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

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

Want to learn to write fiction? Want to learn to write better fiction? You’re in the right place. The Writer’s Reading List: Books to Help You Write Better will point…

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October 28, 2023
  • 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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    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

    Snow in Tucson and the monthly book round-up

    February 17, 2023

    Survivors of the first frost

    December 18, 2021
  • 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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    Cars on freeway heading into wall of clouds and dust

    Risking my life for new bookcases

    August 19, 2022

    Writing news and the monthly book post

    December 16, 2022

    Books, laughs, and more (Weekend Coffee Share #26, What’s on Your Bookshelf #3)

    February 18, 2022
  • 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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    Janet Alcorn

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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
  • Photos,  Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, Michigan

    June 9, 2023 /

    Happy Friday! It’s time for part 3 of the Michigan trip report (see part 1 and part 2), a visit to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area on Saginaw Bay. I’m going to milk my trip for all I can on here, because it’s the only interesting thing I’ve done in ages. So get ready for: birds! 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 look at some water birds! The lay of the land Nayanquing Point is marshland on the edge of Saginaw Bay. We found this place by accident–we saw a road sign for…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Desert flowers and the monthly book roundup

    April 21, 2023

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

    February 11, 2022
    Neon sign that reads BOOZE BEDS FOOD

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

    October 10, 2021
  • IWSG,  Writing

    What if I stopped writing?

    June 6, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    If I stopped writing, would I still be a writer? A former writer? A not-writing-right-now-but-plan-to-write-in-the-future writer? A too-busy-with-other-stuff writer? A burned-out writer? These aren’t just rhetorical questions. My current state of non-writing As of the time I’m drafting this post (late May) I haven’t written much this year other than blog posts, and I haven’t written anything other than (very occasional) blog posts in the last month. This is my longest dry spell since I started writing fiction back in 2014, and I’m afraid I’m allowing it to become more than a dry spell. I’m afraid I’m allowing it to become my new normal. I appreciate this month’s optional question…

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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
    Cover of Rattlesnake by C. Lee McKenzie

    An interview with author C. Lee McKenzie

    December 6, 2023
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Define your own success in 6 easy steps (#IWSG)

    September 1, 2021
  • Photos,  Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Michigan Trip Part 2: 2 Cold, 2 Windy

    June 4, 2023 /

    Happy Saturday! This week I’m sharing a few pics from Day 2 of our drive around Michigan’s Thumb: Port Huron (featured last week) to Sebewaing. I have a lot fewer pictures than I normally would, because the weather along Lake Huron was way too cold and windy for this desert rat. Before we get going: The post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Have a seat, grab a treat, and pretend you care about my vacation pictures so you don’t bruise my fragile little fee fees. Pics from our Thumb Drive “Thumb Drive.” Heh, heh. See what I did there? Yeah, I know, don’t…

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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
    Nighttime view of entrance to Pike's Place Market including its iconic sign and clock

    An award-winning poem and a visit to Seattle

    November 11, 2023

    Flowers and Sunsets–and a Tragedy on my Campus

    October 7, 2022
  • Photos,  Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

    May Mayhem: Michigan and More

    May 27, 2023 /

    “Where’ve you been?” “We’ve missed you.” “Are you even still alive?” OK, no one has actually said any of that to me, but let me pretend someone noticed I haven’t been blogging in a couple of weeks. I have an excellent array of excuses, though, otherwise known as my May calendar. But before we get into an illustrated account of why I didn’t blog in May: This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, and What’s Been on Your Calendar, hosted by  Sue, Debbie, Donna, and Jo. So have a seat, grab a treat, and let’s get to it. The Day Job If you read my April…

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    Janet Alcorn

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

    August 12, 2022
    Neon sign that reads BOOZE BEDS FOOD

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

    October 10, 2021

    March is over?? What the actual !@#$%

    March 31, 2023
  • Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share

    A walk in the garden on a spring morning

    May 5, 2023 /

    Spring is in full swing here in Tucson, and my backyard garden is flourishing. And (you might want to sit down for this), the weather is lovely. IIRC this time last year it was over 100F, but we’ve been in the 80s all week. It’s supposed to be only 81 today and isn’t supposed to break 90 till Monday. Wheee!!! (I know–me bragging about Tucson weather after March is unprecedented.) I’m going to keep bragging too, this time about my garden. But before I become too insufferable: This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. (Edit on Saturday: I’m also linking up with a…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Sweetwater Trail, flower pics, and a fresh batch of memes (Weekend Coffee Share #34)

    April 15, 2022
    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

    Survivors of the first frost

    December 18, 2021
  • IWSG,  Writing

    On inspiration and perspiration

    May 3, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o’clock every morning. Attributed to William Faulkner People who aren’t writers (a/k/a normal people) like to talk about inspiration. Where do you get your ideas? What inspired that story? A few will ask about writing routines, and I figure they’re aspiring writers looking for some magic formula for finishing the Great American Novel. I’ve been writing fiction for only about 9 years, but already I’ve figured out there’s no magic formula, no combination of creativity exercises + daily routines that will magically put words in a document and turn them into a good story. What does put…

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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
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    My story became an audio drama (#IWSG)

    April 6, 2022
    The Etiquette of Voles by Karen McCoy

    My greatest fear as a writer–and a middle grade Victorian mystery

    May 6, 2025
  • Arizona,  Music,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar

    Busy April: Last in Line Concert and Tucson Travel

    April 28, 2023 /
    Last in Line at the Rialto in Tucson Arizona

    I’m still trying to figure out where March went, and now April is almost gone. I think the months pass so quickly for me because I’m a) old and b) busy. This post will be a quick slice-of-life view of the past month here at Camp WTF. It’s also part of the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, and What’s Been on Your Calendar, hosted by Sue, Debbie, Donna, and Jo. The Day Job I don’t talk a lot about my day job on here, because I’m trying to keep my writing life separate from my professional life (hence the pseudonym). But it’s been a big month for me on…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Joshua Tree Forest, writing news, books, and more pandemic memes (Weekend Coffee Share #30)

    March 18, 2022

    Desert flowers and the monthly book roundup

    April 21, 2023

    Saguaro National Park East

    February 3, 2023
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