Horror from the High Desert

Check out this bonus episode of The Weirdest Thing Podcast Our beloved Mike Flanagan recently released his eight-part adaptation of Stephen King's "Carrie" on Amazon Prime. Amelia and Scotty do a deep dive into the series, and talk about how it compares to the original novel and other versions of the story. WARNING: This episode DEFINITELY contains spoilers. Listener beware. Click here to check out The Weirdest Thing Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ldKQ8TdsaTlYYncQKmWw6?si=878490c415e54202 Listen to Amelia and Scotty delve into the "Flanaverse" on a previous episode of Horror from the High Desert: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qAWvnkWoZqruKiLYNw3Hs?si=16c69ee288724ef2 Click here to watch the official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkUw2nh6fT0 Click here to watch the trailer for Brian De Palma's classic 1976 film: https://youtu.be/j9Mg-GRS46Y?si=u8knU97onYhrqyEs

Boston Bestie Mandy Connor returns, this time to discuss a shared favorite: Thomas M. Disch's 1991 classic "The M.D." Scotty and Mandy talk about Disch's use of satire, folkore, and mythology to craft this "Monkey's Paw"-adjacent horror fable. They look at the book's the portrayal of family, Disch's lapsed Catholicism, and the novel's eerie parallels to 2026 America. They also spend some time on a few horror movies and TV shows, including "Obsession," "Backrooms," "Widow's Bay," and "Crystal Lake." WARNING: Mild to moderate spoilers for all media discussed. The spoilers for "The M.D." start at 29:25 The discussion of "Obsession" starts at 1:14:00 Get a copy of "The M.D." at https://www.amazon.com/dp/039458662X/ -- Scotty's upcoming collection, “So Many Teeth: Horror Stories," features 14 tales, including three that have never been published before! It will be released on February 9 of 2027, but the pre-order is available now. You can find it at amazon.com/author/scottymilder. -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Author Taylor Grothe ("Hollow," "Monstrous Beautiful Things") comes onto the podcast to discuss their upcoming novel "Lethal Kiss" (Oct. 20, Tor Nightfire). They and Scotty talk about Grendel and his mother, the dark side of academia, vengeful spirits, misogyny, one of the coolest monsters in Norse mythology, and more. They also look at the 2009 cult classic "Jennifer's Body" (written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama) and its depiction of toxic relationships. WARNING: There are light spoilers for "Jennifer's Body." You can find Taylor online at https://www.taylorgrothe.com You can pre-order "Lethal Kiss" at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250433879/lethalkiss/ You can read Taylor's short story 'The Witch's Aperture" at https://shortwavepublishing.com/magazine/the-witchs-aperture-taylor-grothe/ -- I'm excited to announce my own upcoming collection, “So Many Teeth: Horror Stories.” This book features 14 tales, including three that have never been published before! “So Many Teeth” will be released on February 9 of 2027, but the pre-order is available now! You can find it at amazon.com/author/scottymilder. -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Bram Stoker Award-winning author Robert P. Ottone ("Tear Me Open: Fears Unwrapped," "The Vile Thing We Created") returns, this time to discuss his upcoming novel "Amityville Awakens" (October 6, CLASH Books). He and Scotty talk about their relationship to Amityville iconography, their thoughts on the original 1978 movie, incorporating the larger Amityville community into the book, balancing light and nihilism in horror, why Scotty doesn't like Brian de Palma or Stanley Kubrick, and more. You can find Robert on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/robertottone/ You can pre-order "Amityville Awakens" at https://www.amazon.com/Amityville-Awakens-Robert-P-Ottone/dp/1968043292 You can order a signed copy of "Amityville Awakens" at https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/amityville-awakens-robert-p-ottone-signed You can order the "Keep Amityville Weird" charity T-shirt at https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/82203039-amityville-weird You can get your tickets to see Robert at the Barnes & Noble Colonie Center in Albany on October 6 at https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/bncoloniecenter/robert-p-ottone-author-conversation-and-book-signing See Robert at the Doylsetown Bookshop with Nicolle Wolverton and Diana Rodriguez Wallach on October 16. https://doylestownbookshop.com/ottone Watch Robert's online discussion with Michael Cisco, Eric J. Guignard, and Erik Hanson on Oct. 21 at https://www.lapl.org/events/amityville-and-beyond-ghosts-hauntings-and-other-halloween-horrors You can get your tickets to see Robert at the Barnes & Noble Walt Whitman in Huntington, NY on October 24 at https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/barnes-and-noble-909789799/turn-the-page-live-at-barnes-noble-huntington -- I'm excited to announce my own upcoming collection, “So Many Teeth: Horror Stories.” This book features 14 tales, including three that have never been published before! “So Many Teeth” will be released on February 9 of 2027, but the ebook pre-order is available now! You can find it at amazon.com/author/scottymilder. -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Bram Stoker Award-winning author and editor James Chambers ("On the Night Border," "Under Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign") returns to discuss his upcoming anthology, "Abandoned Asylum" (October, Raw Dog Screaming Press). This book features stories, photographs, and poetry from many contributors, all inspired by the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center in Kings Park, NY. James and Scotty talk about the initial inspiration for the book, the variety of voices and work presented, approaching mental health in a way that is both horrific and respectful, the challenge of crafting a frame narrative for unconnected stories, and more. You can find James online at https://www.jameschambersonline.com/blog/ Keep your eye on Raw Dog Screaming press for information about the release date: https://rawdogscreaming.com/abandoned-asylum-toc-announcement/ -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Author John Collins ("The Leeds Point Horror," 2025) returns to discuss his new collection "Altars in Abandoned Houses" (June, Winding Road Stories). He and Scotty talk about balancing fun against fear, when to end a story, getting personal in his writing, abandoned mental hospitals, reinventing a classic monster, and more. They also look at the near-forgotten 1989 anthology horror film "From a Whisper to a Scream," starring Vincent Price, and marvel at how twisted the movie is even by today's standards. You can find John on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/j.p.collins/ You can get your copy of "Altars in Abandoned Houses" at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYVZ3PCD/ -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Author Kailee Pedersen ("Sacrificial Animals," 2024) joins Scotty to talk about her new novel "The Minimalist" (August 18, St. Martin's Press). They discuss classical music, problematic creators, the intersection of art and obsession, body horror, mental health, the modern Gothic, and more. They also talk about Darren Aronofsky's 2010 film "Black Swan," and the specific resonances it has with Kailee's own work. You can find Kailee online at https://kaileepedersen.com You can get your copy of "The Minimalist" at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250328274/theminimalist/ Listen to Kailee's "The Minimalist" playlist on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5HiT9NaUNHGxwqwvTefUj4 Get your tickets to see Kailee at the Spooktastic Book Fair (September 26 in Boston, MA) at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-spooktastic-book-fair-tickets-1977413498003 -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Author Clay Vermulm comes onto the podcast to talk to Scotty about his "Voices From the Cold" novella series -- including "Crevasse" (2025, Dark Forest Press) and "Cairn" (2026, Dark Forest Press) -- as well as his collaborative anthology "Rain Shadows: Dark Tales From Washington State" (2025), co-authored with Tamara Kaye Sellman. They talk about mountaineering, work ethic, adventure horror, nature as an indomitable force, and more. They also discuss the 2022 Danish folk-horror film "Attachment," and its treatment of Jewish mythology, queer relationships, and family. WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for "Attachment." You can find Clay online at https://www.clayvermulmfiction.com You can get your copy of "Crevasse" at https://www.amazon.com/Crevasse-Voices-Cold-Clay-Vermulm/dp/B0F9X8W3HJ/ You can get your copy of "Cairn" at https://www.amazon.com/Cairn-Voices-Cold-Clay-Vermulm/dp/B0GQ7FF2VK/ You can get your copy of "Rain Shadows: Dark Tales From Washington State" at https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Shadows-Tales-Washington-State-ebook/dp/B0D52RH2WV/ Check out the Fermented Fiction podcast at https://fermentedfiction.substack.com/s/fermented-fiction?utm_medium=podcast Check out the Sinister Soup podcast at https://www.clayvermulmfiction.com/podcast -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. The next episode will be LIVE on April 11 at 7 p.m. EST, and will feature author Rudi Dornemann. Follow the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/share/1BYsJgFGwu/ You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838

Fellow New Mexico horror writer T.L. Bodine comes onto the podcast to discuss her life and work, including her 2023 novel "Neverest" and her 2025 collection "These Kids Are Not Alright." She and Scotty talk about Stephen King, Clive Barker, fantasy, fairy tales, body horror, grief, children, mental illness, and more. They also talk about the 2015 indie film "They Look Like People" -- one of the most compassionate horror movies to come along in years. WARNING: This conversation has some spoilers for "They Look Like People." You can find T.L. online (and subscribe to her 'zine) at https://www.patreon.com/tlbodine You can find T.L. on BlueSky at tlbodine.bsky.social You can get your copy of "Neverest" at https://bookshop.org/p/books/neverest-t-l-bodine/e642ad04dbcb9376?ean=9781739611644\&bkshp-astro=t You can get your copy of "These Kids Are Not Alright" at https://bookshop.org/p/books/these-kids-are-not-alright-t-l-bodine/e4f0cc105cfd1041?ean=9781737465034\&bkshp-astro=t For more information on the Cottonwood Mall pop-up event, go to https://www.facebook.com/mitiekreations/photos/our-upcoming-shows-july-is-live-for-sign-up-august-will-be-coming-out-by-mondayi/978197965119744/ -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. The next episode will be LIVE on April 11 at 7 p.m. EST, and will feature author Rudi Dornemann. Follow the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/share/1BYsJgFGwu/ You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838 -- Albuquerque listeners: Join Rachel Eve Moulton and Scotty to celebrate the paperback release of Rachel's novella "Tantrum." The event will be at Books on the Bosque (6261 Riverside Plaza Lane NW, Suite A-2) and will begin at 5:30 p.m. MST. Go to https://www.booksonthebosque.com/botb-events-calendar for more information.

Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author Rebecca Rowland ("Eminence Front") returns to talk about her latest collection "Unsettled Score: A Mixtape of Arthouse Horror." She and Scotty discuss the definition of "arthouse horror," and they talk about writing processes, inhabiting the mindset of predators, the responsibility authors have to their own work, life before cell phones, true crime, exploring villainy in queer characters, the 1990 film "Jacob's Ladder," and more. They also do a deep dive into the 2024 film "The Dead Thing" (directed by Elric Kane), and consider its place in the "arthouse horror" pantheon. WARNING: This conversation has some big spoilers for "The Dead Thing," and minor spoilers for "Jacob's Ladder." You can find Rebecca online at https://rowlandbooks.com You can get your copy of "Unsettled Score" at https://www.lethepressbooks.com/product-page/unsettled-score You can read Rebecca's story "The Divination of Demons" in KC Griffant's new anthology "Women of the Weird West" (Brigid's Gate Press) at https://scifiwri.com/women-of-the-weird-west/ -- Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838