On this inaugural edition of the Horror From the High Desert "Book Club," Bram Stoker Award-winning author Christa Carmen ("The Daughters of Block Island," "Beneath the Poet's House") returns to the podcast to talk with Scotty about Tracy Sierra's superlative home-invasion thiller "Nightwatching" (2024, Pamela Dorman Books). They discuss the novel's unique horror elements, its disconcerting use of "unreality," Sierra's powerful command of subtle details to create suspense, and more.

WARNING: Spoilers begin at 20:25.

Christa can be found online at https://www.christacarmen.com

Tracy Sierra can be found online at https://www.tracysierraauthor.com

You can buy "Nightwatching at https://bookshop.org/p/books/nightwatching-tracy-sierra/20080533?ean=9780593654767

Other recommendations from Christa: • “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara • “The Push” by Ashley Audrain • “The Girls” by Emma Cline • “Recursion” by Blake Crouch • “Florida” by Lauren Groff • “Hour of the Witch: A Novel” by Chris Bohjalian • “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan • "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

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

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Time for another The Weirdest Thing crossover with special guest/cohost Amelia Ampuero. She joins Scotty this week to do a deep dive into AMC's adaptation/re-imagining of Anne Rice's classic novel "Interview With the Vampire" (which just finished its second season this summer). Need something to binge over the holidays? You could sure do a lot worse than this series.

WARNING: Spoilers begin at 42:05

Listen to Scotty's original Anne Rice appreciation episode of The Weirdest Thing, "What's Wrong With Suckling Eroticism?!?" (2/10/2022): https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ubCvv74PG6qll6atuOro3?si=42f87bccb5694fd8

Be sure to check out 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. Author Laird Barron will appear live on December 19 at 7 p.m., EST: https://www.facebook.com/events/558650660357949

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Author Belicia Rhea comes onto the podcast to talk to Scotty about influences as diverse as Ray Bradbury, Bruno Schulz, and "House of Leaves," terrible elementary school teachers, amazing college professors, and establishing her own voice in the strange netherworld between surrealism, literary fiction, and horror. And they discuss her short fiction, as well as her debut novella "Voracious" (2024, Dark Matter Ink).

They also spend a few minutes talking about the acclaimed Persian-language indie rockabilly vampire/western "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" (2014), written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour.

You can find Belicia online at https://www.beliciarhea.com

You can buy "Voracious" at https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/voracious

You can read the short story "Victim 6" in the anthology "Human Monsters_,"_ which is available at https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/dark-matter-presents-human-monsters

Be sure to check out 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. Author Laird Barron will appear live on December 19 at 7 p.m., EST: https://www.facebook.com/events/558650660357949

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.