it. Personal and Writing News The big excitement here at Camp WTF is this: Thursday was Long-Suffering Husband’s and my 32nd anniversary! Yeah, he’s been putting up with me for 32 years (actually 37 years, because we had a long engagement). If you’d like to send him a sympathy…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    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

    A visit to Tucson Comic-Con

    September 8, 2023

    Seeking new holiday traditions (Weekend Coffee Share #16)

    November 26, 2021
  • Personal,  Weekend Coffee Share

    A visit to Tucson Comic-Con

    September 8, 2023 /

    Long-Suffering Husband and I went to Tucson Comic-Con last weekend. I can’t believe I’ve been a nerd since at least 1977 and had never been to a comic-con till a few days ago. I do have excuses–I’m not fond of crowds, I’m not super into the comic-con types of nerd-dom (except for Star Wars), blah, blah, blah… but really, I’m apparently an epic failure as a nerd. Anyway, this poor excuse for a nerd had a great time. Tucson Comic-Con is small compared to the ones in major cities, so the only celebrities we saw were a couple of retired wrestlers and a character from The Walking Dead, but the…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026
    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

    If it weren’t for COVID, I’d have no news at all

    May 13, 2022
  • Blogging,  IWSG

    Celebrating 4 years in the IWSG

    September 5, 2023 /

    Today the IWSG celebrates its 12th birthday, and Monday was the 4th anniversary of my first-ever IWSG post. How cool is that? Anniversaries give us a reason to look back, to see how we’ve grown and changed over the years and to celebrate the person–or in this case, people–who have accompanied us on that journey. But first: In case you’re new here, the first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writers Support Group day, on which we insecure writers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James. Stop by and give them some comment love. We…

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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

    State of the blog and most popular posts of 2021

    December 30, 2021

    2023 is off to a weird start

    January 15, 2023
  • Music,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

    The August wrap-up: Steel Panther and gastroenterology fun

    September 2, 2023 /

    August is over! That sound you hear is 7 million Arizonans sighing in relief. We’re still sweating, but Weather Bragging Season is in sight. And we’re below 100F and supposed to stay that way till Wednesday. Woo hoo! I can garden without melting. Also, it’s time for a quick look back at August here at Camp WTF. But first: 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. Have a seat, grab a box of Extra Toasty Cheez-Its, and let’s get this party started. My poem is a finalist! First up: writing news. My poem, “Mourning…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Ironwood National Monument (Weekend Coffee Share #27)

    February 25, 2022

    January in the rearview mirror (Weekend Coffee Share #23)

    January 30, 2022

    Agua Caliente County Park + 80s fun (Weekend Coffee Share #24)

    February 4, 2022
  • Arizona,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

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

    August 25, 2023 /

    This week I’ll take you on a visit Chiricahua National Monument, billed by the National Park Service as, “A Wonderland of Rocks.” So strap in and get ready for lots of pictures of… Rocks. Big rocks. Tall rocks. Round rocks. Skinny rocks. OK, I’ll stop channeling Dr. Seuss. What was I talking about? Oh, yeah: Rocks. Also coatimundi, a/k/a coatis, possibly the cutest animals I’ve ever seen in a national park. Also memes. But first: This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get this party started. Weekly Weather Whining For the last week+, we’ve enjoyed…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Flowers and Sunsets–and a Tragedy on my Campus

    October 7, 2022
    Flatbed truck with missing engine compartment and doors on ridge above Uranium Springs postapocalyptic town. In front and to right of truck is a small building made of plywood scraps and sheet metal with faded sign above boarded-up door

    Uranium Springs postapocalyptic town and pre-enactment site (plus the usual news and memes)

    May 27, 2022
    Your intrepid blogger with a large man with curly blond rocker hair who insists he's her husband, rocks and Sonoran Desert vegetation in the background

    A post-Thanksgiving hike in Sabino Canyon

    November 26, 2023
  • Books and Reading,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    The monthly book roundup

    August 18, 2023 /

    We’re talkin’ books this week, because it’s time for the monthly What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge (hosted by Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb). A light reading month Not an exciting reading month here at Camp WTF. I finished re-listening to Charlaine Harris’ Lily Bard series for the umpty-gazillionth time. A couple of them got me through the General Unpleasantness known as colonoscopy prep. I should probably create a Goodreads list of the best books for this particular occasion, because, trust me, distraction is necessary. Colonoscopy prep pro tip: drink Mountain Dew on fasting day. All that sugar and caffeine really helps with suppressing appetite. And you thought you wouldn’t learn anything useful on this…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Author Envy, or Damn, I Wish I’d Written That

    February 28, 2023

    Website woes, garden pics and books

    April 24, 2022
    Las Vegas Sphere lit up like a yellow emoji with a surprised face

    Pics of the Las Vegas Sphere – and books

    October 20, 2023
  • Arizona,  Photos,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Visiting Willcox, Arizona + a few updates

    August 12, 2023 /
    Mural and lettering on side of grey stucco building. Painting of steam train in on tracks in desert landscape writing: "1880, Greetings from Willcox Arizona, Cattle Capital of the World."

    This week we’ll visit the tiny desert town of Willcox, Arizona, and I’ll share a few updates since I haven’t done a Weekend Coffee Share (hosted by Natalie the Explorer) post in a couple of weeks. So come on in, grab a drink, put your feet up on the coffee table, and let’s chat. [Update: there’s no Weekend Coffee Share this week. Oh, well–enjoy the visit to Willcox anyway.] Weekly weather whining I whine so much about weather on here, I’ve decided to make it an official feature, at least during the inferno months. I’m happy to report our summer temperatures have been a little more bearable the last few…

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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

    Saguaro National Park East during a wet monsoon

    August 26, 2022
    Flatbed truck with missing engine compartment and doors on ridge above Uranium Springs postapocalyptic town. In front and to right of truck is a small building made of plywood scraps and sheet metal with faded sign above boarded-up door

    Uranium Springs postapocalyptic town and pre-enactment site (plus the usual news and memes)

    May 27, 2022
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