Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Janet Alcorn

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
  • 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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    Writing through the seasons of life

    June 4, 2024

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

    May 13, 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.

    A bomb threat and more serial killers

    July 22, 2022
  • 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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    2023 is off to a weird start

    January 15, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026

    My 2025 highlight reel: writing, travel, and more

    January 21, 2026
  • 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

    2023 is off to a weird start

    January 15, 2023

    State of the blog and most popular posts of 2021

    December 30, 2021
  • 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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    Agua Caliente County Park + 80s fun (Weekend Coffee Share #24)

    February 4, 2022

    Ironwood National Monument (Weekend Coffee Share #27)

    February 25, 2022

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

    January 30, 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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    Ironwood National Monument (Weekend Coffee Share #27)

    February 25, 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

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

    August 5, 2022
  • 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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    Bookshelves with books, photos, and knick-knacks

    Books, book memes, writing news and more

    September 16, 2022
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    What literary character would you like to hang out with?

    April 1, 2025
    Cars on freeway heading into wall of clouds and dust

    Risking my life for new bookcases

    August 19, 2022
  • 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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    Flowers and Sunsets–and a Tragedy on my Campus

    October 7, 2022
    Neon sign that reads BOOZE BEDS FOOD

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

    October 10, 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
  • IWSG,  Writing

    Finding balance as an author

    August 1, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    In this month’s post for the IWSG, let’s talk about finding balance as an author. How do we choose how best to spend our limited time and energy when there are approximately 40 gazillion author-related tasks clamoring for our attention? 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 Kate Larkindale, Diane Burton, Shannon Lawrence–and me! This will be my third time co-hosting the monthly IWSG blog hop, and it’s always a blast. Come on in and join the party! We IWSG-ers are…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    New year, new writing progress

    January 31, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    What creative activities do I do besides writing?

    November 5, 2024
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026
  • Books and Reading,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    In which I am ambushed by the embodiment of pure evil (and there are books)

    July 21, 2023 /

    The summer doldrums continue here at Camp WTF. I used up most of my vacation time roaming around Michigan in May, and it’s too hot to do much of anything here in Tucson except migrate between my air-conditioned house and air-conditioned office, whine about the heat, and count the days till October (72 according to Google. I’m too lazy to count them myself). Fortunately, it’s time for the monthly What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge (hosted by  Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb), so I have some content for this week’s update besides whining about the weather. This post is also part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Grab a (cold) treat,…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Podcast appearance, Michigan trip, and books

    June 17, 2023
    Green box with white silhouette of woman on phone and text reading, "I decided staying up all night and finishing my book was more important than being mentally present today."

    The monthly book post–and a great tool for readers

    November 18, 2022

    Writing news and the monthly book post

    December 16, 2022
  • Arizona,  Weekend Coffee Share

    A Visit to Mission San Xavier del Bac

    July 14, 2023 /

    I visited Mission San Xavier del Bac back in April when my friend Laurel was visiting. I shared a few pictures in my April roundup but then I got busy with May travel and June recovery, so I never posted the rest of them. Since I’ve done absolutely nothing interesting for yet another week, I’m going to trot out the rest of them for this week’s Weekend Coffee Share (hosted by Natalie the Explorer). Here we go: What is Mission San Xavier del Bac? I know you’ll be surprised to learn that it’s… a mission! A Spanish Catholic one, to be precise. Founded in 1692, it’s located about 10 miles…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Hosting a write-in and trying to finish a book

    October 14, 2022

    Flowers and Sunsets–and a Tragedy on my Campus

    October 7, 2022

    Fall Color in Sabino Canyon

    December 3, 2022
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