The 2014 PAMLA Conference in Riverside, California (Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2014) will encounter the theme “Familiar Spirits.” We invite participants to consider papers and sessions on magic, conjuring, spirits, hauntings, Spiritualism, and manifestations as well as presentations that treat the familiar, familial, and the commonplace in relation to the paranormal, strange, and uncanny. We anticipate rich and vibrant discussions that defamiliarize the known and draw near the mysterious.

Sessions on the special theme will be in addition to the regular standing sessions and other special sessions that do not fall under this theme.