Smugglivus 2010 Guest Publisher and New Year’s Giveaway: Stacy Hague-Hill of Tor

Welcome to Smugglivus 2010: Day 32

Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors, bloggers and publishers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2010, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2011.

Who: Stacy Hague-Hill, editor at the formidable Tor books, with a list of what to expect from Tor in 2011 and a most awesome and generous giveaway!

Please give it up for Stacy!

Ah, Smugglivus! It’s a wonderful time of the year. I’d like to begin by saying thanks to our excellent hosts for not only making it happen but inviting Tor to be part of the festivities. You guys rock.

It’s been an exciting year around Tor, where we’ve seen a house record of twenty bestsellers, including works by great authors like Brandon Sanderson, whose highly-anticipated Wheel of Time book, The Towers of Midnight, and his original work, The Way of Kings, captivated a legion of fans; David Weber, whose Out of the Dark (which has the best concept ever—aliens v. vampires? I was sold) and Mighty Fortress were both big hits; and debut novelist Bruce Cameron still has an excellent run on the list with the heartwarming novel about a dog and his boy, A Dog’s Purpose. Congratulations to them, and to all of our authors. And thanks to all of you for making it a wonderful year!

Now, on to a preview of the cool new titles we have coming up in 2011.

Even as the ball drops in Time Square, an all-new fantasy series by none other than Orson Scott Card will be on its way to a fine bookstore near you. The Lost Gate, hitting shelves in early January, is the story of a young man and a clan of mages living in exile in our world. It’s a wondrous and strange story like only Card can write—read it, and you’ll be transported.

In March, we have Hellhole, the beginning of a shiny new epic science fiction series by seasoned writing team Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Kevin and Brian are behind the wildly successful expansions to the Dune universe, and in Hellhole they are bringing that same sense of wonder and adventure to their original work. If you’re a fan of epic, galaxy-spanning intrigue and excitement, this book is for you.

April will see the publication of a book that is one of my personal favorites on the list: After the Golden Age, by the smart and talented Carrie Vaughn. Here, Carrie departs from her bestselling Kitty books (though never fear—there is more Kitty to come!) to tell a story about the thoroughly mundane daughter of the world’s greatest superheroes, and what happens when her awesome powers of forensic accounting become the key to defeating a notorious super villain. This novel is engaging, evocative, and a little heartbreaking, and even has a little bit of romance.

May will not only bring you Spring, but a new John Scalzi novel! Fuzzy Nation is a completely enthralling work of science fiction adventure that features both a lone man making his way as an independent contractor in a thoroughly incorporated galaxy, and also a race of ridiculously cute small furry bipeds. It’s also something new for publishing—a Battlestar Galactica-style reboot of the 1962 novel Little Fuzzy, by H. Beam Piper. Yes, Tor loves you.

In July, fans of Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series (or of the much-missed television series based on the works, Legend of the Seeker) will be able to return to that world with the release of The Omen Machine, the beginning of a new cycle of tales centering on Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell. It is epic goodness like only Goodkind can deliver AND it’s the beginning of a new story arc, so new readers can pick it up and dive right in.

And that’s just the beginning of 2011….Keep your eye out for more great books to come. Happy Smugglivus, all!

Happy Smugglivus, Stacy!

Now, for the giveaway.

Giveaway details:

Three lucky commenters get one set of books/goodies each: each set consisting of a copy of The Lost Gate, a HELLHOLE baseball cap, an ARC of After the Golden Age, a copy of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, and a copy of Wizard’s First Rule, the first of Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series.

The SWAG:

The Rules:

Comment away for a chance to win. The contest is open to US and Canada ONLY and will run till Saturday January 8th 11:59 P.M. (PST). One entry per person, please. We will randomly pick the winner and post it on our January 9th stash. Good luck!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!