WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA --Baen Books is accepting entries in its "Name That Vampire Anthology" contest to pick a title for the next in its hugely popular humorous "suburban dark fantasy" anthology series edited by best-selling author and editor, Esther Friesner.  Friesner was also the editor of the ground-breaking "Chicks in Chainmail" series.

"Our usual process is to come up with a name for the book that's beyond awful—a cringe-inducing pun on a horror or dark fantasy theme," says Baen publisher Toni Weisskopf. "Then, instead of dropping it and coming up with something more sensible, we go there."

Previous titles include series opener Witch Way to the Mall, with follow-up Strip Mauled, set for release October 2009. The contest winner will name the third book in the series, and will receive personal literary immortality—at least within the anthology's pages. 

"We'll use the title, and the winner will be prominently blamed, er, thanked in the introduction, get ten free copies, and a check for one hundred dollars," Weisskopf says.  "And, after all, a great pun is its own reward, right? And its own punishment, of course!"

The third anthology will be oriented toward vampire stories, according to Weisskopf.  Suggestions should involve vampires, suburban fantasy, and be clever and witty (one or the other is fine, with extra points for both).

Entries are due by August 31, 2009. Suggestions can be e-mailed to the following address: info@baen.com.

The winner will be announced on the Baen website.

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Baen Books: 1-800-487-2236
www.baen.com