Tor Publishing Group has announced the launch of Wildthorn Books, a new imprint for “commercial stories” spanning multiple genres. Its inaugural list is set for winter 2027.
The SFF publishing group’s first commercial fiction imprint will be overseen by Devi Pillai, president and publisher, and Monique Patterson, VP and editorial director. Senior editor Susan Barnes will also be acquiring for Wildthorn. Pillai and Patterson previously teamed to launch Tor Publishing Group’s romance imprint, Bramble, in 2023.
Per the announcement, Wildthorn plans to publish in such genres as “commercial and upmarket women’s fiction, suspense, paranormal mystery, magical realism, speculative nonfiction, and historical fantasy.” The imprint will simultaneously launch with Tor UK, with the two companies sharing lead authors while also commissioning in distinct areas.
“Readers have changed—and so has the market,” said Pillai in a statement, noting that as commercial fiction continues to blend with genre, it became apparent that Tor "was the perfect house to create Wildthorn.” The new imprint will be supported by the team that launched Tor's successful Nightfire, Bramble, and Tordotcom Publishing imprints.
Wildthorn will launch next January with The Stars Look Like Home, a new novel by TJ Klune. In a statement, Klune called the book “an adventure inspired by my love of animals and favorite childhood films like Homeward Bound, The Adventures of Milo and Otis, and The Incredible Journey,” adding that publishing with Wildthorn “gives me the opportunity to tell a different kind of ‘fantasy’ story.”
The first Wildthorn list will also include titles by such authors Alyssa Cole, Jenny Lundquist, and Diana Peterfreund, as well as debuts from Carrie Kwiatkowski and June Harrington. The imprint aims to publish 15-20 titles per year, according to a spokesperson.
The news of the imprint comes on the same day Abrams announced its own new commercial fiction entry, akaStory.
