Janet Alcorn

Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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  • About
  • Newsletter
  • 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

“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
  • Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,  Weekend Coffee Share

    More Snow in Tucson!

    March 3, 2023 /

    It snowed in Tucson! Again! That’s twice now this winter, in case you’re keeping track. We didn’t get much here in Midtown, but my colleagues who live a little higher up had several inches on the ground. We had to be content with this: If it hadn’t been a snow day, I’m sure my neighbors would have wondered about t he ctaking pictures of their yards. I wish I’d been off work yesterday so I could drive out to Saguaro National Park. They got several inches. Article of the week Sometimes I share interesting articles or videos I run across in the course of farting around on the internet doing…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    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
    Blue sign with white letters reading, "POISONOUS SNAKES AND INSECTS INHABIT THE AREA," followed by drawings of a scorpion and snake

    I got a story accepted! Plus other news and a few local laughs (Weekend Coffee Share #17)

    December 3, 2021
  • Books and Reading,  IWSG,  Short Stories

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

    February 28, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Do you ever read a novel, a story, or even a sentence that wows you so much, you wish you’d written it? That’s author envy, and it’s what we’re going to talk about in this month’s post for the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. 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 March co-hosts are Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose. We’re also given an optional question we can answer in our posts; this month’s question is: Have you ever read a line in novel or…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Let’s talk books!

    November 18, 2023

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

    July 21, 2023

    2023: My Year in Books

    January 20, 2024
  • Weekend Coffee Share,  What's Been on Your Calendar,  Writing

    Farewell, February

    February 24, 2023 /

    February is almost over. I’m going to say that again to see if I can make myself believe it. February. Is. Almost. Over. Weren’t we just stowing our holiday decorations and ringing in the new year? Anyway. No matter how much I try to deny it, it’s almost March, and for reasons I haven’t entirely figured out, I have about 1.4 gazillion major work deadlines in the first 20 days of next month. So expect shorter blog posts for the next few weeks, because it’s going to be hard to fit them in around work and losing my mind. Now, where were we? Oh, yeah–February. This post is part of…

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    Janet Alcorn

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

    August 12, 2022
    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

    California Delta Part 2: Mossdale Crossing Regional Park

    January 27, 2023
  • Books and Reading,  Garden,  Weekend Coffee Share,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    Snow in Tucson and the monthly book round-up

    February 17, 2023 /

    The big news this week: it snowed in Tucson! A whole half an inch! Yeah, I know, all you East Coasters and Midwesterners and Canadians are rolling your eyes like Linda Blair rolling her head, but we don’t get much cold white stuff down here in Satan’s Anus. Let me have my moment, will ya? But before we get to my moment: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, and the What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge, hosted by Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb. Grab a mug of cocoa, curl up under a cozy blanket, and let’s enjoy winter in Tucson! OK, back to the snow. By the time I got…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Las Vegas Sphere lit up like a yellow emoji with a surprised face

    Pics of the Las Vegas Sphere – and books

    October 20, 2023

    Fire near my old neighborhood, books, and more memes

    June 18, 2022
    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
  • Personal,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Why I don’t do Valentine’s Day

    February 11, 2023 /
    Heart-shaped prickly pear pad

    Valentine’s Day is next week. Whoop-de-do. That spiny heart in the photo above is a nice encapsulation of my feelings about Buy-A-Bunch-Of-Pink-Crap day. So’s this: Yes, I’m a Grinch about V-Day, which seems odd for someone who occasionally writes romance. I believe in love, I know the anniversary of my first date with Long-Suffering Husband (Feb. 15). Hell, I can even be a hopeless romantic sometimes, though I keep that nonsense to myself so I don’t ruin my reputation as a crusty hater of all things pink and candy-hearted. But Valentine’s Day? I have some trauma around that day. And I’m going to share it with you, right here and…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Dispatch from the query trenches

    March 4, 2026
    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
    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
  • Arizona,  Photos,  Weekend Coffee Share

    Saguaro National Park East

    February 3, 2023 /

    This week we’ll revisit the east unit of Saguaro National Park (see here and here for previous posts with pictures of this lovely place). I have friends in town and joined them for a leisurely hike in the park last weekend. We’ll also have the usual meme-y silliness. But first: Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! This week’s post will be short, because a) I’ve spent most of the week working, and you probably don’t want to hear about all the exciting meetings I’ve attended, and b) I have to leave for another exciting meeting shortly. Mica View picnic area…

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    Janet Alcorn

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

    August 5, 2022

    Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum + how the hell did I get this old? (Weekend Coffee Share #28)

    March 4, 2022
    Spiny cactus with 2 pink flowers and one red bud emerging from top and sides. Petals are light pink around the edges with a dark pink stripe in the middle. Center of flowers is yellow with a green frond-like thing sprouting from the center.

    Pincushion cactus flower in Sabino Canyon outside Tucson, Arizona (#FOTD)

    August 10, 2021
  • IWSG,  Writing

    New year, new writing progress

    January 31, 2023 /
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    Welcome to my first IWSG post of 2023! (Because I’m a huge dork who forgot to post in January.) 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 February co-hosts are  Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner. Please stop by and leave them some comment love. Each month our fearless leaders provide an optional question we can answer in our posts. This month’s question is: If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    2023: my year in writing

    January 3, 2024
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

    The importance of being influenced (#IWSG)

    February 2, 2022
    Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

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

    October 4, 2022
  • Travel,  Weekend Coffee Share

    California Delta Part 2: Mossdale Crossing Regional Park

    January 27, 2023 /

    Last week we visited Paradise Cut, a section of the California Delta outside my hometown of Tracy. This week we’ll move a few miles east to Mossdale Crossing Regional Park, which sits next to I5 on the way from Tracy to Stockton. Only a few pictures this time, because a) it was cold and windy, and b) the park is small. The boat ramp is the big attraction, but a) I don’t own a boat, and b) the river was running high and fast, which should make sensible people think twice about boating. For me, the attractions were the river and the old bridges. But before we get to those:…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    New Orleans and Spring in the Garden

    May 7, 2022

    My 2025 highlight reel: writing, travel, and more

    January 21, 2026

    California Delta Part 1: Paradise Cut (+Books! and Memes!)

    January 22, 2023
  • Delta Dawn,  Photos,  Travel,  What's On Your Bookshelf

    California Delta Part 1: Paradise Cut (+Books! and Memes!)

    January 22, 2023 /

    Today I’m going to take you on a visit to one of my favorite places in the world–and the setting for my novel-in-progress, Delta Dawn–the California Delta. Well, I’m going to take you to one tiny piece of it, Paradise Cut outside my hometown of Tracy, California. We’ll also talk books, and I have the usual batch of meme-y hilarity. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer and the What’s On Your Bookshelf Challenge, hosted by Sue, Donna, Jo and Deb. Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it. When most non-Californians think of the state, they think of Hollywood, San Francisco, Silicon Valley–movie stars and…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Arizona Authors Association logo and bookshelves

    Delta Dawn won first place! (Weekend Coffee Share #14)

    November 12, 2021
  • Blogging,  Personal,  Short Stories,  Weekend Coffee Share,  Writing

    2023 is off to a weird start

    January 15, 2023 /

    I had lots of plans for Winter Break and the start of 2023. Travel! New look for the blog! Lots of progress on my writing! Late brunches and desert hikes and lots of lounging in my PJs. Well… some of that happened. Long-Suffering Husband and I drove to Vegas right after Christmas (he won, I didn’t–as usual). I worked on the Blog Refresh from Hell that I started last Winter Break. I flew to Sacramento, drove to my hometown, hung out with friends, visited some places near and dear to me. Flew home ready to finish up the website refresh, work on my novel, and have those late brunches and…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Celebrating 4 years in the IWSG

    September 5, 2023
    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
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