Janet Alcorn

Suspense | Horror | Romance

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  • Featured,  Short Stories

    “The Fourth Man” won a prize!

    December 22, 2023 /
    photo of candle-lit formal dinner setting similar to where most of the action takes place in my short story, "The Fourth Man"

    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 thriller fiction up to 2500 words. “The Fourth Man” was inspired in part by my desire to see more older women in crime stories that aren’t cozy mysteries (not that there’s anything wrong with cozy mysteries). I fiddled with the idea of an elderly main character, and Victoria Patrick–former darling of B-movie Westerns who describes herself as “Annie Oakley with double-Ds”–marched onto the page, struck a pose, and proceeded to embarrass the hell out of her daughter. Here’s the opening:…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Orange bridge like a smaller version of the Golden Gate disappearing into grey fog. Setting for my award-winning mystery short story, "Walk Me Home."

    Check out my award-winning mystery story, “Walk Me Home”

    December 21, 2022
    Part of cover image for Deathlehem 2022 holiday horror anthology showing skeletal monster in Santa suit sticking clawed fingers into Santa's eyes

    Holiday horror short story published in Deathlehem anthology!

    December 31, 2022

    My short story, “Woe is Me, Poor Child, for Thee,” is published!

    December 27, 2021
  • Featured,  Short Stories

    Check out my award-winning mystery story, “Walk Me Home”

    December 21, 2022 /
    Orange bridge like a smaller version of the Golden Gate disappearing into grey fog. Setting for my award-winning mystery short story, "Walk Me Home."

    I have an award-winning mystery short story! My story, “Walk Me Home,” won the 2022 Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest from Arizona Mystery Writers. SQUEEEEEE!!! Hey, I did warn you of incoming SQUEEEEE-laden announcements. What’s the story about? Thanks for asking! Rachel, a nerdy, socially awkward college freshman, wants Robert. And tonight she just might get him.

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    Janet Alcorn

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    Part of cover image for Deathlehem 2022 holiday horror anthology showing skeletal monster in Santa suit sticking clawed fingers into Santa's eyes

    Holiday horror short story published in Deathlehem anthology!

    December 31, 2022
    photo of candle-lit formal dinner setting similar to where most of the action takes place in my short story, "The Fourth Man"

    “The Fourth Man” won a prize!

    December 22, 2023

    My short story, “Woe is Me, Poor Child, for Thee,” is published!

    December 27, 2021
  • Poetry,  Weekend Coffee Share

    My poem is a finalist! (and there are memes)

    September 9, 2022 /

    This week’s update will be short, because as I lamented last week, my day job is kicking my butt. Also, I’m trying to get a whole bunch of stuff done before next Friday, when Long-Suffering Husband and I are escaping to the White Mountains (the ones in AZ, not NH) for 3 days of forested fun to celebrate our 32nd (!!!!!) anniversary. That said, I do have some exciting writing news to share this week, plus a fresh batch of memes, but first: welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it. Writing News My poem, “The…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    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
    Cardboard box sealed with strip of plastic tape

    My poem won a prize!

    November 12, 2022
  • Delta Dawn,  Weekend Coffee Share

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

    November 12, 2021 /
    Arizona Authors Association logo and bookshelves

    Good morning, and happy Friday! I have big writing news to share with y’all, but first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Have a seat, grab a treat, and let’s chat out in the garden on this gorgeous desert morning. Big writing news I’m excited to report that my second novel, a domestic suspense/thriller called Delta Dawn, won first place in the unpublished novel division of the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Contest! I still need to make substantial revisions before it will be ready to query, but I’m so excited that people actually liked it. I’m also grateful to the judges, who provided helpful…

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    Janet Alcorn

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

    January 22, 2023
  • Weekend Coffee Share

    Anniversary, nominated for an award, new Facebook page, other odds and ends (Weekend Coffee Share #6)

    September 17, 2021 /
    Courtyard with shrubs and a mesquite tree. Brick building and cement pillar to the left of the tree. Concrete path to the right. Metal bench underneath.

    Good morning and happy Friday! Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Come on in, pull up a seat, and join me. It’s starting to feel like fall here in Tucson. We’re still having triple-digit temps (it’s Arizona), but the nights are cooler, and this morning we even have clouds. The featured image on this post was taken a few days ago outside my building at work. Everything is still so green and pretty from the monsoon rains. 30 years! How is that even possible? Today’s chat will be a quick roundup of odds and ends, because I’m leaving soon for a weekend trip to Bisbee,…

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    Janet Alcorn

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    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

    Spring has sprung! (Weekend Coffee Share #33)

    April 8, 2022

    Seeking new holiday traditions (Weekend Coffee Share #16)

    November 26, 2021
  • Stream of Consciousness Saturday

    #SoCS: What a day! (rinse, repeat)

    November 7, 2020 /

    This post is part of the Stream of Consciousness Saturday blog hop. Linda Hill posts a prompt every Friday; this week’s prompt is: Find a word containing “jour” or use it as is. Bonus points if you start or end your post with that word. Jour is French for, “day.” I thought so, because the phrase, “du jour,” is pretty common, but I Googled it just to make sure, because God forbid I make a bigger idiot out of myself than usual… in print… on the internet. If you’d like to learn more about the word, see the Wiktionary entry. Yes, I am a librarian. Why do you ask? So……

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    Janet Alcorn

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I’m off work this week, so I’ve been walking more. I saw these rock hearts on the Rillito River Park Trail here in #tucson and they made me smile.
My latest blog post includes more info about my interview on the Mysterious Goings-On podcast (link in bio). Host @alexginkc and I talk about getting started as a fiction writer, using short stories to advance your writing career, and lots more.
Seen at the Red Cross blood donation center in #tucson . I think they took a little too much from this guy. Seriously, give blood if you can. You might save a life.
The Bellagio outdid itself with this conservatory display. Simply stunning.
Stopover in #kingmanaz on our way to Vegas. #route66
Buds on fishhook barrel cactus in #orovalley #arizona. So much beauty in the #sonorandesert
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