Lightning buys print rights to Nicola May's Corner Shop

Eye Books imprint Lightning has acquired world English rights for the print edition of self-published book The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May. May will remain self-publisher of the e-book, which has topped the Kindle chart this month.

The print edition was acquired by Scott Pack, Lightning’s editor-at-large. He said: “Nicola and I have known each other for some years. We met to celebrate her latest book hitting the top of the Kindle chart.  She mentioned she was keen to do more with the print edition but, understandably, didn’t want to relinquish rights to the bestselling e-book, which pretty much ruled out signing with most publishers. By the end of the week we had agreed a deal for Lightning Books to take over production, sales and distribution of The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay. Not a bad week, really.”

Pack also notes that today (Wednesday, 30th January), The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay is still occupying  "the number one slot of all Kindle books in the UK".

May has self-published nine novels.  Her latest is a small town drama involving a young woman who inherits a near-derelict corner shop in a Devon village from a mystery benefactor. She said: “I’m overjoyed to have signed a deal with Scott Pack, who has been a valuable mentor since I first stepped in to the author spotlight as a self-published author, back in 2011. I have enjoyed the challenge of doing it all myself, but am now very much looking forward to being published by a small but very dynamic publishing house.”

Lightning’s version will replace the existing print edition and will be available in early February.