Horror from the High Desert

Scotty Milder
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Semiweekly

A horror podcast hosted by author and filmmaker Scotty Milder. Loose, casual conversations about books, short fiction, and movies with some of the genre’s most exciting fans and creators. Music by JaxiusMusic (licensed from Pond5)

  1. Aug 7

    Clay Vermulm

    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

  2. Jul 24

    T.L. Bodine

    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.

  3. Jul 10

    Rebecca Rowland returns (3)

    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

  4. Jun 27

    N.J. Gallegos returns (3)

    Author N.J. Gallegos ("The Broken Heart," "The Fatal Mind") is back to discuss her new collection, "Time of Death: A Collection of Medical Horror" (May 26, Winding Road Stories). She and Scotty talk about her day job as an ER doctor, writing as a form of therapy, werewolves, mental health, Swifties, plague doctors, and much more. They also wax poetic about "The Autopsy of Jane Doe," director André Øvredal's now classic psychological horror film from 2016. WARNING: There are slight spoilers for "The Autopsy of Jane Doe," as well as George Sluizer's 1988 film "The Vanishing." You can find N.J. online at https://njgallegos.com You can get your copy of "Time of Death" at https://www.amazon.com/Time-Death-collection-medical-horror-ebook/dp/B0GTN77F37/ You can find the new themed anthology "Chambered" -- featuring N.J.'s novella "Backbone" -- at https://www.amazon.com/Chambered-Wofford-L-Jones-ebook/dp/B0GX2TLMHQ/ -- 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 Thursday, July 9, at 7 p.m. EST, and will feature author Joshua Ginsberg. 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

  5. Jun 12

    C.J. Leede returns (3)

    Author C.J. Leede ("Maeve Fly," "American Rapture") returns to talk about her new novel "Headlights" (June 9, Tor Nightfire). She and Scotty discuss the borderline between mystery and horror, dark Americana, the importance of having a supportive team in publishing, the forbidding nature of the Rocky Mountains, horrific possibilities in John Denver's music, and more. They also look at Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film "The Shining"--a movie that Scotty has...complicated feelings about. You can find C.J. online at https://linktr.ee/cjleede You can follow C.J. on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ceejthemoment/ You can get your copy of "Headlights" at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250857965/headlights/ --- 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

  6. May 29

    Angela Sylvaine returns (3)

    Author Angela Sylvaine returns, this time to talk about her new YA horror novel "Cold Snap" (March, Dark Matter INK), a sequel to her earlier hit "Frost Bite" (2023, Dark Matter INK). She and Scotty discuss the specific challenges inherent to writing horror for younger audiences, creature horror, hotel/amusement parks, UFOs, an unexpected parallel with "The West Wing," and more. They also look back at James Gunn's 2006 cult horror classic "Slither." You can find Angela online at https://angelasylvaine.com You can get your copy of "Cold Snap" at https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/cold-snap-598559 You can get your copy of "Frost Bite" at https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/frost-bite-598030 You can listen to Scotty's original conversation with Angela about "Frost Bite" at https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZNmlJ6t8oYuelFdV1nd0Y?si=3670fe58f7384942 --- 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

  7. May 16

    "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders" and "Possession" with Daniel Braum

    Author and friend-of-the-pod Daniel Braum returns to talk about two movies that define the idea of "arthouse Euro horror" -- Czech filmmaker Jaromil Jireš' "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders" (1970) and Polish/French filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski's "Possession" (1981). He and Scotty consider each film's distinct style and themes, and they discuss the filmmakers' approaches to family trauma, dream/nightmare logic, codependency, sexual desire, tentacle horror, and more. WARNING: Scotty and Daniel definitely get into spoilers for "Possession." Watch the trailer for "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders" at https://youtu.be/LPyPEraG74c?si=6chCEgVM8Z58fEo4 Watch the trailer for "Possession" at https://youtu.be/aLXW-oVbTxE?si=0W6jHsas8kvyDfPP -- Don't forget to tune in to Daniel's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The next episode will be LIVE on Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m. EST, and will feature author Steve Rasnic Tem! Follow the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/904355625383034 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

  8. May 1

    HFTHD "Book Club" #5: Robert P. Ottone on John Langan's "The Fisherman"

    Bram Stoker Award-winning author Robert P. Ottone (The Vile Thing We Created," "There's Something Sinister in Center Field") returns, this time to talk about John Langan's masterpiece "The Fisherman." He and Scotty delve into the book's unique voice, nested-narrative structure, and sideways approach to horror. They also discuss the novel's deeper themes including love, grief, friendship, masculinity, cosmic terror, and more. Get your copy of "The Fisherman" from Word Horde at https://wordhorde.com/books/the-fisherman/ Find Robert on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/robertottone/ Pre-order Robert's upcoming novel "Amityville Awakens" from CLASH Books at https://www.clashbooks.com/new-products-2/amityville-awakens-robert-p-ottone-signed Keep your eye on the Macabre Daily YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@macabredailyYT for the upcoming even celebrating the 10-year anniversary of "The Fisherman." --- 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 Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m. EST, and will feature author Steve Rasnic Tem! Follow the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/904355625383034 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

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4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A horror podcast hosted by author and filmmaker Scotty Milder. Loose, casual conversations about books, short fiction, and movies with some of the genre’s most exciting fans and creators. Music by JaxiusMusic (licensed from Pond5)

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