Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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  • About
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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
  • 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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    Writing news and the monthly book post

    December 16, 2022
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

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

    February 28, 2023
    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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    Saguaro National Park East

    February 3, 2023

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

    April 30, 2022
    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
  • 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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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

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

    February 28, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    The most inspiring feedback I’ve ever received

    May 7, 2026
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    What creative activities do I do besides writing?

    November 5, 2024
  • 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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    Let’s talk books!

    November 18, 2023

    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022

    Snow in Tucson and the monthly book round-up

    February 17, 2023
  • 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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    Tucson Botanical Gardens + April review + a fresh batch of memes

    April 30, 2022

    A visit to Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona

    December 9, 2022
    4 dark grey rocks covered in whitish-grey petroglyphs

    Gila Bend, Arizona travels, a few laughs, and a great tune (Weekend Coffee Share #21)

    January 14, 2022
  • IWSG,  Writing

    Where do I get my writing ideas?

    July 5, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Where do you get your ideas? People ask writers that question so often it’s become a cliché, yet it usually elicits interesting answers. So I thought I’d share a little about how I get my weird and wacky story ideas. 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 PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre. We’re also given an optional question we can answer in our posts. This month’s question is: Where do your writing ideas predominantly come from? The origin stories…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Finding balance as an author

    August 1, 2023
    Cover of Rattlesnake by C. Lee McKenzie

    An interview with author C. Lee McKenzie

    December 6, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    I forgot it’s IWSG day!

    November 2, 2022
  • Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

    The June wrap-up, or how I spent 30 days doing virtually nothing

    July 1, 2023 /

    If you’ve been hanging out in my demented corner of the interwebs for very long, you know I participate in a monthly blog hop called What’s Been on Your Calendar (hosted by Sue, Debbie, Donna, and Jo), in which we post highlights from the month just past. So, what did I do in June? Nothing. OK, there’s this week’s post taken care of. See you next week. Just kidding. Sort of. I really didn’t do much in June. After the craziness that was May, I wanted to curl up in a sunny window with a stack of books for the rest of the summer. I wasn’t quite that lazy, but this may be…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Let’s talk books!

    November 18, 2023

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

    July 1, 2022
    woman in leather armchair reading with wall of books behind her

    Lock up your chocolate, I’ve been left unsupervised (Weekend Coffee Share #12)

    October 29, 2021
  • Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Flowers and birds and whining about the heat

    June 24, 2023 /

    Last week I finished sharing the Michigan pics, just in time to start my annual whining about the heat. We’ve had a much cooler than normal spring, so the abomination you’re about to behold is several weeks late in coming. I’d rather it didn’t show up at all. To avoid spontaneous combustion, I plan to spend the weekend sitting under an AC vent with a book. Does anyone in a cooler climate need a house sitter? Please???? Don’t worry–I won’t spend the entire post whining about the heat (just most of it). But before I resume whining: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Garden pix and more COVID memes (Weekend Coffee Share #31)

    March 25, 2022

    We love our striped roses (#FOTD)

    August 11, 2021

    Website woes, garden pics and books

    April 24, 2022
  • Books and Reading,  Photos,  Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Podcast appearance, Michigan trip, and books

    June 17, 2023 /

    This post is a hodgepodge–my podcast appearance, the last of the pictures from my trip to Michigan, and what I’ve been reading lately. But before we get to all that: This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, and What’s On Your Bookshelf, hosted by  Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb. Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it. I’m on the Big Blend Radio podcast! Last month I appeared on the Big Blend Radio podcast, along with other authors whose stories appeared in the Trouble in Tucson anthology. More details in this post. Last batch of pix from the Michigan trip In my last two…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    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

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

    July 21, 2023
  • Appearances,  Books and Reading,  Short Stories

    Catch me on the Big Blend Radio podcast

    June 15, 2023 /
    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, available free on their website and on YouTube. Host Lisa D. Smith interviewed 8 authors with stories in the Trouble in Tucson anthology plus the anthology cover designer. Here’s the lineup: Tune in to learn more about my short story, “Adam Carmona and the Case of the Saguaro Ripper,” as well as a little about my take on short story writing. A huge thank you to Lisa for a great interview! I encourage you to pay a visit to the Blend Radio & TV Magazine site and check out all the cool stuff Lisa and crew have on offer. They cover music…

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    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.

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

    December 10, 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.

    The Mysterious Goings-On podcast, Seattle, and Sabino Canyon: the November recap

    December 2, 2023
    @lithopfresno

    I’m doing a public reading at LitHop Fresno on October 18

    September 22, 2025
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